How to Grow Morning Glory Flowers
Morning glory flowers acquired their name because they fold up in the evening and open their petals up wide with the first ray of sunshine in the morning. Members of the sweet potato family, morning glory flowers develop funnel-shaped blooms in shades of white, blue, purple, red or yellow. Morning glory plants can grow to heights of 8 feet when planted in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 10. These perennials propagate easily from seed when planted in sunny, well-drained soil. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Soil testing kit
- Garden fork
- Lime or peat moss
- Soaker hose
- Trellis
- Elastic twine
- Mulch
- Fertilizer
Instructions
-
-
1
Test the soil before planting the morning glory seeds. Morning glory flowers prefer soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Test the pH using a soil testing kit purchased from a garden center or your local agricultural extension office.
-
2
Amend the soil after loosening it with a garden fork. Add lime if the pH is below 6.0 or peat moss if the pH is above 7.5. Add the required amendment per label instructions.
-
-
3
Sow the morning glory seeds in the spring, at a soil depth of ½ inch. Plant the seeds 8 to 12 inches apart. Water the morning glory seeds generously after planting, using a soaker hose. Maintain moist soil throughout the germination process, which will take between 15 and 20 days.
-
4
Continue to provide moist soil as the morning glory flowers grow. Provide at least 1 inch of water per week in lieu of rain, but do not overwater. If the soil feels moist to a 1-inch depth, do not add more water.
-
5
Hammer in a trellis behind the morning glory flowers for support. The trellis should be between 6 and 8 feet tall. Attach the main stem of each of the morning glory plants to the trellis using elastic twine.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
A 3-inch layer of pine bark will increase water drainage and reduce weed growth.
Fertilize the morning glory plants with phosphorous-based fertilizers per label instructions.
Cut the morning glory plant down from the trellis in the late fall. Allow the morning glory plants to fall to the ground where they will spend their winter dormancy. The morning glory flowers will begin to grow again in the spring.
Do not plant morning glory seeds around pets or children. The seeds are poisonous if ingested.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit morning glory image by JLycke from Fotolia.com
