How to Grow Moon Flower Vines
The moon flower (Ipomoea alba) is a fast-growing vine. It produces bright, white flowers that typically measure 5 inches across. Moon flowers bloom in the evening. Each bloom lasts only one night. Moon flowers are difficult to transplant, so gardeners tend to grow them from seed rather than purchasing plants from a nursery. Gardeners in cooler climates experience greater success by starting the plants indoors six weeks before the date of the last expected frost. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Soak moon flower seeds in water overnight to soften the hull.
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2
Nick the seeds with a sharp implement to assist the germination process.
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3
Fill a 3- or 4-inch peat pot with a soilless mixture.
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4
Place the moon flower seed into the growing medium with the nicked portion, where the roots will emerge, facing down. Cover the seed with 1/4 inch of the potting medium.
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5
Moisten the growing medium and keep it moist. Maintain a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for four to seven days, during which time the plant should emerge.
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6
Give the plant light from the sun through a window or a lamp a few inches above the seedling. Adjust the height of the lamp to accommodate the plant's growth.
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Find a location outdoors where the plants will receive full sun for most of the day. Place the plants where you can see and smell the open flowers in the evening.
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Transplant the entire peat pot into the ground outdoors after the last frost date in your area. Take care not to disturb the roots during the planting process. Provide the moon flowers with average soil to encourage more flowers than foliage. Use soil that drains well. Water your moon flowers regularly throughout the growing season.
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Provide the plants with a trellis or other support structure so the vine can pull itself up and around.
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Tips & Warnings
Plant your moon flowers alongside other plants that bloom in the evening to create a moon garden.
Moon flowers are heat-loving plants and will not survive the cold. Expect to treat the plant as an annual in most places and start from seeds each spring.
