How to Plant Moon Vines
The moon vine, also called Ipomoea alba, is a member of the morning glory family and is a perennial in the southern U.S. The tropical vine has dark-green, heart-shaped leaves and large, white flowers. It gets its name because the flowers bloom at dust and last throughout the night before closing in the morning. Because it is a vine, the most important factor in planting moon vine is choosing a location with a vertical structure for support. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bow rake
- Compost
- Fine sandpaper
- Moon vine seeds
- Bowl
- Water
- Garden hose
- Sprayer attachment
Instructions
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Wait until there is no longer danger of frost in your area. Choose a location that is near a fence or wall and that receives at least a half day of sunlight. The soil should be well-drained but still moist.
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2
Pull up all grass and weeds in the chosen planting site and then loosen the top 2 inches of soil using a wide-toothed bow rake. Spread a 2-inch layer of compost on top of the area and work it into the soil with the rake. Moon vine responds particularly well to mushroom compost if you have access to it.
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3
Place five to six moon vine seeds on a piece of fine sandpaper with the rough side facing up. Place another piece of sandpaper on top of the seeds with the rough side facing down. Rub the pieces of sandpaper together three or four times to nick the seeds.
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4
Fill a small bowl half full of lukewarm water and place the moon vine seeds into it. Set the bowl aside and allow the seeds to soak overnight.
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5
Remove the moon vine seeds from the water and spread them onto the soil. Use the rake to cover them with with at least 1/4-inch of soil.
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6
Attach a sprayer onto the end of a garden hose and set it to a fine spray. Water the soil until it is wet to a 2-inch depth. Afterward, water as often as needed, usually daily, to prevent the soil from drying out until the moon vine seeds germinate.
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