Guide to Growing and Caring for Healthy Morning Glory Plants

Are you looking to harness your garden with a beautiful and helpful plant? It’s time you sow multiple seeds of Morning Glory plants!

Morning Glory is a collection of 1000 unique species in the Convolvulaceae family. These flowering plants come in shades of orange, pink, blue, purple, and bi-colours. Not just the flowers but the leaves of this plant are equally attractive. The heart-shaped leaves add to the beauty of delicate flowers. This plant is easier to maintain and does not require much maintenance. However, the initial process of growing the plant from seeds will require you to go through specific steps.

Read this article to learn how to grow and care for morning glory plants.

How to Grow Morning Glory Plants

1. Best Time to Sow

Morning Glory blooms the best in summer. So, you can sow the seeds early to mid-spring after the threat of frost subsides to get fresh blooms in summer. These seeds grow best in an environment where the soil is warm. It is advisable to soak the seeds overnight in warm water to soften the coating. For better growth of morning glory plants, sow the seeds 1 cm deep in moist seed compost pots.

If you plant them outdoors, select a warm area and keep the seeds moist as they germinate. It can either grow in the pots or on the land. The seeds will start germinative within 6-21 days.

2. Type of Soil Needed

The soil matters the most when growing plants for the first time with seeds. Morning glories prefer soil that is moist and well-drained. However, they do not like soil with too much organic matter. Just a little compost and manure will do the work.

Moderately fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8 will be the best to grow the gorgeous glory plants. It is necessary to keep the soil moist in the initial days of growth. Once the plant is well established, it becomes sturdy to tolerate dry and harsh conditions.

3. Amount of Sunlight and Water

Morning Glory and the Sun are best friends! These flowers bloom in the morning when the sun shows up. These plants need a lot of sunlight to bloom into beautiful flowers. So, while selecting the spot, plant them in a space with lots of sunlight. If you are planting it in a pot, place it near the area with the best sunlight.

Water the plants daily during their growing season and later reduce it to once or twice a week. Spread mulch around the area after watering to retain the moisture for a long time. Anytime you feel the soil is too dry and needs moisture, water them. Their tolerance for dry soil increases as they grow and deepen their roots. So, it’s okay if you forget to plant them for a few days.

4. Growing Through Seeds

Sow the seeds in a small tray to begin the germination process. The seedlings will appear within a few days with sufficient water and a proper environment. Once that happens, transfer them to a space with support to allow the plants to climb. Thin canes, walls or any other object are perfect for the young plants to climb.

Once they start climbing a little, it’s time to take them outdoors. Harden off the young morning glory plants for 2-3 weeks. It will save them from the sudden shock of change in the environment. At the end of 3 weeks, you can plant them out in an open space with full sunlight. These plants cannot tolerate strong and dry winds. Plant them in a location that saves them from harsh winds.

5. Growing Through Propagation

Save yourself a lot of effort and time by growing morning glory plants through propagation. You can quickly enjoy the delightful blooms in your garden in no time. You can find a stem from a healthy morning glory plant in your surrounding.

Cut a 10-12 cm long stem from the plant you wish to re-grow. It is advisable to cut the stem diagonally for better water absorption. Pluck out 3-4 leaves from the bottom of the stem so that it can be rooted. Soak the stem in water until the roots are visible. Once you see the roots growing, insert them in the soil.

Wait for the stem to settle in the soil and establish itself. You will notice new flowers in your morning glory within a few weeks. These joyful flowers rapidly grow once they settle down in the soil. They can grow up to 12 feet or more in one season.

6. How to Groom Morning Glory Plants after Growth

As we initially shared, these plants do not require much maintenance once after a strong establishment. Only a few factors are looked after to keep them blooming and alive.

• Provide shelter to these plants from winds and storms.
• Adequate support will assist the stem of morning glory plants to grow better.
• Spring is the time to prune these plants and make space for new flowers to bloom.
• Water them abundantly when they are growing and reduce the quantity during winters.

If you don’t want the plants to multiply themselves, then behead the dried flowers with seeds. The seeds can drop on the ground or travel with the wind to grow more plants nearby.

7. Pests and Insects

The Morning Glory plants are least affected by pests and insects in the long run. However, they might be infected by sucking pests like cotton aphids and spider mites. The first signs of a morning glory plant infection are the yellow and crumpled leaves on the plant. These pests and some insects eat through the leaves and stems.

Pest treatment is inevitable to stop the insects from spreading further to other parts of the plant. Keep observing your plants regularly to check for any abnormal shades or changes in the shape of a plant.

Varieties of Morning Glory

There are about 1000 species of morning glory for you to select from. It can be a little overwhelming, but it brings many options to select from. Let’s explore different species of morning glory depending on their colour and characteristics.

1. Crimson Rambler

This species of morning glory blooms with beautiful cherry red flowers adored by hummingbirds. The white stem in between the red shade gives a dramatic look to this flower. Feel the vibes of love and passion by growing crimson ramblers in your garden.

2. Beach Morning Glory

Just like the name suggests, this morning glory plant grows near the beaches. Beach morning glory endures salted air and is considered a salt-tolerant plant. The seeds of this plant easily float in salt water without any harm. It is a pink delight to the eyes in multiple shades. The darker centre and lighter shades on the ends make it one of the most enticing morning glory species.

3. Common Morning Glory

Common morning glory plants come in shades of blue, purple, and pink. This species grows up to 10 inches with gradual growth over a long time. They spread themselves across the ground and crawl up the walls and other vegetation for support. They are the simplest common morning glory plants to begin your gardening journey.

4. Heavenly Blue

It is the favourite morning glory species of butterflies and hummingbirds. The heavenly blue justifies the name and exhibits a beautiful blue shade with a mild yellow in the middle. This plant can be toxic to animals and needs to be handled carefully. The use of gloves is advisable while dealing with the plant.

5. Minibar Rose

It is perfect for a hanging pot in your backyard or entrance. The rosy shade with a hint of white in between will adorn your living space. The Minibar Rose will remind you of roses and grow beautifully with grace. Their growth is only up to 5-6 inches. It makes them the best option for places without much support.

6. Kikyo Snowflake Japenese Morning Glory

The Kikyo snowflake is one of the rarest and most impressive Japanese morning glory plants. The colour combination on the flower will keep you hooked on this plant. It creates a white star with blue and purple in between. It can grow as long as 10-12 feet. Growing this in your garden will attract the attention of many people.

7. Milky Way

The saucer-like flower will remind you of the milky way with its white shade and purple/blue stripes in between. Growing this species is a great way to cover up your fence attractively and creatively. Enjoy the collective growth of these gorgeous blooms in summer by sowing seeds of Milky Way Morning glory plants.

7. Moonflower

Are you looking for a romantic plant that gives you the most soothing vibes in the evening? Moonflower glory plant is what you need! The elegant white trumpet-shaped flowers unfurl in the evening and stay open till the sun rises in the morning. Certain species of moonflower emit a relaxing aroma of lemon when the flowers bloom.

8. Tie-Dye

The tie-dye morning glory comes in magnificent shades of blue and purple. Just like a tie-dye t-shirt gives a beautiful shade of white and other colours, these flowers have a perfect shading of white and blue/purple. This mesmerizing morning glory plant will leave you in a trance. These delicate flowers can be grown around a mailbox or at the entrance of the door to decorate the space.

9. Cardinal Climber

The cardinal red flowers and deep green leaves of this morning glory plant will keep you enchanted every time you look. These plants can either be grown in containers or as ground-covering plants. Known for their heights, these climbers can grow up to 6-15 ft long within 70 -90 days.

Grow Morning Glory Plants as a Creative Cover!

The morning glory plants are quick climbers and cover a large area as they grow. Create a colourful wall, living fence, or porch, or adorn them in a hanging basket. Make the best use of this decorative plant in making your home more aesthetic and green. You can begin with the most common species and then experiment with 2-3 different colours to bring a vibrant energy to the space.

Make your morning glorious by growing a variety of morning glory plants in your backyard, lawn, or near the window.