Growing Morning Glories:
How to Grow Morning Glory Flowers Organically
Growing morning glories in containers or flowerbeds adds height and color to your summer garden. These quick growing annuals can fill a trellis or scramble up a tree trunk in a matter of weeks. They have heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped flowers that open in the morning and last a day. The Ipomea alba or Moonflower gives you flowers that open in the evening lasting until the next morning’s sun.
Morning glories are harmful if eaten.
- Planting Morning Glory Plants
- Growing Morning Glory Plants / Morning Glory Plant Care
- Harvesting / Cutting Morning Glory Plants
- Morning Glory Pests & Diseases
- YOUR Advice, Experiences and Photos
Growing Morning Glories: Plant Snapshot
- Morning Glory (Ipomoea)
- Annual or perennial? Annuals
- Recommended varieties (by color):
- Blue: Ipomoea triple color ‘Heavenly Blue’
- Pink: Pupurea
- Red: Ipomoea quamoclit, ‘Crimson Rambler’
- White: Ipomea alba
- White & pink: ‘Milky Way’
- Recommended USDA Hardiness zones: 10a - 11a
- Mature Height: 72 to 240 inches (183 to 610 cm)
- Mature Spread: 0 inches
- Sun Requirements: Full sun
- Blooming season: Early, mid & late summer, early fall
- Cold tolerance (annuals only): Half-Hardy - can tolerate cold, wet, damp weather but can be damaged or killed by frost.
Planting Morning Glory Seed, Caring for Morning Glory Seedlings, Transplanting and/or Root Division
Where to Find Planting Supplies...
The following resources offer effective, healthy and/or well-rounded options. Click the links to go there now...
- Best Compost Bin Designs
- Pots and planters (follow link, then choose "Pots & Planters" from menu)
- Seed-starting soil mix
- Potting Soil (for transplanting started plants into pots/containers)
- Organic Garden Fertilizers
- Types of Mulch
- Lawn / Garden Tools
- Soil Tesk Kit (for pH, N, P and K levels) - see our Soil pH Tester page for more info
- Organic Seed Collections make seed-buying easy for the beginner... just pick the group that you want to plant:
- Individual Organic Seeds (once on their site, choose seed category in left margin)
Help germination by making a small cut in your seeds or soaking them for twenty-four hours before planting. Morning Glory seeds are planted at a depth of 4 inches (10cm) which is deeper than many other annuals.
If your area suffers from frosts in early to mid spring, start plants indoors. Harden plants off when the last threat of frost has passed.
If you live in a warm climate, sow directly into the soil adding a fine mulch of compost with an organic fish, blood and/or bone fertilizer added.
Snapshot: Planting Morning Glory Plants
- Germination soil temperature: 64 degrees F (18 C)
- Distance between plants: about 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm)
- Planting depth: 4 inches (10 cm)
- Days to germination: 5 days
- Preferred soil pH (see soil pH tester for more information): 6 to 7.5
Morning Glory Plant Care
Where to Find Growing & Plant Care Supplies...
For effectice, healthy and/or well-rounded options, click the following links...
Standard flower watering guidelines apply.
As climbers, morning glories need flower supports to grow. These can be arches and pergolas as well as shrubs and trees, so before planting, figure out where your garden will benefit from additional height and color.
Pinch off dead leaves and flowers over the season to keep the plant’s appearance in good shape.
Snapshot: Morning Glory Plant Care
- Plant supports recommended? Yes
Harvesting/Cutting Morning Glory Flowers
Where to Find Harvesting Supplies...
Cut morning glory flowers early in the morning. They provide a very short-lived display but can be added to table decorations.
Morning Glory Pests & Diseases
Look out for leaves that are spotted or show other signs of disease. Pick them off and destroy them (and do not compost them).
The following pests and diseases have been known to affect the success of growing Morning Glory Plants (see Organic Garden Pest Control for information about how to prevent and address pests and diseases)...
Pests
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Diseases
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YOUR Experience & Advice About Growing Morning Glories
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