Growing morning glories and you can’t get them suckers to bloom? Let’s find out why and how to fix that problem.
Morning glories don’t bloom because of three primary reasons, improper soil, water, and sunlight. These three key elements are the difference between morning glory blooms and morning glory vines.
Without blooms, your morning glories will look like just an ordinary dark green vine.
With blooms, they will become the focal point of your garden.
There is no doubt, the former is the gardener’s preferred option.
You have pinpointed the factors causing your morning glories to not bloom.
Now, it is time to start strategizing a correction that will guarantee blooms.
Below, you will discover more about the key elements of growing morning glories and blooming strategies.
[Related Article: Can You Grow Morning Glories Indoors: [Done Right]
Morning Glory Species – What You Should Know
The morning glory is a member of the Ipomoea (worm-like) genus and Convolyulaceae family.
There are approximately 1,000 species of the morning glory, most of which have beautiful, bold flowers and light to dark green leaves and stems.
Botanists describe the morning glory bloom as being trumpet-shaped. The throat varies in color, depending on the species.
For example, the most common species of the morning glory, Blue Morning Glory “Ipomea indica” has a white/yellow throat surrounded by bright blue petals.
The petals are covered in dark blue and white veins.
The tube also varies in coloration, depending on the species.
The Blue Morning Glory’s tube is white, with a lower light-yellow tip. The inner and outer sepals are green.
The leaves are heart-shaped and range between light and dark green.
Other popular morning glory species include the following:
- Cardinal Climber “Ipomoea quamoclit”
- Grandpa Ott “Ipomoea nil”
- Heavenly Blue “Ipomoea tricolor”
- Moonflower “Ipomoea alba”
- Scarlett O’Hara “Ipomoea nil”
- Minibar Rose “Ipomoea x imperialis”
- Scarlett Star “Ipomoea nil”
- Wedding Bells “Ipomoea tricolor”
- Tie Dye “Ipomoea x imperialis”
The morning glory is a short bloomer, meaning it has a blooming season. The blooming season varies, depending on the climate.
The plant begins to bloom sometime in July or August.
It will continue blooming until late September or the first frost of the year. Again, the blooming season for morning glories varies, according to the climate.
Proper Sun
As a gardener or responsible party, your job is to ensure your morning glories are properly situated, water, and fed.
Fortunately, the morning glory is a low-maintenance plant.
After the transplant, there is very little else to do. With this said, being selective is crucial for every step of the blooming process.
Without proper sunlight, your morning glories will be nothing more than a green vine attached to a trellis.
Not saying, morning glory vines are not appealing, just they are more so with their colorful blooms.
Morning glory seeds should never be planted until the frost-free season kicks in. This will depend on the climate.
The United States Department of Agriculture developed the Hardiness Zone Map for gardeners, farmers, and others who like to plant flowers.
The United States is divided into zones, ranging from 1 to 13. You must locate which zone your state is categorized in.
For example, Florida is divided into zone 8, 9, 10, and 11. Brevard County is zone 9B while Lee County is zone 10A.
Transplant your morning glory seeds, where they will have full access to the sun.
Well-Drained Soil
Botanists describe the morning glory as a desert-tolerant species.
This description basically means the morning glory species do not require a lot of water.
While it is impossible to control the weather, you will need to start protecting the morning glory roots from rotting during and after heavy downpours and several days of rain.
To do this, you must prepare the soil, so water will not pool or puddle.
The water needs to drain quickly to prevent root rot.
The first thing to note is clay-based soils are not recommended for morning glories. The clay holds water instead of allowing it to drain.
In other words, clay soil will maintain water, resulting in root rot in a short period of time.
The first step of the process is to dig a hole up to 1 foot (12 inches).
Utilize a shovel, not to rototiller for this project because it has depth limitations (can only reach depths up to 8 inches).
Utilizing a deeper depth will ensure better draining.
The next step of the process is to add 1 foot of organic, nutrient-rich soil, minus three inches, which will be utilized for organic compost.
If you want to utilize a rock for better drainage, it is recommended to choose ¾-inch sized river gravel.
Stay clear of pea gravel because it will not leave any openings for the water to drain out.
Add the grave rock before adding the compost and finally the soil.
Before transplanting your morning glory seeds, it is recommended to perform a soil drainage test.
To do this, you will need a water hose or several gallons of water.
Completely fill the hole with water and allow it to completely drain. Repeat the process to double-check the draining if necessary.
If the draining is not sufficient, it is recommended to add more compost.
The water needs to drain at a rate of two to five gallons per hour.
Proper Watering
Morning glories do not require a lot of water, which explains the well-draining soil concept.
It is recommended to only water morning glories weekly, giving them approximately one inch of fresh tap water.
More water is required during the growing process. Taper off as the plant becomes established.
Wind Shield
Morning glories are not tolerant to strong winds. It is recommended to give them some type of shelter from winds that are strong and drying.
Install a trellis, which will play two roles – wind shelter and climbing.
A fence or lattice will also serve the same purpose.
It depends on your preference, but your morning glories need a wind shield to survive strong winds.
