What you need to know when growing potted morning glory at home
I live in an apartment, there is an open balcony. In the spring I plant petunias and pelargoniums there in hanging containers. Tell me, is it possible to grow a morning glory plant in a pot at home? There is simply no way in containers to organize a support for weaving, and I don’t want the flower to “run away” along the balcony to the neighbors.
Morning glory is one of those plants that flower growers are happy to use for planting in the garden near summer pavilions. Braiding them with its long shoots, the plant creates not only a stunning effect during flowering, but also gives the much needed shade. It is possible to grow this vine even in a metropolis, but already as a potted balcony culture. You should not be afraid of long creeping shoots – having organized suitable conditions for the flower, not only the owners themselves, but also passers-by will admire its flowering throughout the summer.
What should be considered when planting morning glory at home in a pot, in addition to the usual growing conditions? First of all, these are three factors:
- choose the right time for sowing seeds;
- find a suitable pot and soil;
- provide good lighting;
- provide support for creeping stems.
When to sow?
Morning glory is characterized by very rapid growth, the seeds usually germinate well and grow quickly, so you should immediately decide: grow seedlings in an apartment on the windowsill or sow seeds directly into a pot standing on the balcony, where they will grow further.
Ipomoea can be sown for seedlings at the end of March. If it is not possible to provide good lighting and support for the seedlings, you can sow the seeds directly into the pot and leave it on the balcony. In this case, this should be done not earlier than the end of April, and then the seedlings themselves should be thinned out..
When planting morning glory directly in a pot (or transferring ready-made seedlings to the balcony), it must be borne in mind that it is thermophilic and the bushes will not survive temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius..
What kind of pot is needed?
For morning glory, you need to pick up a large enough flowerpot. One plant will need at least 3 liters of soil. A drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of the pot – the flower does not like stagnant water. Accordingly, the substrate itself should be light and loose..
The Role of Lighting for Ipomoea Blossom
The most suitable place for a flower pot is the south balcony. It will also bloom well on the east or west side of the house. But the northern balconies, unfortunately, are not very suitable for growing vines. It is quite possible to get a green bush there, but a lack of light will negatively affect flowering: it will be very scarce or it will not come at all.
Features of potted morning glory care
Several bushes can be planted in one flowerpot, making the distance between them at least 20 cm. When transplanting Ipomoea seedlings to a permanent place in a pot, you should know that it does not tolerate it well. This should be done using the transshipment method, trying not to damage the roots..
In order for the vine to branch well and not stretch out, the seedlings must be started to pinch at the stage of 4 real leaves.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the support for the flower: it is installed even at the seedling stage, when the seedlings are low, otherwise they will intertwine with each other. In the pot itself, you can build a structure of bamboo sticks, installing them in the form of a wigwam, or put a decorative plastic lattice.
