How to Grow Morning Glory: Seeds, Supports and Safe Varieties
How to grow morning glory: nick or soak the seeds overnight, sow them straight where they will grow in March to April (or after the monsoon in Karachi), give them full sun and a string or mesh to climb, and don’t feed much. Within weeks you get a green curtain that opens fresh trumpets every morning and closes them by afternoon. Before you sow, two warnings: the seeds are poisonous if eaten, and the wrong kind of ipomoea can swallow your whole balcony.
The short version
- Plant: annual morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea, Ipomoea nil and their hybrids)
- Sow: March to April on the plains; February to March in Karachi and again after the monsoon; April to May in the hills
- Sun: full sun, 6 hours or more
- Pot: 10 to 20 litres (10 to 12 inch) for two or three plants
- Growth: fast; NC State lists 6 to 10 feet in one season
- Support: strings, net or thin trellis; it twines, it does not cling
- Safety: seeds are toxic to children and pets
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Annual or perennial: which morning glory should you plant?
Choose annual types sold as seed packets: purple, pink, blue and the Japanese Ipomoea nil types. They die back at the end of the season, so you stay in control. Perennial blue morning glory (often Ipomoea indica) and wild roadside ipomoeas, including the pink besharam (Ipomoea carnea) shrub seen along canals, are a different story. They spread by runners and seed, climb over trees, and are hard to remove once settled. NC State notes even the common annual is considered invasive in some parts of the world and self seeds. If a nursery offers a “permanent” blue morning glory vine, think twice before planting it near a wall you share.
How do you grow morning glory from seed?
Seed is by far the best method. The coat is hard, so help water in.
- Rub each seed lightly on sandpaper or nick it with nail clippers, away from the tiny eye.
- Soak overnight in lukewarm water. Seeds that swell are ready; nick again any that don’t.
- Sow directly where they will grow, about 1 cm deep, two or three seeds per spot, 15 to 20 cm apart. Morning glory dislikes having its roots disturbed.
- Keep soil moist, not soggy. Seedlings usually appear within one to two weeks in warm soil.
- Thin to the strongest seedling per spot and guide it to the support once it starts to twine.
In a 10 to 12 inch pot, use 2 parts soil, 1 part sand and 1 part compost; our potting mix guide explains the ratio.
Can you grow morning glory from cuttings?
Yes, but it is rarely worth it for annuals. Tip cuttings 10 to 15 cm long, with lower leaves stripped, root in water or damp sand in warm weather in a couple of weeks. It is a handy way to save a favourite colour from a Japanese type at the end of summer, or to fill a gap mid season. For most people, a new packet of seed each spring is simpler.
What support does morning glory need?
Morning glory twines around thin things. It cannot grip a flat wall or climb a thick pole without help.
- Best: jute or nylon string, plastic garden net, or thin wire mesh, stretched from pot to a hook above.
- Railings: fine for annual types; tie a few strings across the bars to start.
- Walls: fix a net or wires 5 cm off the wall.
The annual vine itself is light, but a full grown curtain catches wind like a sail, and wet monsoon foliage is heavy. Use strong hooks, not tape or a single nail, and never rely on a loose or rusted railing or a shared drain pipe. Perennial ipomoeas get woody and heavy enough over a few years to pull down light trellises. For railings, bottles and stacked pots on a small balcony, see our vertical garden ideas.
Hungry soil, more flowers
Morning glory flowers best in average, even slightly poor soil. Rich compost and nitrogen feeds give you a thick wall of heart shaped leaves with few trumpets. Mix in compost only at sowing, then skip feeding, or use a little bloom fertiliser at half the label rate once buds show. If you already have all leaves, stop feeding and let the soil run lean.
How fast does it grow and when does it flower?
Fast. From a spring sowing on the plains, vines usually start flowering in early summer and keep going into autumn. Each flower opens in the morning and closes by afternoon; a new set opens the next day. In extreme heat (45C in Multan), flowering slows and leaves may wilt at noon, then perk up by evening. Water pots daily in that heat, and every few days in the ground.
Why is my morning glory not flowering?
- Too much fertiliser, especially nitrogen.
- Not enough sun: under five or six hours, leaves only.
- Day length: some Japanese types flower mainly as days shorten in late summer.
- Too young: give it six to eight weeks from sowing.
- Drought stress in a small pot during May and June.
Does morning glory survive winter, and should you prune it?
Annual morning glory dies with the first frost nights in Lahore, Delhi and Islamabad and fades in Karachi’s cooler months. Pull it out, collect a few dry seed pods for next year if you wish, and store seed in a labelled jar out of children’s reach. Pruning is light: snip any shoot heading where you don’t want it, and cut off spent flowers if you want to cut down self seeding. Hard pruning is only needed for perennial types, in February.
Morning glory seeds are toxic; NC State lists vomiting, and hallucinations from large amounts, and flags the plant as a problem for dogs, cats and horses. Store packets and dried pods out of reach, never let children play with the seeds, and call a doctor, vet or poison centre if any are swallowed. Pull stray seedlings before they climb into neighbours’ gardens or trees. Treat aphids with water and soap spray first; with any chemical, read the label, wear gloves and a mask, and keep children away until it dries.
Grow it or skip it?
Grow annual types for a quick summer screen or a green balcony curtain; few plants in Phool aur Paudhe cover so much so fast. Skip perennial blue ipomoea and besharam, skip it where toddlers can reach the seed pods, and skip it if your only support is a weak railing.
Morning glory questions people ask
How do you grow morning glory from seed?
Nick the seed coat, soak overnight, and sow 1 cm deep where it will grow, in full sun with a string or net to climb. Seedlings come up in one to two weeks.
When should I plant morning glory seeds?
March to April on the plains, February to March or after the monsoon in Karachi, and April to May in the hills, once nights are warm.
Why is my morning glory all leaves and no flowers?
Usually too much fertiliser or too little sun. Stop feeding, give it six hours of sun, and wait; some types flower later in the season.
How fast does morning glory grow?
Very fast. In a warm, sunny spot it can climb six to ten feet in one season.
What is the best support for morning glory?
Thin strings, garden net or wire mesh it can twine around. It cannot climb a flat wall or thick pole unaided.
Is morning glory invasive?
Perennial and wild ipomoeas can be. Annual types self seed but are manageable if you pull seedlings and deadhead.
Are morning glory seeds poisonous?
Yes. They can cause vomiting and worse in large amounts, for children and pets alike. Keep packets and pods out of reach.
Does morning glory come back every year?
Annual types die in winter but often reseed. Perennial types regrow from roots and can be hard to get rid of.
Can you grow morning glory in a pot?
Yes, two or three plants in a 10 to 12 inch pot with a net above. Water daily in summer heat.