Caring for Morning Glories the Easy Way

I started growing several types of morning glories this year and absolutely love them! If you haven’t grown morning glories yet, I highly recommend adding them to your garden. This is a guide to caring for morning glories the easy way.

I placed seeds and seedlings in various pots and areas in my patio to see where they would grow best. We have some growing against a wall in one part of our balcony. We even installed a white trellis, which really makes the morning glories stand out when they bloom in the morning!

Below are some tips on how to best enjoy the morning glory plant in your garden.

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When Do Morning Glories Bloom?

Morning glories typically bloom during the spring and summer, but can bloom shorter or longer based on where you live and how hot or cold it gets in your area. If you are not sure about what can grow in your area, check out the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map.

I see morning glories blooming all over town throughout the year, but we live in a mild weathered area. Older morning glories that I’ve seen get very thick and full of beautiful flowers!

Where to Plant Morning Glories?

Morning glories are climbers, so plan out carefully where you want to grow your morning glories. These can grow up to 15 feet in length!

We have some plants growing up a trellis on a wall, while some other morning glories are growing in a hanging planting in the front porch. Make sure there is plenty of space for your morning glories to grow, since they will eventually take up a bunch of room!

What do Morning Glories Look Like?

Morning glories are a vine that grows beautiful flowers in vibrant shades of blue, red, white, purple, and pink. Their blooms are in the shape of trumpets and bloom during the morning hours. The leaves are also beautiful with their heart-shaped green leaves.

You can choose various morning glories in one specific color, or get a bunch of different seeds for a colorful vine of morning glories!

How to Grow Morning Glories

Once you have your seeds, file and soak them for 24 hours to get them to sprout quickly. If you plan to start them indoors, place one in each section of an eggcrate, then cover lightly with soil, about a 1/4 inch layer.

Once seedlings sprout, you can transfer them when a second set of leaves appear on the seedling. Morning glories love the sun, so make sure there is plenty of sunlight where you transfer the seedlings. Place seeds or seedlings at least 6 inches apart to give them plenty of room to grow.

Since morning glories like wrapping themselves around objects as they grow, make sure they have something to grow on, such as a trellis or pergola. Morning glories also grow well in containers and hanging planters, as long as they have some to latch onto for the vine to grow on.

You might have to “train” your morning glories to grow in the right direction. We have ours growing up on a trellis. Sometimes, our morning glories want to latch onto a nearby plant or go in the opposite direction of the trellis.

When this happens, gently wrap or point the vine in the direction of your pergola or trellis.

Morning Glory Care

Fertilize your morning glories once they are planted. Make sure they get watered when dry. Mulch the area around them so weeds don’t take over the area.

Morning glories are known for reseeding, so cut off old flowers before they do this to avoid overgrown areas of morning glories.

Morning Glory Pests and Diseases

Just like with any other plant, morning glories can get diseases and attract certain pests. Caring for morning glories include watching out for disease and pests.

Aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars love morning glories. Something enjoys the leaves near the ground of mine. I have yet to catch the culprit!

Fungal leaf spots and rust are common diseases that morning glories can get as well. Use an organic spray or make your own pest and disease sprays and repellants.

Types of Morning Glories

There are various types of morning glory seeds you can purchase locally and online. Although the Heavenly Blue Morning Glories are the most common (at least here), there are other varieties in multiple colors. Here are some of my favorites:

Are Morning Glories Poisonous to Dogs?

Be careful if you have pets. Morning glories are poisonous to dogs and cats. Tiger has yet to bother our morning glories when he sneaks out.

If you have pets, be mindful of where they are when outside with you in your garden.

Morning Glories Meaning

Morning glories hold several meanings. Morning glories can represent love, mortality, and affection. This can be because each flower only lasts one day.