Morning glory, morning glory, species of Ipomoea

The morning glory displays its brilliant abundance of flowers throughout the summer. As busy climbing plants, tropical Ipomoea species offer us an abundance of creative scenarios that transform beds, facades and balconies into a heavenly flower paradise. Declared as frugal and undemanding, the funnel winch cannot do without horticultural attention. These care instructions explain in a practical way what the picturesque climbing artist really values.

care

It floods the summer garden with huge funnel-shaped blossoms that tower over the pretty leaves. Nobody can escape the magic of the climbing morning glory. Where it is necessary to green dreary facades, decorate simple fences with colorful flowers or sunny ones The wonderful Ipomoea species are reliable for transforming balconies into a picturesque retreat Job.

Immigrated from the tropical regions of the world, morning winds already shiver at a mild 10 degrees Celsius, so that they only delight us for one season. These care instructions show in a practice-oriented way how you can keep the colorful bindweed in a good mood.

The multifaceted genus of morning glories is not limited to ornamental plants. The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is one of the best-known useful species, and is a tasty part of the daily menu in the United States and China.

Cultivation

Due to their pronounced sensitivity to frost, the outdoor season for a morning glory does not begin until mid-May at the earliest. From this point on, direct sowing is theoretically possible. The tropical creeper, on the other hand, starts with a clear growth advantage if it is grown in March by sowing behind glass. Since seedlings are very sensitive to pricking, the seeds are sown in plastic pots or peat compacted pots.

A heatable indoor greenhouse or a heating mat underneath guarantee the required germination temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius. Commercially available seed soil, a mix of sand and potting soil or coconut fibers can be used as the substrate.

Note: It is strongly recommended to sterilize the potting soil in the oven at 150 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

This is how the sowing proceeds in a controlled manner:

• Fill the growing containers with seed soil and moisten with soft water
• Press 2 to 3 seeds into each pot a maximum of 0.5 cm deep into the moist soil
• keep it constantly slightly moist at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius in the partially shaded location

If no indoor greenhouse is available, please put a transparent hood over each pot. The moist, warm microclimate created in this way also puts the seeds in a germinative mood. Daily ventilation effectively prevents the formation of mold.

As soon as the first germ layers appear, the cover can be removed and the temperature lowered to 16 to 18 degrees Celsius. Please attach growing seedlings to small plant sticks as first climbing aids. Pour regularly with water at room temperature until mid-May. There is no fertilization in this phase.

Location

Since the funnel wind has not learned to defy the rough spring climate, the time window for planting in the open does not open until mid-May at the earliest. Emperor winds in pots and balcony boxes take their places as early as April to spend the nights behind glass until after the ice saints.

Choose a location with these characteristics:

• full sun to shady location
• warm, protected from wind and rain
• nutrient-rich, humus soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH value
• like fresh and moist, with good drainage

Substrate

For cultivation in pots, flower boxes and hanging baskets, high-quality potting soil with a low proportion of peat has proven itself in practice. To improve the permeability, please add a little more sand, perlite or lava granulate.

Plants in the bed

In the bed, the morning glory functions wonderfully as a flower-rich ground cover. If a climbing aid is available to you as a climbing plant, it leaves sober garden fences, dreary Facades, weathered arbors or dreary water pipes under their colorful flowers disappear. Careful soil preparation will get growth going right from the start.

How to properly plant funnel winds:

• Thoroughly rake and weed the earth at the chosen location
• Mount trellis wire or similar climbing aids on facades, pergolas, fences and downpipes
• meanwhile soak the still potted root ball in water until no more air bubbles rise
• Dig pits at a distance of 30-50 cm with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
• Enrich the excavation with sifted compost and horn shavings

Plant the potted Ipomoea so deep that the soil just reaches the lower pair of leaves. A slightly inclined alignment towards the climbing aid directs the morning glory in the desired direction of growth. Ground cover plants, on the other hand, are just getting into the ground. Please press the soil firmly and pour generously at the end.

Plants in pots and boxes

Annual morning glories with their abundance of flowers steal the show from classic perennials on the summery balcony. So that the exotic flowers in the tub and box meet expectations, protection against waterlogging comes into focus. Please only use planters that have one or more floor openings so that excess irrigation water can run off unhindered.

In addition, spread a drainage over it. A layer of fine chippings, expanded clay balls or pottery shards is covered with water and air permeable fleece before you fill in the substrate. The planting distance can be a little closer to the bed at 20-30 cm in order to create an opulent appearance. In addition, the process is no different from planting in the garden soil.

to water

Due to the lush volume of flowers and leaves, the transpiration rate of a morning glory is at a high level. As a result, regular watering is at the top of the list in the maintenance program. Whenever the surface of the substrate has dried, it is watered. Please slowly pour the water directly onto the root disc through the pot nozzle.

Overhead irrigation not only affects the beauty of a funnel wind, but also increases the risk of infection with fungal diseases. To prevent waterlogging, stop the water supply as soon as the coaster fills or small puddles collect on the floor.

Fertilize

A constant supply of nutrients ensures that it will flower for many months. The supplies of the pre-fertilized substrate are used up within 4 weeks. From mid-June we therefore recommend the weekly application of liquid fertilizer to morning glories in planters. If the creepers thrive in nutrient-rich garden soil, the application of organic or mineral-organic fertilizer at intervals of 2 to 3 weeks covers the need. Please do not neglect to pour plenty of water after each fertilization.

Cut

Last but not least, one of the many advantages of Ipomoea is its good-natured cut tolerance. Overzealous funnel winds can be cut into shape at any time. If the plant tirelessly climbs up and neglects the growth in width, shorten the shoot tips, which will result in increased side shoots.

Tip: Consistent cleaning of wilted flowers also helps ensure that the imperial winds maintain a well-groomed appearance.

Overwinter

With a view to the uncomplicated sowing and vital germination, the question of the meaning of wintering such cold-sensitive plants is obvious. However, if you don't have the heart to dispose of a magnificent imperial wind in a pot or balcony box on the compost in autumn, you can dare to experiment.

This is how you do it:

• at autumn temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, the morning glories cut back
• Shorten all tendrils to a length of 10-20 cm
• Put the planters in a bright winter quarter with temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius

Until next spring, only water the plants when the substrate is well dried. Fertilizer is not given during this time. In April you repot the winter funnel winds. Ideally, the plant should be accustomed to sunlight and higher temperatures during the day on the sheltered balcony until mid-May.

Multiply

Seeds

If you are aiming for a numerous multiplication of your most beautiful morning glory, do not clean all of the flowers. By autumn, the withered flowers turn into spherical fruits with small seeds. The ripe seed pods are kept dry and dark throughout the winter. In spring sow the seeds as explained in more detail in these care instructions. Please consider the toxicity of the fruit when doing any work and wear protective gloves.

Cuttings

Some Ipomoea species thrive in their homeland for several years, so that they are suitable for propagation with the help of cuttings. To do this, cut non-flowering tendrils to a length of 10 to 15 cm in late summer.

How to proceed:

• small pots fill with cultivation or standard soil
• Defoliate half to two thirds of leaves from each cutting
• Plant and water with the leaf-free shoot part

In the partially shaded window seat, you can maintain the cuttings throughout the winter at temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius until they can be planted out from mid-May.

Ipomoea species

The following selection presents recommended morning glory species and varieties that have proven to be suitable for cultivation in the garden and on the balcony.

Sky-blue Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor)

The annual creeper inspires with red-fringed funnel-shaped flowers during budding. As the flowering period progresses, the flowers turn sky blue with a white throat.

• variety 'Crimson Rambler': Red flowers with a white throat
• variety 'Heavenly Blue': Sky-blue flowers with a full 20 cm in diameter

Imperial bindweed (Ipomoea imperialis)

With its pink and white flowers, the species creates floral waterfalls from hanging baskets and window boxes. The green and white drawn leaves contrast impressively with this splendor of flowers.

• variety 'Sunrise Serenade': Semi-double, lilac-red flowers
• variety 'Pink Sea of ​​Wind': Blooming profusely with pink funnel-shaped flowers

Purple Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)

Its 6 to 8 cm large flowers shine in deep purple or delicate pink. The robust species has made a name for itself, especially in facade greening. Their heart-shaped leaves increase the ornamental value of the ornamental plant, which is sometimes overgrown in Germany.

• variety 'Scarlet O’Hara': Carmine red flowers and white heart
• variety 'Scarlet Star': Magenta flowers and white throat

Ivy bindweed (Ipomoea hederacea)

If you are on the lookout for a morning glory for the small garden, you will find it in the ivy funnel. Its winding tendrils are covered with 2-3 cm small, sky-blue flowers and reach a length of 100 to 200 cm. The deep green leaves are three-lobed to five-lobed, from which the species name can be traced back.

Stellar winds (Ipomoea lobata)

The species native to southern Mexico provides convincing evidence that Ipomoea species are not exclusively restricted to funnel-shaped flowers. The tubular flowers thrive in dense clusters. For a distinctive play of colors, the flowers initially appear red, and later turn orange, yellow and white. Its common name, the Spanish flag, could not have been chosen more appropriately.

Feathered star bindweed (Ipomoea quamoclit)

This species has so far made itself rare in German gardens, which seems difficult to understand in view of the distinctive leaflets. The red flowers are 3 to 4 cm long. They only open over the needle-shaped, dense foliage for a day, while the next flowers are already waiting.

Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)

In Asia, this species is often grown as a useful plant. The leaves of this white-pink flowering morning glory can be prepared and consumed like spinach. In contrast to the vast majority of its conspecifics, water spinach thrives in the moist soil at the edge of the pond or along the course of the stream.

Sweet potato (ipomoea batatas)

Another useful plant within the bindweed family is attracting increasing attention in Germany. The sweet potato can be grown in the bed and in the balcony box. The roots can be prepared in a variety of ways and can be cooked, fried, grilled and steamed on the palate. Until harvest, the plant trumps with decorative white flowers and a purple throat.