Content
In home floriculture and in summer cottages, a decorative, beautifully blooming flower is gaining popularity - morning glory Sweet potato or “sweet potato”. For a long time, the plant was grown as an edible crop and only recently began to be used in landscape design. Planting and caring for perennial morning glory Sweet Potato is not difficult. In regions with warm climates, the crop is grown in open ground, in cities with unstable weather, as a flower plant.
General description of the species
Ipomoea Sweet Potato is a perennial crop, but in home floriculture the plant is grown as an annual. The deciduous plant belongs to the Convolvulaceae family and grows up to 5 m. Botanical description:
- The root system is tuberous, spindle-shaped. The yellow-orange pulp contains antioxidants that reduce the likelihood of cancer cells forming.
- The shoot is smooth, liana-shaped.
- The leaf blade is heart-shaped with a pointed end, 3 to 14 cm long.The color can vary, from light yellow to red-purple.
- The flowers are funnel-shaped, of various colors, up to 5 cm in diameter, the inflorescences are formed by single buds, collected from 1-3 pieces.
- The seeds are elongated, reaching up to 6 mm in length. The seeds are in a flat, woody box, angular in shape. Seeds are located singly in each chamber.
There are more than 7,000 species, which are divided into decorative, fodder, dessert and vegetable.
- Desserts taste like melon, pumpkin or banana. They are used to prepare fruit salads, jams and aromatic alcoholic drinks.
- Vegetable – has a rich taste and aroma, easily replaces potatoes. It is used boiled, raw or baked. It is used to produce aromatic vegetable and meat broths.
- Fodder - goes to feed livestock.
- Ornamental varieties - morning glory Sweet potato is intended for cultivation in open ground, as a hanging and indoor plant.
As a food product, morning glory sweet potato brings great benefits to the body. The plant is low in calories and contains vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances. Useful properties of morning glory Sweet potato:
- improves the functioning of internal organs;
- removes bad cholesterol, waste and toxins;
- stimulates the work of the heart muscle;
- has an anti-inflammatory effect;
- strengthens the nervous system.
Ipomoea Sweet Potato is unpretentious in cultivation and care; it can grow on sandy or loamy soil with neutral acidity.
In most cases, morning glory sweet potatoes are grown outdoors. The place should be well lit and protected from gusty winds.After flowering, perennial varieties are transplanted into a pot and brought into a warm room. When growing morning glory Sweet Potato indoors, after flowering, the top is trimmed and placed closer to the window, making sure that there are no drafts or sudden changes in temperature.
Varieties of morning glory Sweet potato
Ipomoea Sweet Potato is popular not only for its beautiful flowering, but also for its decorative foliage. It can be grown in open beds and at home. A variety of colors will allow you to decorate any corner of the house and garden.
There are many varieties of morning glory Sweet potato, but to choose the right variety you need to read the description and look at the photo.
Margarita
Decorative deciduous plant with large soft green heart-shaped leaves. Ipomoea variety Margarita grows up to 30 cm, the lashes can reach 1-2 m. The variety does not bloom, it has gained popularity for its decorative foliage about 15 cm long. In regions with an unstable climate, it is grown at home as an annual. The plant is planted in open ground under a film after the end of spring frosts. Margarita is used as an ampelous, ground cover plant. It is planted in containers and hanging pots. For rapid growth during the growing season, it is necessary to pinch the top.
Cairo
The variety came to the country from Australia and Asian countries. The plant produces shoots 5 m long and flowers of sky purple color. Flowering is abundant; during the growing season, the plant is covered with numerous buds, forming a beautiful carpet of delicate petals.
Purple
An annual plant with a pubescent stem reaching a length of up to 8 m. The leaf blade is smooth, dark green in color.At the beginning of summer, the plant is covered with simple or double flowers of soft pink, red, purple and snow-white colors. The tropics of America are considered the birthplace of the variety.
Ivy-shaped
The liana-like plant produces shoots up to 3 m long. The variety received its name because of the shape of the leaf, which resembles an ivy leaf plate. The flower is 5 cm in diameter, painted red, pink, burgundy or blue with a snow-white edge.
Moonflower
A late flowering variety with large heart-shaped leaves of a soft green color. In July, 3 m shoots are covered with large snow-white flowers with a diameter of 10 cm. Flowering is one-day, but long-lasting. The buds open before the first frost. The variety is grown in hanging pots and used for vertical gardening.
Mina Lobata
Ipomoea mina Lobata is an annual, densely growing plant with flexible shoots up to 3 m long. The stem is covered with three-lobed dark green leaves. Inflorescences of unusual shape appear in their axils. Spike-shaped brushes in the initial stage of opening are painted bright red. As the flowers bloom, their color ranges from orange to snow-white cream. Before planting morning glory mina Lobata, you need to view photos and read reviews from gardeners.
Reproduction methods
Ipomoea Sweet Potato can be propagated in 3 ways: seeds, tubers and cuttings. Each method has its own characteristics and degree of complexity. Vegetative propagation is most suitable for beginners; experienced gardeners will be able to propagate morning glory Sweet Potato by seeds.
How to grow morning glory sweet potato flower from cuttings
Ipomoea Sweet Potato can be propagated in the simplest and least labor-intensive way - by cuttings.In autumn, cuttings 10-15 cm long are cut from the plant, the lower leaves are removed, and the cut is treated in a root formation stimulator. The prepared material is immersed in warm water until roots appear. If the cut is rotten, it is carefully trimmed and placed in clean water with the addition of the drug “Kornevin”. After 5 cm of roots appear, the plant is transplanted into a pot with nutrient soil.
How to propagate by tubers
The method is suitable for plants growing in open ground. In the fall, morning glory is dug up, the top part is cut off, and the tubers are placed in damp sand or sawdust. Planting material is stored in a dark, cool room.
In December, after the buds appear, the tubers are divided into several parts, so that each division has one bud. After the cut is treated with charcoal or brilliant green, each part is planted in a pot with nutritious soil. In the spring, the prepared material can be transferred to a permanent place. After planting, morning glory Sweet Potato will show flowers in early June, gradually covering the bush until the first frost.
Can it be grown from seeds?
Seed propagation is a complex method with a small percentage of germination. Therefore, to obtain 2-3 plants, about 10 seeds are planted, which have undergone pre-sowing preparation. Typically, seed propagation is used by breeders to obtain a new variety.
Growing morning glory Sweet potato from seeds occurs in 5 stages:
- Soil preparation - to increase germination, seeds are sown in light, nutritious soil. To do this, purchased nutrient soil is mixed with sand in a 2:1 ratio.
- Pre-sowing preparation of seeds - planting material is soaked for 24 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This way they will be disinfected and hatch faster. You can also increase germination by puncturing each seed with a sterile needle. But, according to gardeners, this option is risky; it should be used only if sterility is maintained.
- Planting seeds - the container is filled with moist, prepared soil. The seeds are placed at a distance of 3 cm from each other, buried by 2 cm. For rapid germination, the container is covered with film or glass and put in the warmest place. The ideal temperature for germination should be within + 20 °C. 2 weeks after the sprouts appear, the shelter is removed.
- Picking - after 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings are picked in separate containers. Caring for seedlings is not difficult; it is necessary to provide them with sufficient lighting and regular irrigation, since if there is a lack of moisture and sunlight, the young plant may die.
- Transplantation to a permanent place - seedlings are planted in open ground after the end of spring frosts, when the height of the plant is at least 10-15 cm.
Ipomoea Sweet Potato seeds are planted in mid-May, and seedlings are planted in early June.
Planting and caring for morning glory Sweet potato
Ipomoea Sweet Potato is often grown outdoors as an annual plant. To do this, select a well-lit area without direct sunlight and drafts. Therefore, the south or south-east side is suitable for growing.
When grown indoors, morning glory Sweet Potato is placed on a well-lit windowsill. At the same time, fresh air should be supplied, without the formation of drafts. At home, morning glory sweet potatoes are grown in hanging flower pots or large flower pots.
Morning glory seedlings Sweet potato are planted in a permanent place after the ground has warmed up to + 15 °C. It is better to prepare the soil for the flower in the fall. To do this, dig up the area, add humus, rotted manure or compost and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Since morning glory Sweet Potato prefers to grow on neutral soil, the acidified soil is diluted with lime or dolomite flour 14 days before fertilizing. In the spring, the soil is dug up and fed with nitrogenous fertilizers.
Algorithm for planting in open ground:
- Morning glory is planted in a permanent place using seedlings.
- In the selected area, make a hole 15 cm deep.
- If several plants are planted, an interval of 30-40 cm must be maintained.
- When planting seedlings, the cotyledon leaves should be in the ground, and the lower leaves should be removed, leaving only the top two.
- The planted plant is compacted in the soil, watered and covered with breathable material until new leaves form.
Aftercare
Caring for morning glory Sweet potato is not difficult, the main thing to remember is that the plant is heat-loving, so you need to adhere to the thermal regime.
In order for the plant to please with abundant flowering, proper care is necessary, which consists of watering and fertilizing.
- Watering is carried out regularly, but moderately.
- After watering, the soil is loosened and mulched. Mulch will retain moisture, stop the growth of weeds, and serve as an additional organic fertilizer.
- During the period of active growth, morning glory Sweet Potato is fed with nitrogen. The main rule is not to overfeed flowering varieties, otherwise the plant will grow green mass instead of forming buds.
- When growing perennial morning glory sweet potatoes in regions with warm winters, it is necessary to carry out autumn and spring pruning. In the fall, damaged and dried shoots are removed, and in the spring, branches that have not overwintered are removed.
Caring for indoor morning glory Sweet potato
When growing indoor morning glory Sweet Potato with carved leaves, minimal care is required. Watering is carried out only after the soil dries out, as the plant is afraid of overwatering. Frequent irrigation is necessary in the first weeks of the growing season. In hot, dry summers, it is recommended to take the plant out onto the balcony and water it only when the soil dries to a depth of 2 cm.
If white bubbles form on the leaf plate, stop watering. Since the formation of blisters is a reaction to excess moisture. Therefore, it is recommended to water the plant through a tray.
Growing morning glory Sweet potato on the site
When growing morning glory Sweet Potato in your garden, you must remember that the plant is heat-loving and may die during the first cold weather. The optimal temperature for development is + 9-30 °C. At low temperatures, the flower stops growing; at elevated temperatures, the plant dies.
In the fall, before the onset of frost, the plant is dug up, transplanted into a flower pot and placed in a room with a temperature of + 16-20 ° C.
Disease and pest control
Ipomoea Sweet potato is rarely affected by disease. But if it is overwatered, the root system of the plant may rot.In this case, the morning glory is carefully removed from the ground, the root system is inspected, and rotten and damaged roots are trimmed. The healthy part is treated with copper-containing preparations.
Among the pests, morning glory sweet potatoes can be attacked by aphids and spider mites. To combat insects, insecticides or folk remedies are used.
Morning glory Batata in landscape design
Ipomoea Sweet Potato makes beautiful flower arrangements. Next to morning glory will be perfect neighbors:
- petunia;
- Europhobia;
- marine lobularia;
- large-flowered purslane;
- ornamental cereals.
Since the plant is liana-shaped, it is used for vertical gardening. Morning glory is planted to decorate arches, gazebos, unsightly walls and fences.
As a climbing plant, morning glory is used for ampel growing in hanging pots. In a combination of several varieties, dense, beautifully flowering morning glory looks impressive, giving comfort to even the most modest interior.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for morning glory sweet potato is simple, so the flower can easily be grown both at home and in the garden. The liana-like plant will be a wonderful decoration for your home interior and an addition to your landscape design.
