Content
Morning glory is a climbing annual plant that can be grown on the balcony. Bindweed is unpretentious, but there are some nuances that you need to know about if morning glory does not bloom on the balcony. The article will be devoted to planting and the rules of caring for a plant in the form of a potted crop.
Features of growing morning glory on the balcony
You can grow morning glory not only in open ground, but also on balconies and loggias. Plants develop quickly and will cover part of the space after a while. The main thing is to choose the appropriate conditions, choose the right containers and varieties.
It is very good if the balcony is located on the south, west or east side. In this case, the morning glory will have enough light and heat.When growing climbing flowers on northern loggias, the plants turn out to be pale, they become very elongated, so a decorative appearance cannot be achieved. And the flowering will be sparse.
What varieties of morning glory can be grown on a loggia or balcony
Not all morning glory varieties are suitable for pot growing. That is why you first need to find out which seeds are best to buy. On a balcony or loggia, bindweeds will only grow for one season, since they are annuals.
Ipomoea purpurea
A plant with long (up to 4 m) shoots. The leaves are large, from 7 to 10 cm in diameter, heart-shaped. They are located quite densely along the entire length of the stems.
Flowers look like funnels, single arrangement. The blue, purple, and white buds reach 6 cm in diameter. Morning glory begins to bloom in June. In balcony conditions, flowering lasts for a long time.
Morning glory ivy
This morning glory should be grown in slightly alkaline or neutral soils. The shoots are up to 4 m long, which allows you to create amazing “curtains” that shade the room from sunlight. The leaves are medium long and shaped like an ivy plant, hence the name. Flowers of sky blue, scarlet, pink or purple look original against the background of green foliage.
One of the hybrids is very interesting - “Roman Kandy”. It has a wine tint. There are longitudinal white stripes on the petals and white spots on the leaves.
Morning glory Nile
This variety was created by Japanese breeders. The originator is Kaikyo-zaki. This plant has dark green, heart-shaped leaves. They have dense pubescence.There are whitish-yellow stripes across the entire surface of the leaves.
Morning glory is distinguished by large double flowers of blue, purple, and crimson colors. Each star has white stripes running from the edge to the center.
Ipomoea Kvamoklit (cypress vine)
This type of bindweed is valued for its carved, lush green leaves. The length of the shoots is up to 5 m. They are so powerful that they can independently climb to any height. The buds are star-shaped and have long tubes. The color can be red, scarlet, pink or white depending on the variety. Flowers open early in the morning and after sunset; in hot weather the buds are closed.
Morning glory blue
Despite the decorative nature of the plant, it should not be grown on the balcony in families with small children, since this morning glory contains psychotropic substances.
The plant attracts with its unusual sky-blue flowers and powerful shoots. An excellent option for growing on a balcony or loggia.
Planting morning glory on the balcony
Growing morning glory in pots on the balcony is a fascinating activity. Typically, flower growers do not encounter any particular difficulties. The main thing is to choose the right variety. Seeds should be purchased at the store. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the expiration date of the seed, since after 2 years germination is lost.
Landing dates
It is advisable to sow seeds for seedlings in late March or early April to obtain flowering plants. Of course, this is an approximate time, since everything depends on the climatic conditions of the region. You need to plant flowers on the balcony after above-zero temperatures have established.
When the average daily temperature is +10-15 degrees on the balcony, the flowers can be taken out or replanted.
Preparing containers and soil
To grow morning glory on a loggia or balcony, you need to take care of containers. It is better to choose flowerpots that hold at least 3 liters of soil if one flower is planted in it, or long balcony boxes in which several bushes are planted.
Since plants do not like stagnant water, holes are made in the bottom of the pot for drainage. Then drainage from small stones is laid. After this, the containers are filled with prepared soil.
The climbing flower grows in almost any substrate. The only exception is sandy soils. In this case, add black soil or compost. If the soil in the garden plot is fertile, then it is quite suitable for planting. The main thing is that it is loose, air- and water-permeable.
Landing algorithm
Since morning glory seeds are difficult to germinate, before sowing they need to be soaked for 24 hours in warm water to speed up germination.
Rules for growing and caring for seedlings:
- Water the soil in the containers with warm water, make a hole and sow the seeds to a depth of no more than 1 cm.
- After this, a plastic bag is pulled over the container to create a greenhouse effect. This will speed up germination. The containers should be kept in a warm place at a temperature of +18-20 degrees.
- The first shoots appear after 7-12 days. The cover is immediately removed and the containers are placed in a well-lit window.If there is not enough light in the room, it is advisable to install lighting so that the seedlings do not stretch out.
- If seedlings are grown in a common container, then after 2-3 true leaves appear, picking will be required. Since morning glory does not like this procedure, you need to choose seedlings with a good lump of earth so as not to damage the root system.
- To get a lush bush, seedlings are pinched at a height of 15 cm to provoke the formation of new side shoots. At the same time, you need to make supports for the plants so that they begin to cling to them.
- Morning glory seedlings on the balcony (the photo of which is posted below) are watered as needed. But it should be remembered that drying out and stagnation of water are equally destructive for morning glory.
- When the temperature on the balcony allows, plants in containers are placed on windows or stands. There should be at least 20-30 cm between containers (plants).
Rules for caring for flowers
If you have the skills to care for plants in the open ground, then you won’t have any difficulties with balcony plantings. You need to know how to properly water, feed morning glory, and protect it from diseases and pests.
Watering schedule
It should be understood that when growing bindweed on balconies or loggias, natural precipitation does not participate in irrigation in any way. Therefore, morning glory should be watered frequently. As a rule, every other day. You need to water the bushes with warm, settled water. It is necessary to irrigate in such a way that the water does not stagnate, otherwise the root system will begin to rot.
Feeding morning glory
Climbing plants grown indoors are demanding when it comes to feeding, as they quickly absorb all the nutrients.That is why mineral fertilizers are required: potassium and phosphorus mixtures. Plantings in pots are fed monthly, combining them with watering.
There is no need to overfeed the plants, otherwise they will develop unevenly. In some cases, buds may not appear or the plants will respond with yellowing foliage. All mineral fertilizers are diluted in accordance with the instructions.
Installation of supports
To create a climbing composition, if morning glory is grown on a loggia or balcony, supports will be required. They are installed in the center of the pot when the height is at least 15-20 cm. Then, when the seedlings are taken out to the balcony, you need to pull the fishing line or twine to direct the stems in the desired direction. If desired, instead of threads, you can build a structure from bamboo sticks.
How to get morning glory to bloom on the balcony
In order for morning glory to bloom profusely, you need to properly care for it:
- water and spray correctly and in a timely manner;
- feed regularly.
Dried buds do not need to be torn off, as they are not visible due to the greenery.
What problems may arise
Despite its unpretentiousness, novice gardeners who are starting to grow crops for the first time may experience difficulties:
- Rain outside makes the air on the balcony too humid, which can cause the buds to rot.
- In extreme heat, leaves may turn yellow and fall off. On especially hot days, windows need to be shaded.
- Petunia should not be planted in the same pot with morning glory, as this plant is an antagonist to bindweed.
- Containers for planting should be chosen deep so that the root system develops well.
- The most common pest that affects morning glory is the spider mite. Indoors, you will need to treat the plantings with Actellik or Fitoverm.
- To destroy aphids, plants are sprayed with “Aktara”, “Karbofos”, “Fitoverm”, “Aktellik”.
Why do morning glory leaves turn yellow on the balcony?
This problem can arise for various reasons:
- sudden changes in temperature day and night: in cold soil, roots begin to rot;
- improper watering;
- the pot is too small, the root system does not develop well;
- lack of iron in the soil.
Why doesn't morning glory bloom on the balcony?
Flowering may not begin if morning glory is overfed with nitrogen fertilizers. In this case, green mass will begin to grow abundantly. The second reason why buds do not form is that the pot is too large. That is why it is recommended to choose 3 liter containers.
Conclusion
Many gardeners are embarrassed that morning glory does not bloom on the balcony, no matter what they do. The article contains recommendations that will help you grow beautiful plants with bright buds.
