Can You Grow Morning Glories Indoors
Yes, you can grow morning glories vines indoors in pots and containers and it is also recommended to do so as these vines can grow wild if left unchecked, and growing them in pots helps in keeping them contained. In fact, the only way you can grow morning glory vines outdoors is if you have a large fence or trellis where they can grow unchecked.
Advantages of Growing Morning Glories in Pots
Morning Glories tend to grow very fast and also self-seed which means if grown outdoors they will take over your garden and will kill other plants by suffocating them so it’s more advantageous if you grow morning glory in pots because that will contain their growth.
Growing Morning Glory in pots indoors also has the advantage that you can place them anywhere you want be it on your balcony or on the patio while if you are growing them outdoors you can only grow them on a trellis or a fence that is large.
How to Grow Morning Glory in Containers
When growing morning glory vine indoors in containers follow the steps below
1. Select The Right Pot :
For growing morning glory vine in a pot select a pot that is at least 6 inches in depth and 8 to 10 inches in width. Make sure that the pot you select has drainage holes in the bottom as they need soil that drains well.
2. Select Potting Mixture:
For growing morning glory vine choose a potting mixture that is light and drains well. They like their soil to be moist but not soggy and to maintain that you need to ensure that your potting mixture drains well. You can combine your potting mixture with peat moss and sand which will not only improve the texture of the soil but will still make sure that soil drains well. You can also add gravel at the bottom that will take care that the drainage holes don’t get blocked.
3. Add Support to Your Pots:
As Morning glories are vines that will climb and can grow up to even 10 feet so you will need to provide support to your containers by adding a trellis or placing your pot near an archway or fence so that your vine can climb around it. You have to do this before you plant your seeds as after planting you should not disturb the plant. You can even buy a planter or container with a trellis inbuilt. You can even grow morning glory vines in a hanging basket as they will trail down beautifully from it.
4. Start Your Seeds Indoors:
For growing morning glory vine in a container make sure you start your seeds at least 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost indoors in a container if you are starting it outdoors make sure that soil temperatures have reached 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Prepare Your Seeds:
You should make sure that you also soak your seeds overnight before your start planting them to help improve germination. Before you start planting fill a glass bowl with water and place your seeds in them. If you leave your seeds in water overnight it will help soften the hard shell of the seeds and make it easier for the roots to come out.
6. Plant Your Seeds:
You should plant your seeds on the soil and tuck them one-fourth inch deep using your potting mixture and water them well. You will start seeing your seeds grow sprouts in about a week’s time.
Care Requirements for Growing Morning Glory Indoors
Sunlight
Make sure you choose a location for your morning glory vine indoors that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day. Morning glory vine grows best in bright and direct sunlight so indoors the best location for them is a window facing south or southeast. While choosing a location for your morning glory vine make sure that the container is not placed in a windy place as the wind may damage your vines so ideally choose a location that has sunlight but some shelter from wind also. Make sure you decide on location early because once the vines start climbing you will not be able to move them without cutting them.
Water
When growing morning glory vine indoors in a container you have to really make sure that all its water requirements are met as it likes moisture and indoors soil in pots dry out faster. You will need to water the container at least two times a week in hot weather however if the soil in the container dries out fast and so you might even need to water it 1 to 2 times a day. As a good practice make sure that you touch the soil daily to see if it is dry and water if needed. When watering the plant make sure you water it thoroughly until water is coming out of its drainage holes. During the initial stages of the plant only water it with a fine mist.
Adding Cedar mulch to your potting mixture usually helps in retaining moisture. Do note that if your plant feels like wilting then you are probably underwatering the plant and if the plant has yellow leaves then you are overwatering the plant. Always check if the soil is dry before watering to ensure that you don’t overwater or underwater.
Fertilizing
When growing morning glory vine in a container make sure that you fertilize it with a liquid fertilizer every four to six weeks during its growing season
Pruning & Deadheading
Make sure that you are deadheading the flower heads that are spent and pruning out all the stems that start coming out laterally to keep the morning glory vine in control. Pruning the plant in summer will also help to make sure that you get more flowers blooming as well as help the plant be in control. Late in the fall make sure you cut back the plant to around 6 inches and stop watering it as it will grow dormant in winter and start growing again in spring.
Takeaway
Growing Morning Glory indoors in a container will make sure that this vine does not take over your garden and will also allow you to grow this plant anywhere in your home adding style to your rooms, balcony, or patio.
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