If you really have a garden area that
is used for evening relaxation and entertainment you can add this enticing
fragrance of moonflowers in the garden. The large white or purple really blooms
on a climbing vine and they offer an amazing evening smell when they are grown
in the garden. This plant called moonflower (Ipomoea alba) are perennial vines
in sub-tropical areas, although gardeners with cold winters can successfully
grow them as annuals. Moonflower is a member of the Ipomea family, this plant is
related to the sweet potato vine and the morning glory, and they are with
flowers that open in the late afternoon.
Steps on how to grow a
Moonflower Vine
Moonflowers plant does not actually
need much space ground in the garden as they readily climb upward. Make sure
you provide a trellis or other support for the vigorous vines. There are some growing
moonflowers that can reach up to 20 feet happily twining around anything within
their reach. Just make sure you pinch back growing moonflowers at the top of
the vine, this is part of your care for the moonflowers, to actually force
flowering downward. This particular plant is winter-hardy perennials in zones
10-11, although in cooler zones, the Moonflower plants can be grown effectively
as annuals.
Moonflower plants grow easily from seed when planted in somewhat
fertile soil, this plants are also adaptable to other soil conditions. In
colder climates the seeds can be started 6 to 8 weeks before the soil outside
has warmed. You can plant the moonflowers outside when the outdoor temperature is
consistently 60 to 70 F. (15-20 C.). There are a lot of growers that think that
the crowding of roots in the pot really encourages an earlier bloom on moonflower
plants.
Furthermore, this plant can be grown in large containers or they can be
planted in the ground. More moonflowers plants can be started from root
division of existing plants. Make sure you mulch the roots of moonflowers plant,
and also dig them up for winter storage in colder areas. Also the light
requirements for growing moonflowers plant are adaptable, although more sun
equals more blooms.
How to care for
Moonflowers
Make sure you water the small plants
regularly and also provide additional water as the moonflower vines grow. From
my little experience a regular fertilization at half strength with a high phosphorus fertilizer really encourages more blooms on this plant. Don’t also
forget that too much nitrogen fertilizer can limit blooms and create abundant
growth of the foliage.
There are many of the Ipomea species that
really contain lysergic acid, most especially the seeds, which can be toxic if
ingested. Make sure you keep these plants well away from small children or pets
around the garden.
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