The morning glory is a tropical climbing plant that, with the right care, can also convince us with its fiery flowers.
The morning glory (Ipomoea lobata) originally comes from southwest Mexico. The climbing plant belongs to the morning glory genus, which has the morning glory family as a family. Because of its red and yellow flowers, the plant is also known as the Spanish flag. Another name is Indian feather plant. Since it is not hardy, the plant is mainly used as an annual ornamental plant in Germany.
Star Morning Glory Flower and Seeds
In the period between July and September, the Spanish flag shows itself in all its splendor. Inflorescences grow up to 40 centimeters long, on which red buds form. When these bloom, they turn orange and eventually whitish-yellow when open. If the Indian feather plant with the striking color change blooms long enough, bees have the opportunity to fertilize it. The result appears in capsules with the shape of a ball.
The right location for the Indian feather plant
The Central American plant prefers a sunny, sheltered and warm location. Neither heat nor intense midday sun can harm the tropical plant. The stellar wind, on the other hand, reacts sensitively to wind, cold and wet conditions.
Tip: Like many other morning glory plants, the morning glory is poisonous. If you have children or pets living with you, consider this when planning the location.
Sell winds: sowing and substrate
The seeds are sown in March and April as a preculture in a cold frame or on the sunny windowsill. The substrate should be as low in nutrients as possible. Before planting, it is a good idea to soak the seeds in lukewarm water overnight. Germination should take place within 14 days at moderate temperatures of around 20 degrees. As soon as seedlings can be seen, the plants can be transplanted into their own pots together with the stick as a climbing aid. Now the seedlings can be further cultivated at temperatures between twelve and 15 degrees. Starting about a month after the seedling has emerged, weekly liquid fertilizer can support growth.Tip: As an alternative to seeds, cuttings of a mother plant can be removed with a sharp knife in spring and planted in moist soil.
When May is coming to an end, the morning glory can be planted outdoors. A permeable, humus-rich soil is ideal here. You can use the rule of thumb of about ten liters of compost per square meter of soil as a guide. For a pot plant, a large diameter between 60 and 80 centimeters and a compost-rich soil is ideal to support the rapid growth of the climbing plant.
Water and fertilize Indian feather plants
The Stellar Morning Glory requires little water during growth. Make sure that the roots never dry out and avoid waterlogging. Sufficient water is particularly important at high temperatures and may require repeated watering.
Due to its rapid growth and the numerous flowers, the morning glory needs a lot of nutrients. A fertilizer with a high proportion of potassium and sufficient phosphorus supports a large number of he althy umbel flowers. With that fertilizer, the irrigation water can be enriched twice a month.
If the morning glory does not bloom, this can have different reasons:
- Soil nitrogen content too high
- Location too dark
- Location not protected
- Earth covered with leaves and weeds
Winter stellar winds
The tropical starry morning glory is not hardy and is therefore usually only used once a year. Hibernation inside the apartment is possible, which makes cultivation for several years possible. A bright place with temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees is ideal for this. Frequent ventilation, no fertilizer and little water help the Ipomoea lobata through the cold season.
In a mild climate, it is possible to cut morning glory back to the rootstock. A layer of leaves can then protect the tropical plant from temperatures as low as minus five degrees Celsius.