The Mexican morning glory (Ipomoea) is not only an ideal plant for quickly greening up dull garden corners. The special needs and properties of the plants also make them ideal for balcony planting.
How do I care for a morning glory on the balcony?
The morning glory is ideal for balcony planting as it can tolerate high temperatures and a southerly orientation. Ideal climbing options are bamboo sticks, wooden trellises or coarse-meshed nets. Make sure you water regularly, fertilize sparingly, pull early and use a light, loamy substrate for numerous flowers.
The morning glory feels at home on the balcony
Due to its geographical origin in Central America, the morning glory can cope well with the sometimes very hot temperatures on a balcony if it receives enough water. South-facing balconies are also a perfect location, as the number of flowers is usually determined by the incidence of light. For numerous flowers you should also consider the following factors:
- regular, economical fertilizer applications (few flowers if overfertilized)
- early moving forward in the house
- Planting in a slightly loamy substrate
Ideas for climbing options on a balcony
Morning glories are not very picky when it comes to choosing suitable climbing options. You can therefore use bamboo sticks or small wooden trellises to let the morning glories climb up from a pot. Coarse-meshed nets that are stretched a little distance from the house wall, at the side ends of the balcony or above the balcony parapet are also suitable as climbing aids. You can also use the morning glory to green a balcony railing for a summer season if you direct the shoots of the plants in the planter in the right direction.
The optimal placement of morning glories on the balcony
The balcony is also a good location for morning glories because the base of the plants can be easily placed in the cool shade, while the upper part of the plants can enjoy the bright sunlight. This saves you watering work and also possible losses due to dryness and heat in midsummer. If it is a corner balcony, morning glories are ideally placed where there is a certain level of wind protection.
Tip
Balconies are often not only miniature gardens at lofty heights, but also an extended living room for small children and pets. Please note that many morning glories can be poisonous, especially around the seed pods.
