The pretty, funnel-shaped flowers of the morning glory are usually particularly numerous on the climbing plants when they are planted in a warm and sunny location in the garden. There are some discussions about the lifespan of this valued garden plant, which primarily revolves around its ability to overwinter.
Is morning glory hardy?
The morning glory (Ipomoea) is usually not hardy, but there is a frost-resistant cultivar, the Ipomoea “Blue Hardy”. Alternatively, non-hardy varieties can be overwintered indoors by protecting them from frost, pruning and keeping them cool.
The hardy cultivar of the morning glory
Most varieties of morning glories (Ipomoea) are naturally short-lived, which is why, for example, the long shoots of these morning glories do not become woody. In their country of origin, Mexico, morning glories can grow for longer than one summer due to the lack of frost. In this country, on the other hand, the morning glories wilt quickly after the first frost, which is why they are often torn up and composted in the fall. The relatively new cultivar Ipomoea “Blue Hardy” with its blue flower funnels is said to be an exception in terms of overwintering ability. The variety bred from Ipomoea indica is said to sprout every year after winter and can reach a height of up to 5 meters.
Overwintering morning glories indoors
Even the non-hardy varieties of morning glories can theoretically be saved over the winter. To do this, the potted specimens must be cut back thoroughly before frost and placed in a cool and bright location in the house. With a bit of luck and just a little water, you can get the morning glory to produce fresh shoots at the end of winter. However, the supposed advantage over fresh young plants in the morning glory is hardly worth the effort of care in winter.
Reasons for growing young plants from seeds
With morning glory there is actually no special need for the plants to overwinter. The artistic climbers are easy to grow from seeds and grow to a height of 3 or 4 meters within a few weeks. You can either purchase the seeds you need (€3.00 on Amazon) from specialist retailers in new color varieties or harvest the seeds from the plants yourself. The following reasons also speak against overwintering indoors:
- Plants and seeds are poisonous, especially to animals and pets
- unnecessary consumption of floor space in the house
- Fresh seedlings usually sprout he althier and stronger
- Pests can accidentally be overwintered with
Tip
When planting young plants or overwintered morning glories outdoors from the end of May, you should make sure to gradually acclimate the plants to the outside temperatures and direct sunlight before finally planting them in the bed.
