When Is the Best Time to Sow Morning Glory Seeds
The morning glory is a flower we are all fairly familiar with. Its blooms are shaped like trumpets, and it comes in a wide range of colors - not just pink but also purple, white, blue and more, rich and varied. Morning glories are quite common around us; sometimes you can spot them right by the roadside, yet few people know how to sow morning glory seeds.
When to Plant Morning Glories
Morning glory seeds germinate at a temperature of 20-30°C. They are generally sown in late April to early May (earlier in the south). Sow them in rows by variety in a fine sandy soil seedbed. With moderate moisture, they sprout in about 10 days.
Sowing Morning Glory Seeds
1. Prepare the materials
First of all you need seeds and a flower pot about 20 cm in diameter. If the pot is too small, the morning glory's roots cannot stretch out and the plant will grow weakly. However, if you want to improve the germination rate, it is best to use small seedling pots, one seed per pot, and replant after the seeds sprout and grow leaves. Soil and the necessary gardening tools go without saying.
2. Soaking the seeds
Because morning glory seeds have a hard outer shell, they do not germinate easily without soaking, so soak the seeds in water overnight.
3. Changing pots and filling with soil
Put the prepared seedling soil into the small flower pots - seedling pots are used here. Fill while pressing down with your hand, crush the large clumps of soil, and throw any that cannot be crushed into the bottom of another pot nearby. Then water thoroughly and set aside for later use.
4. Sowing
Morning glory seeds are fairly small, so when sowing you can use a tool - tweezers or a spoon - to place one seed on top, then press it down lightly. After sowing, place it in a humid environment, or put it in a seedling box.
When Morning Glories Bloom
The morning glory is an annual or perennial twining herbaceous plant, and the whole plant is covered with short hairs. Under normal conditions, morning glories are sown in spring and bloom in summer and autumn, with funnel-shaped flowers. The colors include blue, crimson, peach red, and there are also bicolor varieties, with much variation along the petal edges as well.
The morning glory generally blooms from June to October, usually opening at 4-5 o'clock in the morning, and by around noon the flowers wither. This is because the morning glory's flowers are large and thin, and the blooms contain a certain amount of moisture; when the sun shines on them, the moisture in the flowers evaporates within a very short time. In a cool, shady spot, the morning glory withers more slowly, and sometimes the flowers are still open in the afternoon.
The Uses of Morning Glories
1. Ornamental
The morning glory is an excellent ornamental flower for courtyards, and can be used for shade and for beautifying the walls and fences of small courtyards and windows of rooms. Plant it in the courtyard and let its stems and vines climb and grow - the foliage a fresh green, the flowers blooming around the vines, very beautiful. Whether for care or for viewing, the morning glory is a good choice, and when planted in various colors the display is even more brilliant.
2. Medicinal
The medicinal part of the morning glory is its seeds. The black seeds are called "black" and the cream-colored ones "white". The seeds contain pigments, fatty oils, organic acids and other components that are beneficial to human health. For medicinal use, the "black" is mostly chosen, and it has a diuretic and laxative effect. Grind it into powder, apply it to the affected area before bed, and wash it off with clean water the next morning; continue for a week and it has the effect of fading spots.
But note that every medicine has some toxicity. Since morning glory seeds can treat illness, they must have a certain toxicity, so never take them orally directly.
The above is a summary of morning glory sowing methods compiled by the editor, and I hope it can help you! In fact, morning glories can not only be planted in courtyards but can also be grown as potted plants; placed at home as a decorative plant they are also very beautiful and elegant!