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The Fun and Fascinating World of Morning Glory Plants: A Complete Guide and Care Tips
When it comes to adding an extra touch of beauty to your garden, morning glory plants are a popular choice. These stunning plants have a wide range of colors, from vibrant blues and purples to soft pinks and whites. Not only do they look great in the garden, but they also have numerous benefits for both humans and wildlife.
The Basics: What is a Morning Glory Plant?
Morning glory plants are annual vines that belong to the Convolvulaceae family. They are native to tropical regions of North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The name “morning glory” comes from their habit of blooming in the early morning hours.
These beautiful flowers come in many different shapes and sizes depending on the species or cultivar. Most morning glories have heart-shaped leaves that can be either solid green or variegated with white or yellow accents.
Caring for Your Morning Glory Plants
If you want your morning glory plants to thrive throughout the growing season, there are some important things you need to keep in mind:
Sunlight Needs
- Morning glories love sunlight! Make sure they get at least six hours of direct sun each day.
- If possible try planting them where they will receive some shade during midday heat as extremely hot temperatures may cause them stress resulting in stunted growth or wilting foliage that may impact their flower production rate
Soil Quality & Watering Needs
- Morning glory plants prefer well-drained soil with pH levels between 6-7.5.
- Water your plants regularly, and make sure the soil stays moist but not waterlogged to avoid root rot
- In case of drought, you can deeply water the morning glory plant every 3-4 days so that it gets enough moisture.
Fertilization Tips
- Morning glory plants are light feeders and do not require heavy doses of fertilizers.
- You can add a balanced fertilizer once a month during the growing season for better results.
The Benefits of Morning Glory Plants
There’s more to morning glories than just their beauty! Here are some surprising benefits that these plants offer:
Natural Bug Repellent
The morning glory is known to be an effective natural bug repellent. They produce chemicals in their leaves that help repel pests such as mosquitos, flies, and aphids from your garden area which makes them ideal companion plants for vegetable gardens or fruit orchards where bugs may be problematic.
Medicinal Properties
In some cultures, morning glories have been used for medicinal purposes for decades. The seeds contain alkaloids like lysergic acid amide (LSA) which has hallucinogenic properties similar to LSD when ingested in large quantities (not recommended!) . However few species such as Ipmoea Muricata have been found effective against headaches and fever when taken in minimal amounts under medical supervision..
The Bottom Line: A Great Addition To Your Garden!
Morning glory plants are an excellent addition to any garden due to their stunning beauty, low maintenance requirements, natural bug repellent capabilities and possible health benefits . They can add a pop of color to any space and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Just remember to follow the care tips mentioned above and watch these beautiful blooms thrive!
