Seasonal Morning Glory Care: A Guide to Summer vs. Winter

 While morning glories are known for their resilience and fast growth, their needs change dramatically with the seasons. Proper care in the summer and a different approach in the winter will ensure a beautiful, healthy plant year after year.

This guide will walk you through the essential care routines for each season, so your morning glories can thrive no matter the weather.

Summer: The Season of Growth

Summer is when your morning glories are most active, producing their vibrant blooms and vigorous vines. Your main tasks are to support this rapid growth and keep the plant from getting stressed by the heat.

• Watering is Critical: Morning glories need consistent moisture to produce flowers. Check the soil daily, especially in hot, dry weather. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out a bit between sessions to prevent root rot.
• Fertilizing for Blooms: Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer once or twice during the peak growing season. Too much nitrogen will cause a lot of leafy growth but very few flowers.
• Manage Vigorous Growth: Morning glories are aggressive climbers. Use a trellis, fence, or railing to support them. You can also prune back any runaway vines to keep your plant tidy and contained.

Morning Glory

Fall: The Transition Period

As temperatures cool, your morning glory's growth will slow down. This is the time to prepare it for its winter rest.

• Reduce Watering: Gradually decrease your watering frequency as the weather gets cooler and days become shorter. This signals the plant to slow down its growth.
• Pruning: If you are growing an annual variety, the plant will die back with the first frost. You can simply remove the dead vines. If you have a perennial variety in a mild climate, you can cut the vines back in late fall to a few inches above the ground to prepare it for winter.

Winter: The Dormant Season

Your morning glory is now dormant. Its primary needs are protection from the cold and to be left alone.

• Provide Protection: Most morning glory varieties are treated as annuals in cooler climates and will die with the first hard frost. In warmer climates where they are perennial, you can apply a layer of mulch over the roots to protect them from cold temperatures.
• Stop Watering: For the most part, you should stop watering your morning glories in the winter. The plant is not actively growing and excess moisture can lead to root rot.
• No Fertilizer: Do not fertilize at all in the winter. The plant is resting and cannot use the nutrients, which can burn the roots.

By following this simple, year-round schedule, you'll be giving your morning glories exactly what they need to thrive and ensuring a stunning display of color and beauty for seasons to come.