Watering Morning Glories: How Much Water Do Morning Glories Need

Watering Potted Morning Glories
water morning glory
(Image credit: nikoniko_happy)

Bright, cheerful morning glories (Ipomoea spp.) are annual vines that will fill your sunny wall or fence with heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers. Easy care and fast growing, morning glories offer a sea of blossoms in pink, purple, red, blue, and white. Like most other summer annuals, they need water to thrive. Read on for information about morning glory watering needs.

Morning Glory Watering Needs – Germination

Morning glory watering needs are different in the varying stages of their lives. If you want to plant morning glory seeds, you’ll need to soak them for 24 hours before planting. Soaking loosens the hard outer coat of the seed and encourages germination. Once you’ve planted the seeds, keep the soil surface consistently moist until the seeds sprout. Watering morning glories at this stage is critical. If the soil dries out, the seeds will probably die. Expect the seeds to germinate in about a week.

How Much Water Do Morning Glories Need as Seedlings?

Once the morning glory seeds become seedlings, you need to continue offering them irrigation. How much water do morning glories need at this stage? You should water seedlings several times a week or whenever the soil surface feels dry. It is important to meet the morning glory watering needs when they are seedlings to help them develop strong root systems. Ideally, water in the early morning or in the evening to prevent evaporation.

When to Water Morning Glory Plants Once Established

Once morning glory vines are established, they require less water. The plants will grow in dry soil, but you’ll want to keep watering morning glories to keep the top inch (2.5 cm.) of soil moist. This encourages steady growth and generous amounts of blossoms. A 2 inch (5 cm.) layer of organic mulch helps keep in water and discourage weeds. Keep mulch a few inches (8 cm.) from the foliage. With established plants, it is hard to give a precise answer to the question: “How much water do morning glories need?” When to water morning glory plants depends on whether you are growing them inside or outside. Indoor plants need a weekly drink, while outside morning glory watering needs depend on rainfall. During dry spells you may need to water your outdoor morning glories every week.

Teo Spengler
Writer

Teo Spengler has been gardening for 30 years. She is a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Her passion is trees, 250 of which she has planted on her land in France.