Growing Morning Glories in Pots: A Complete Guide

Morning glories are one of the most beloved old-fashioned garden flowers. With their brightly colored trumpet-shaped blooms and quick growing vines, they add vertical interest and a splash of color to any garden. While morning glories will happily climb up trellises fences, arbors and anything else they can get their tendrils on, many gardeners choose to grow them in containers instead. Growing morning glories in pots allows you to easily manage these enthusiastic climbers and enjoy their bountiful blooms close-up.

Why Grow Morning Glories in Pots?

Morning glories are vigorous climbers that can quickly cover fences trellises and other structures. While this can create a stunning floral display, it also means they have the potential to take over parts of your garden. Their fast-growing vines can sometimes smother other plants if not contained.

Growing morning glories in pots is a great solution for keeping them managed. A pot will restrict their roots and prevent them from spreading extensively. It also lets you easily move the vines wherever you want color and vertical interest in your garden.

Potted morning glories are perfect for:

• Small space gardens where you want to maximize vertical growing space
• Adding height and color to decks, patios, and other hardscaped areas
• Easily moving vines to highlight different parts of your garden throughout the season
• Growing different morning glory varieties in a rainbow of colors for a bold statement
• Enjoying their blooms up close on your patio or front steps

Growing morning glories in containers also makes it simple to overwinter them indoors in colder climates. It’s easier to move potted vines into a greenhouse or sunny window for the winter.

Choosing the Right Pot

Morning glories will grow well in any good quality container with proper drainage. Consider the following when selecting a pot:

• Size – Choose at least a 10-12 inch pot. Morning glory roots appreciate having room to spread out.
• Material – Clay, plastic, ceramic, and wood pots all work well. Make sure pots have drainage holes.
• Weight – Pick lightweight pots for moving around. Morning glories in bigger pots can get very heavy when watered.
• Style – Match the pot style to your garden decor. Choose colorful glazed pots for a bright pop of color.

You can also grow morning glories in hanging baskets. Let the vines trail down for a beautiful cascading display on patios and porches.

Getting the Soil Right

Morning glories need a lightweight, well-draining soil mix to grow their best in containers. Aim for a mix containing:

• 1 part potting soil
• 1 part compost
• 1 part perlite or vermiculite to improve drainage

You can also purchase a specialty potting mix formulated for containers and climbing plants. Make sure any pre-mixed soil is lightweight and allows for excellent drainage.

Fill your morning glory pot 2/3 full with soil mix, leaving room at the top for watering.

Providing Support for Vining Growth

Morning glories are called “glories” for a reason – they achieve their full glory when allowed to vine and climb upwards. Make sure to provide strong support for them to grow on.

There are several options for supporting morning glory vines in pots:

• Plant a trellis in the pot – Place a small trellis firmly in the pot when first planting. The morning glory will vine up and cover it.
• Use a plant cage – Surround the pot with a decorative plant cage for the vines to weave through.
• Try a plant hanger – Hang the morning glory planter from a ceiling hook and let vines grow up the hanger.
• Use plant stakes – Insert tall plant stakes on either side of the pot for vines to wrap around.

Set up supports at planting time or when vines are very young – morning glories will immediately start clinging and climbing up whatever structure is available.

Choosing Morning Glory Varieties for Containers

One of the joys of growing morning glories in pots is being able to mix different varieties together for an explosion of colorful blooms.

Some top picks include:

• Heavenly Blue – Vibrant true blue, a classic
• Scarlett O’Hara – Bold red flowers on vigorous vines
• Peppermint Stick – Unique white blooms with pink stripes
• Sunrise Serenade – Warm pinkish-lavender blooms
• Star of Yelta – Deep purple flowers on heirloom vines
• Flying Saucers – Unique shape, mix of blue, pink, lavender

Buy a morning glory seed mix pack to enjoy a rainbow of different colors on just one or two plants. Or plant one variety per pot and intersperse for a bold statement.

Planting Morning Glory Seeds

Morning glories germinate best with a little help – soak seeds overnight or nick them gently with a file before planting. Sow seeds 1⁄2 inch deep and 6 inches apart in your container. Keep the soil moist until sprouts appear in 7-14 days.

Once sprouted, morning glory seedlings will take off quickly. When they have 4-6 leaves, pinches off the weaker seedlings to leave 2-3 strong vines per pot.

You can start morning glory seeds indoors 2-4 weeks before your last frost date for a head start on growth. Just be sure to transplant seedlings gently to avoid disturbing the roots.

Morning glories also grow well when directly sown into containers placed outside after the danger of frost has passed. This is an easy way to get flowers in a hurry.

Caring for Morning Glories in Pots

Morning glories are easy to care for once established. Follow these simple tips for success:

• Water regularly – Morning glories like consistently moist soil. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
• Use mulch – Add an inch of organic mulch over the soil to retain moisture. Replenish as needed.
• Fertilize lightly – Feed container morning glories with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.
• Prune for shape and productivity – Pinch back rampant new growth to encourage branching and flowering.
• Move pots to highlight changing areas of your garden – Morning glories will adapt easily to new sunny locations.
• Overwinter indoors – Move pots to a sunny window or greenhouse when temps drop below 40°F.

With proper care, your container morning glories will reward you with monthly flushes of colorful blooms from early summer until fall frost. Enjoy their vibrant flowers close-up right outside your door.

Common Problems With Morning Glories Grown in Pots

While generally vigorous, morning glories can sometimes run into problems when grown in containers. Here are some potential issues and how to resolve them:

• Yellow leaves – This usually indicates overwatering. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
• Few flowers – Morning glories need full sun. Move pots to the sunniest spot possible.
• Vines dying back – If vines regrow from the base, the plant was likely overfed. Avoid overfertilizing.
• Whiteflies or aphids – Treat insects with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap spray.
• Anthracnose or other fungal diseases – Improve air circulation and avoid wetting foliage. Apply fungicides if severe.
• Vines growing too long – Prune back to encourage branching and flowering. Can trellis taller vines.

With proper sunlight, watering, fertilization, and pest prevention, you can avoid most problems and enjoy a thriving container morning glory garden.

Growing Morning Glories Successfully in Pots

Morning glories are easy to grow in containers with a little preparation and care. Follow this checklist for success:

• Select a container at least 10-12 inches wide with drainage holes
• Fill with well-draining potting mix
• Add a trellis, plant cage, or stakes when planting
• Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, soak or nick seeds first
• Thin seedlings to leave the 2-3 strongest vines
• Place pot in full sun
• Keep soil consistently moist but not soaked
• Fertilize lightly every 2-3 weeks during growing season
• Prune vines as needed to encourage branching and flowering
• Move pots to highlight different garden areas
• Overwinter containers indoors in colder climates

With the right care, morning glories will reward you with months of colorful blooms and vertical appeal perfectly displayed in pots. Get ready to enjoy these old-fashioned favorites right up close on your patio or front steps when you grow morning glories successfully in containers.