Morning Glory

Introduction:
Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for
over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae,
whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux.
As the name suggests, most morning glory flowers unfurl into full
bloom in the early morning. The flowers usually start to fade a few
hours before the corolla begins to display visible curling. They prefer full
solar exposure throughout the day, and mesic soils. Some morning
glories, such as Ipomoea muricata, Ipomoea alba, and Ipomoea
macrorhiza, are night-blooming flowers.

Invasive species:
In some places, such as Australian bushland, some species of morning
glories develop thick roots and tend to grow in dense thickets. They can
quickly spread by way of long, creeping stems. By crowding out,
blanketing, and smothering other plants, morning glory has turned into
a serious invasive weed problem.

In parts of the US, species such as Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed),

Ipomoea purpurea (common morning glory) and Ipomoea indica (blue
morning glory) have shown to be invasive. In fact, as of 2021, most non-
native species of Ipomoea are currently illegal to cultivate, possess, and
sell in the U.S. state of Arizona, and before 4 January 2020, this ban
applied to native species, too. This is because some species of
Convolvulaceae (like Convolvulus arvensis and Ipomoea × leucantha)
have been known to cause problems in crops, especially in cotton fields.
Ipomoea aquatica is a federal noxious weed, though some states, like
Texas, have acknowledged its status as a vegetable and allow it to be
grown.

Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea
Morning glory species belong to many genera, some of which are:
Argyreia
Astripomoea
Calystegia
Convolvulus
Ipomoea (the largest genus)
Lepistemon
Merremia
Operculina
Rivea
Stictocardia
Climate:
Morning glories easily tolerate both cold and warm temperatures; they
are hardy and can even make it through the first frost and continue to
bloom. They are grown as an annual in areas where the temperature
drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit and can be perennials in tropical
and subtropical climates. They have no special humidity needs.
Planting your morning glory in a spot that gets full sun is especially
important. The flowers will only open when they are in direct sunlight,
so daily exposure to full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours a day) will give you
the longest amount of bloom time. If they are in a spot that doesn’t get
sun until the afternoon, don’t expect “morning” glories.

Planting:
Choose a sunny spot. These plants need a lot of sun to bloom their
best! Plant in moderately fertile, well-draining soil to encourage good
foliage growth followed by plenty of flowers.
Choose a location that is sheltered from strong, drying winds. Give
them a fence, lattice, or trellis to climb up so that vines don’t crowd out
other ground-level plants.

Propagation:
Morning-glory can be propagated by sowing or cutting.
To collect cuttings, cut about 10 cm of the stem from a healthy plant,
and remove 2-3 leaves from the lower part. Cut the stem diagonally to
expand the water absorption area and ensure that the stem can fully
absorb water.
Manuring and Fertilizers:
Morning Glory is not a heavy feeder plant. Also, avoid adding too much
nitrogen-rich fertilizer. During the early growth stages, you can feed
with one to two handfuls of organic compost every 30 days. You can use
vermicompost or leaf manure for this purpose.
Treat your morning glory plants with a low-nitrogen fertilizer every four
to five weeks. If flowers fail to appear, try a mixture of fertilizer that is
heavy in phosphorus.

Irrigation:
Provide your Morning Glory with regular water, about an inch per week,
and mulch around the roots to maintain moisture. The biggest moisture
requirements come during the growing period of the plant. Once
established, you can slow down your watering cadence. Moderate
water is good for this beautiful flowering plant.

Interculture:
Herbicides play an important role in morning glory management.
However, if not used in conjunction with pressure from desirable plants,
their effects are usually short lived. Systemic herbicides such as
Roundup, 2,4-D and Dicamba are more effective than digging and
pulling because they kill the roots.

Insect, Pest and Disease:

 1. Aphids (Insect)
Symptoms: Misshapen/yellow leaves; distorted flowers; leaf drop;
sticky “honeydew” (excretion) on leaves; sooty, black mold.
Control: Knock off with water spray; apply insecticidal soap;
inspect new plants carefully; use slow-release fertilizers; avoid
excess nitrogen; encourage aphid predators such as lacewings,
ladybugs, spiders.

2. Fusarium wilt (Fungus)

Symptoms: Plants wilt (sometimes one-sided) in daytime; later,
entire plant wilts/dies; stunting; yellow leaves; poor flowering;
roots rot; stem cross-section reveals brown discoloration.
Control: Destroy infected plants/ roots/surrounding soil (do not
compost); remove plant debris regularly; disinfect tools; resistant
varieties; avoid excess nitrogen; in acidic soils, raise pH to 7.0;
weed; 3- to 5-year rotation.

3. Leaf miners (Insect)

Sympyoms: Meandering blisters in leaves caused by tunneling
larvae. Control: Remove infested leaves; weed; use row
covers; till soil early in season; rotate plantings.
4. Leaf spot (fungal)
Symptoms: Varies; leaf spots on lower leaves enlarge and turn
brown/black; fuzzy growth or pustules in lesions; disease progresses
upward; leaves die
 Control: Destroy infected leaves/ severely infected plants (do not
compost); remove plant debris regularly; disinfect tools; resistant
varieties; good air circulation; avoid overhead watering.
5. Rust (Fungus)
Symptoms: Varies; orange pustules on undersides of lower
leaves/stems; spots on upper leaf surfaces; foliage distorts/ dies/drops;
stunting; poor flowering; plants weakened.
Control: Destroy infected parts/severely diseased plants; remove
plant debris regularly; disinfect tools; resistant varieties; good air
circulation; avoid overhead watering; weed.

References:
 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_glory
 https://www.almanac.com/plant/morning-glories
 https://www.britannica.com/plant/morning-glory-plant