Hi there,

This may be an issue. The overhang of the house is very large and
giving it shade, particularly during midday now that the sun is higher
overhead. A nearby Nasturtium is growing overly tall and reaching
forward--into more consistent sunlight. I will choose different plants
for this area next time. Something that will enjoy the moving shade.

Might I suggest Passion Flower? At first I wanted to grow them
on my balcony but they can't stand hours of sunlight. They seem
to climb in the same rate too, somewhat more fragile but still
very, very fast.

DigitalVinyl wrote in
...
oway (Tyra Trevellyn) wrote:

Wow thanks for the thorough (that spelling looks weird) response.
First of all, it's the nature of morning glories to lose their first
leaves
(think baby teeth) by yellowing/browning off. Simply cut them off when
they
start to look bad. If the vine is growing strongly, lower-leaf dieback
isn't
an indication of a problem.
Okay--although the upper vines are growing and one is winding up more
than an 18" length they haven't fulled out with much foliage yet.

Second, morning glories aren't heavy feeders at all, but they do like a
shot of
very mild liquid feed a couple of times a season, and this is
particularly
necessary if you've got them growing in containers.

Third, water them before they get too dry. Water stress (too much or too
little) will cause weak plants. Morning glories have lots of very fine
roots
and don't store moisture; this combined with lots of thin, large leaves
can
make them thirsty. However, even with the best care they do tend to wilt
temporarily when hit with bright sun; best to see if the soil is still
damp
before watering them again. (You should have them in a very
well-draining mix
so that even some overwatering won't hurt them.)
These (Heavenly Blues) actually fought off some fungus from the daily
soaking of the wet cold spring when they were just two-leaf seedlings.
I had to take them inside for a few days to dry them out and let them
recover. Each one was affected to different amounts, the least
affected is my most vigorous 18-24", the most... a stunted little guy
not even climbing yet(4-5"). A clear example how early disease can
affect the growth of the plant for weeks to come.

Different varieties of morning glory behave differently and some tend to
have
leaf problems even if they're otherwise healthy and blooming. They're
also
subject to flea beetle damage....little holes in the leaves.....but this
is
That brings up another observation. SOme of the green leaves have
..well they are missing pieces on the sides of the leaf. Now this
isn't like slug or insects eating them...I've seen that and it looks
different. It is very clean and the edges of the missing pieces curl
downward. The edges looks healthy and green and almost
natural...except deformed. They don't seem to start that way. Could
this be lingering effect of the fungus? The first leaves after the
fungus cleared up were short and deformed. One side of a leaf would be
smaller than the other...stunted.

only for a relatively brief period, so don't think about spraying or
other
insecticidal treatment; it's not necessary and probably not useful. A
mist of
water from the hose can be useful in general, but don't do this when the
sun is
hitting 'em. I believe that I've had some good results with using a mild
fertilizer as a foliar spray, as well (also, not when the sun's gonna hit
them).

Next, morning glories do need full or nearly-full sun.....at least five
hours a
day, starting in the morning.
This may be an issue. The overhang of the house is very large and
giving it shade, particularly during midday now that the sun is higher
overhead. A nearby Nasturtium is growing overly tall and reaching
forward--into more consistent sunlight. I will choose different plants
for this area next time. Something that will enjoy the moving shade.

Last, always plant more than you need.
I planted four, wanted two. I got three. One is growing well, one
so-so, one kinda sad but he's trying so I haven't had the heart to
yank him.

As an aside, I don't know what you're growing, but I always have more
trouble
with Heavenly Blues than any other varieties, although I insist on
planting
them because they are the Essential Morning Glory. But I also grow
Scarlet
O'Hara and a whole mess of other smaller-flowered varieties (e.g., Star
of
Yelta) that have many fewer problems and bloom earlier.
Hopefully I will get to see some blooms and decide if I want to keep
growing it. Next year I was thinking of the President Tyler...A rich
deep blue from photos. ANy experience with them?

Good luck.....and enjoy.
Best,
Tyra
nNJ usa z7

DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
1st Year Gardener