The morning glory originally comes from Central America, which is why it should be planted in the garden in a location that is as warm and sunny as possible. Occasionally there is confusion among garden owners as to whether morning glory can also be overwintered.
Morning glories are very sensitive to cold
The morning glory overwinters
Due to morning glory's summertime glory, it can be tempting to think of overwintering morning glory for even stronger growth the following year. However, this is not exactly easy, since the short-lived plants with their non-woody shoots are very sensitive to frost and generally to cool and damp weather. Some hobby gardeners report successful overwintering indoors, before which the plants are severely cut back. Overwintering outdoors is hardly possible in this country, but due to the comparatively simple cultivation from seeds, this does not really represent a difficulty in the cultivation of morning glory.
Beware of freezing temperatures
The frost sensitivity of morning glories not only causes the plants to die off quickly in late autumn, but can also pose a threat in spring. That is why the morning glories grown in the house should not be planted out in the garden before the ice saints. Slowly acclimating the plants to the outdoor environment can be beneficial for the growth of the plants. To do this, the plants can be placed in the garden by the hour during the day or placed in one of the following rooms for the transition:
- conservatory
- Glasshouse
- cold frame
Hardy varieties of morning glory
Some varieties of morning glories are offered in the garden trade, which are described as hardy without any problems. However, varieties such as the Ipomoea "Blue Hardy" also need at least a sheltered location and a mild regional climate in order to have a realistic chance of new growth in spring. Note that plants grown in pots are much more exposed to winter frost than specimens overwintered directly in the ground.
tips
If you're looking for a flowering garden climber that will bloom from seed every year without having to re-grow, then you might want to consider alternatives to morning glory too. The clematis or clematis is usually hardy without any problems and the smaller number of flowers is offset by a longer shelf life of the individual flowers.