My experience has been like yours. Lots of blue morning glories (and some gorgeous purple ones, too----Grandpa Ott? or something like that). In fact, I didn't even bother to plant moonflowers the past 2 years. I did get a few blooms the year before that. I was VERY disappointed in the fragrance. I expected it to be much stronger. I think that my zone is just too chilly for these plants.

I grew them for two years, just to experience those flowers unwinding in the evening and the scent. They do take much longer than morning glories. I would start them inside in peat pots, transplant out (followed by exasperation because they seemed to take forever to take off, wouldn't want to grow until the weather got hot), then they would grow into monster vines that would take over the trellis with no flowers, til finally late in summer I would get buds that would start to open. Then it would get too cold at night for it's liking, the buds wouldn't open, we'd have a frost, and the show was over.

The scent was beautiful but I suppose you need a lot of flowers for the full effect, hard to do in ME, because by the time they finally start to flower, it gets too cold out. I gave up on them.

Well, it's good to know that it isn't just me. The buds got absolutly enormous, but the temp drops so rapidly in the evening now that they never unfurled. I saw yesterday that they were starting to wither without ever having opened. I don't know if starting them earlier will really help. I got these as well established plants from the local nursery, so they were already pretty big when I put them in. I'll probably try again next year before giving up completely. Maybe if I start them REALLY early under a bell jar....

This year was exceptional overcast and rainy and cool. Morning glories should be started as soon as possible when the soil gets warm...did it ever get warm this year?! lol

I start mine indoors about early May in a greenhouse, A sunny window might work as well.

Soak the morning glories in room temp warm like for a babys bath water over night before planting.
If you have grow lights I've heard of people using their T.V. ( because it is on so much) to heat under neath, or just ontop of anything but a granite counter.

If growing indoors, once they are seedlings remember they are sun worshippers and will get leggy if you dont have enough sun light. As small plants you could sit them outside in full sun until time to put in the garden- Just remember to bring them in at night.

Elise, I'm not sure if starting them earlier will make that much of a difference. I have heard of people actually planting the seeds where they are to grow after the soil warms and still have blooms.

I have started them 1)very early; and 2)early (didn't have enough faith in just planting the seed in the ground.) The ones I started VERY EARLY grew quite large in the house, even put on a bud. But once transplanted outisde, they forgot their idea about blooming. They were set back due to the colder temps outside (even though it was well into June) and probably transplant shock. They pretty much started over--I could have planted seeds next to the transplants outside and they probably would have been at the same level. The ones I started EARLY didn't prove to be much different.

The moonflowers will not take off until the soil and air temp stay consistently warm (hot?).

I had GREAT results with moonflower in '03 by starting them early and then planting them into 5 gallon *black* plastic pots. I used that plastic netting that Christmas trees are wrapped in for them to climb on and put one pot on either side of the front door (south exposure). They needed water twice a day in the containers, but I'm convinced the extra heat from the black pots made all the difference. They bloomed all summer and were just spectacular.

That's a good idea Cindy! I was going to suggest planting them in large containers, and keeping them in the containers once they went outside vs. transplanting, but didn't know if it could be done.

Hey There:

Moonflower Vines LOVE heat, and do grow much faster, as
the temps reach 80's. I planted seeds several years ago,
and they grew up a 6' high chain link dog kennel. They
really didn't start blooming good until the middle of Summer, when it was consistantly in the mid 80's or more.
They were shaded partially by a very large oak tree and got about half day's sun. They bloomed beautifully, and
smelled divine. They also attracted some huge exotic looking
moths.
If I can figure out how to upload a picture to this site, I will ad pictures of mine in bloom.
I live in Memphis, so the Summer here is very HUMID
and hot.

I bought several moonflower seeds and haven't planted them all this season. Can they be stored to plant later? If so, how would I do this? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Hi!

Yea, I tried growing these with some morning glories as well. Experienced the same problems as you did, plants grew no flowers, didnt try them again, will growing them early help or is all the mater of heat and water ( I always have a tendancy to go away for a vacation and the poor morning glories are always wilted =(.

Silverkelt