How to Grow Moonflowers from Seed in 7 Easy Steps
If you're looking for a low-maintenance climbing vine that will look great in your moon garden, look no further than moonflower. The name says a lot, but gardening expert Melissa Strauss has more details about this great plant, along with instructions on how to plant and grow your very own moonflower from seed!
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Moonflower, which also goes by tropical morning glory, is a relative of that beloved flowering vine. Unlike morning glories, however, moonflowers don’t open in the morning. I’m sure you can guess the difference, moonflower blooms at night!
This Florida native is a trailing or climbing vine that can reach 10-30 feet long. In zones 10 and warmer, it grows as a perennial, but you can grow it elsewhere as an annual. It begins blooming in summer and will continue until the first frost. It isn’t cold-tolerant.
Moonflower has large, white, tubular flowers that attract nighttime pollinators like bats and night-flying moths. They open in the late afternoon to early evening, and by morning, they close back up tight. They also release a wonderful fragrance at night.
These vines make an ideal addition to your outdoor living space. They bloom and release their perfume right around dinnertime. These are a perfect addition to the moon garden. Be cautious with children and animals, however, as these are poisonous. Wear gloves when working on them.
You may find these plants at a local nursery if you live in a warm climate, but if not, don’t sweat it. Moonflowers are easy to grow from seeds and transplant well. Let’s discuss how to do it!
Starting Indoors
While it’s not the recommended method, you can start these indoors. It is best to use biodegradable pots so that they transplant well.
Select Seeds from a Reputable Source
A great thing about seeds is that they are an economical choice for growing new plants. You get a lot more bang for your buck, especially when you’re working with annuals. As long as you start them early enough in the year, they should perform just as well as nursery starts.
That said, it’s disappointing when you get a packet with a terrible germination rate. The solution to this problem is to order from a reliable and reputable company.
I can’t say that I’ve never ordered hard-to-find cultivars from an independent person, and sometimes that works out wonderfully. If you don’t want to take chances with germination rates, it’s best to go with a retailer that you’re familiar with and has a good reputation.
Gather Your Container and Potting Medium
Gather your starting materials ahead of time. I know this seems like a no-brainer, but I have found myself more than once searching for things I need while the process is underway. You’ll want trays or small biodegradable pots, a scarifying tool like a pair of nail clippers or a file, a container of warm water, and some high-quality starting mix.
In terms of your containers, starting trays are a great investment if you garden regularly. These don’t like their roots disturbed, so biodegradable pots that you can plant with the young plants are best. Any small container with good drainage will work, though. Starting mix is better than regular potting soil for this purpose because it’s loose, and potting soil can contain harmful pathogens that will kill young sprouts.
Prepare Your Seeds
Moonflower seeds have a tough outer shell that is difficult for water to permeate. The faster water reaches the embryo and starts the metabolic process, the sooner you will have sprouted seedlings. For this reason, it’s a good idea to soak or scarify this seed, if not both. If you choose to do both, scarify before soaking.
You can scarify in one of two ways. The first is to take a small sharp tool and nick the hard outer shell. You don’t want to cut too deep and nick the embryo, just lightly. The larger the seed, the deeper you can cut. The second method is to take a nail file or piece of fine-grit sandpaper and gently rub off some of that coating.
After you scarify (or not), soaking them is a good idea. We soak also to help transport water to the embryo to initiate germination. Soaking them in room-temperature water for six to 24 hours will do the trick. You want to leave them in the water until they just about double in size. Be ready to pot them up as soon as they come out of the water.
Sow Seeds
Some seeds need light to germinate, and others require darkness. You can determine this based on the planting depth that your packet indicates. If your directions instruct you to surface sow, that means they require light for germination. In this case, you don’t need to surface sow, but they will need bright light.
I find it’s easier to start with a moist starter mix rather than watering it after the fact. Fill your containers or trays with lightly moistened starter mix and make depressions of about one-half inch. Set the seeds in the depressions and cover lightly with soil.
Find the Right Spot for Them to Germinate
Here is where the light requirement comes into the picture. While they don’t need direct exposure, some light needs to get through the soil for them to germinate. Since you’re burying them under one-half inch of the starter mix, they will need to sit in a sunny spot if you want to get a good germination rate.
Moonflower also needs warmth during this time. If it’s warm in your home, and you have a cozy, sunny spot for them away from any drafts, great! If not, a warming mat is another great investment for seed starting.
Keep Up With Care
Moonflowers are tropical, and they’re humidity lovers. If it’s dry in the area you are keeping them, it’s a good idea to cover them with plastic to retain moisture in the soil and around the plants after they sprout. I like to keep my pots on a larger tray that holds water and water them from the bottom. This helps to prevent disturbing the top of the soil.
Make sure that you don’t overwater, as this can cause fungus and a process called damping off. This causes your sprouts to rot and fail. If the top of the soil dries out, you can use a spray bottle to mist it.
Transplant
After about four weeks, you can start to move your baby plants outdoors. Wait until the threat of a freeze has passed, as these are not frost-tolerant. Move them gradually, increasing the time outdoors each day until they are outside all day.
When they are acclimated to the outdoors, transplant them to their permanent location. They need full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Make sure to water these for a few weeks after planting and then during periods of dry weather.
Direct Sowing
Because they don’t transplant well, directly sowing these seeds in the garden is the ideal way to grow them. Wait until a week or two after your last anticipated frost date to plant these, as they are tropical and need warm soil to germinate.
Prepare Your Location
Moonflowers don’t need much special treatment in terms of the location where you plant them. In fact, they prefer poor to slightly fertile soil. They like a full sun position, and they need soil that drains well. These are tropical plants, so consider that when choosing a spot and preparing it. Feel free to amend heavy or rich soil with sand.
Prepare Your Seeds
Prepare your seeds in the same way that you would have with indoor starting. It’s best to scarify them or soak them. A combination of the two is best. This will help to initiate and expedite the germination process. It gives them less time to encounter problems like rotting.
Sow Seeds
Plant seeds in groups of 4, every six to 12 inches. Lightly cover them with soil so they are at a depth of about one-quarter inch. When your seedlings are about two inches tall, thin them out to one every six to twelve inches. Keep them moist until they sprout, and then continue to water regularly until established.
Keep Up With Care
Once established, moonflowers can tolerate short periods of dry weather. However, they prefer moist soil, so keeping them watered is best. Enjoy their sweet-smelling flowers in the evening and deadhead once they are spent for more flower power. Be careful about handling these plants, as they are toxic.
