I am trying morning glories for the first time. The instructions say to nick and soak the seeds first, to promote germination. I wonder if I can just plant them straight away and wait longer for them to come up, or is this step essential? I have almost a dozen varieties, so I'm trying not to mix them up.

Priya
Zone 7, Maryland

Priya
I have only winter sown my morning glory seeds and after that they reseeded all by themselves. I never did nick or soak them. I am sure they will germinate but as you mentioned it may take a lot longer.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Thank you, Penny!
I think I will try to plant them directly.

Priya
Zone 7, Maryland

Priya, I've never nicked nor soaked morning glories, but they tend not to germinate until soil has warmed. Id I wanted to get an early start, I would start them indoors in peat pots. Most morning glories don't transplant well. The little red Iopmoea hederifolia are just now beginning to germinate outside here. I am trying some yellow this year and those have started to germinate as well.

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Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9

Hello Priya,

Well, at the risk of being different, soaking and nicking them is so easy. I nicked them with the point of a nail clipper and soaked them in (inital temp was very warm) water for only 24 hours. They germinated within 3-5 days...and a couple in just 2 days with this process.
I had 4 varieties of Morning Glories I started from seed last year...not including the Morning Glory Sunspots that Andrew gave me. They did wonderful til they were gently coaxed outside with the hardening off process. They didn't survive the winds here. I was so disappointed...
I had Grandpa Ott's, Heavenly Blue, and Scarlett O' Hara. I also tried the Cypress Vine and the Cardinal Climber...
None made it with the winds here. Thankfully, hardy vines like the Honeysuckles are doing just fine...

Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5

The only morning glories I grow are Cardinal Climber and Cypress Vine. They are about the last seeds along with Zinnia seeds to be planted since they won't do anything until as Nancy says, things have completely warmed up. Early started MGs make an impossible tangle. When I start them indoors I use those little 9-cell packs. Peat pots are a good idea, but to tell the truth, at least with Cardinal Climber, there has never been a problem with transplant. I'm very carefull not to break the tiny root ball. My indoor planting date with bottom heat is about the last week in April.

My only other comment on morning glory is a warning. Once you have them you will be fighting them for as long as you live in your home. They are one of a group of plants that could be labelled NO Turning Back Plants. They will persist beyond 'death do we part'.

Priya
Ward is definitely right about the warning. I planted mine along side of my neighbors bushes which they covered and then proceeded to climb straight up into his northern catalpa tree from a low hanging branch. Needless to say I wasn't able to cut the seed stems off in time last year so I may have them EVERYWHERE this year. The seedlings are easy enough to spot and remove if you get to them soon enough.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Hi Priya! I am one who DOES nick and soak my morning glory and moonflower seeds before sowing. I think it's pretty easy and my seeds germinate quickly - within a week. I microwave a small bowl of water so that it's very warm. Then I use a steak knife to make a tiny slit in each seed and then drop them in for an overnight swim. I've used different bowls to separate the colors before, but I didn't this year. Last year, I started the the seeds early indoors (late January or early February) and transplanted them, still in their seed pots, outside into larger containers. I did that a bit early (like March!) and they had to tough it out through some chilly nights in Georgia! It made them stronger though, and they survived a very hot move in June. Now that I'm in Florida, I put the seeds directly in their large containers outside after nicking and soaking overnight 2 or 3 weeks ago. They're coming up beautifully. I'll try to get around to including a picture for you today or tomorrow. I figure that if I have to be so painfully patient to see the hummingbirds around here (ugh!), I shouldn't have to wait as long for the flowers! I am thankful for the quick-growing tendencies of the zinnias, mexican sunflowers, and morning glories/moonflowers! Good luck to you!

It seems I'm the exception on this one...MG's rarely volunteer for me. I don't know whether it's my wet winters or if I have birds/critters that gather up all the fallen seeds.

I don't nick the seeds, just soak them in water a day or two & plant them (May or later). I also start with hot tap water.

Now canna seeds...those hard little dudes really seem to need to be nicked or filed before soaking. I have some (not filed) that have been in water about 4 weeks...no sign of sprouting. Some others (thank you Patricia) that I filed have been soaking a week or so and are starting to sprout - ready to be potted!



Patrick
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

Patrick,
Canna seeds winter sow very well and you don't have to soak or nick them and they still bloom the first year from seed.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Hello Julie,

I planted moonflower seeds for the first time. I've transplanted outside and they are just beginning to climb. I bought them because the seed packet said they bloom at dark. Have you grown this before? What is your experience? Does it bloom early enough for hummers?

And to everyone else, what is your general experience with morning glories and hummer attraction? This is my second year growing Andrew's sunspots. I'm just wondering what your experience is and whether hummers like some varieties over others. And yes they are easy to grow. This is my second year and I've got 'volunteers' coming up everywhere.

Suzanne

Suzanne
A few people here do grow the moonflowers. Dianne in Alabama is one who grows them. I believe that it is more attractive to the sphinx moth than hummers. I do think that some morning glories are more attractive than others. The smaller ones like Hearts and Honey and probably sunspots are more attractive.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

(sorry for taking this off topic) Penny, how late in the winter can I "winter sow" cannas? I didn't have these seeds until after I ...ummmm...came back from Costa Rica in Feb.

Patrick
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

I didn't know squat about moonflowers until I read about them somewhere -- most likely here. Morning glories were supposed to attract hummers, but the blooms closed by evening. Someone shared the idea of mixing the mgs with moonflowers so that there would always be something pretty to see, day or night. That's what I wanted for my deck, so I put them in containers with those "metal climbing grate things." I used red and blue mgs and the white moonflowers. I hoped it would look patriotic by Independence Day. The red mgs always looked purple rather than red, so there you go! I've never seen a hummer go near any of the flowers. My birds were feeder junkies. While reading a gardening guide last summer, trying to plan for the new yard, it said that moonflowers smelled really nice. For that reason, they were suggested as an ideal pool and patio accessory. Smelling good was a big bonus for me and my new backyard. That's the extent of my experience on this topic. I'll work on adding that picture of my current vines in progress soon.

Patrick, they have volunteered in the garden here and been in bloom by August. Your situation might be somewhat different since summer warm-up is slower in your neck of the rainforest.

Like Nancy I never nick or soak seeds but either plant them in the soil or strow them. I don't do morning glories but do have moonflowers. I love them. I am surrounded by the little red morning glory and the hummingbirds love it.

The sphinx moth wraps up the moonflower at night while it is blooming.

I'm like Patrick--I soak them, but don't bother to nick them. I've also had no trouble with transplanting, at least not with the various little ones that I've grown in recent years.

Canna seeds I nick and soak--don't ask me why I'm so inconsistent! I've got no logical reason at all.

Some packets tell you to soak pea seeds, but I never have and they always seem to sprout just fine. I think many seeds are very forgiving on this.

Like Kristin, I nick and soak Canna seed while I only soak Ipomoea seed. It works for me and I get good germination of both. The only reason I don't nick the morning glory seed is that I find it somewhat difficult--Canna seeds are easier to nick because the seeds are larger.

Donald

Zone 4 Red Wing MN

I don't do either. I start all my seeds in peat pellets in flats, and then I pop them in the groud when they get a few inches tall. I only grow those red morning glories with small flowers the hummers love so, but this year (thanks to folks sharing) I'm also trying Indigo MGs.

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

cold zoners need to try wintersowing your cannas so you don't have to nick or soak the seed.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Well Pyra, I guess you got quite alot of replies from that little question!!! You gotta love this forum and our members ability to "share"!!! I used a dremil tool on YOUR Cana seeds and soaked them for a few days. BTW, I dug them up last fall and just now replanted them. The bulbs tripled in quanity. I "paid if forward" and shared your seeds with someone on this forum....so many seeds so little memory power. Oh, and I just stuck the morning glory seeds in the pots on my deck last summer and they grew well, the soil was warm.



Pam NJ 6B

Thank you all for your input.
Pam, I'm glad the cannas did well for you. The hummers love them so much.

Priya
Zone 7, Maryland

Here's that picture I promised. The tallest seedling is a morning glory at 8 inches. It was raining outside. I have one container inside the pool screen and one outside. You're not seeing a reflection! The seedlings inside are growing faster than the ones outside. I expected it to be reversed.
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I'm selfishly bringing this back up to the top, because I'm excited to have added a photo that is fairly clear and close up -- and it was raining! I need to take more pictures of plants and flowers, they aren't always moving like the birds!

Have a great day, y'all.

I nicked/soaked Moonflowers and Cannas. Never saw a hummer by the moonflowers & the bloom so late but are pretty. Andrew's Sunspots were a huge hit last year. Collected seed for this year. They practically sprouted over night with no nicking or soaking but are different type of seed.

Thanks again, Andrew!!! If I ever get my high speed & figure out how to post a video, I'll put the one of 4 hummers fighting over the Sunspots!!

Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5

Yes, kudos to Andrew for those sunspots. I've got a new crop this year cause I saved some seeds from last year. I've got some extra sunspot seeds if anyone wants any. They were a hit for me, too. Suzanne

I planted all my MG sets. The next morning I came out, and something had gone along inside the fence and ripped EVERY one of my MG's up out of the peat pellet and had a dinner of them.



Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Squirrels. I guarantee it. Dastardly devils. Suzanne

It's definitely a love/hate relationship. Sorry to hear about your plant loss!!

Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5