Morning Glories: Moonglory/Moonflower sickly, dying plants!, 3 by monkeeluv6

monkeeluv6 wrote:
Hello,

I’ve been having problems with my Moonflowers and Morning Glories. Could you help?

I’ve noticed two distinct problems: 1) Leaves anywhere on the plant develop tan/brown spots then die. 2) Bottom leave turn entirely yellow (without spotting), then die.

I’m in Zone 6b and planted 8 total MF and MG in planters on my porch. There are 2 MF and 2 MG in each planter (about 3 feet wide, 10” deep). I started the seeds indoors and transplanted them into soilless potting mix. There are adequate drainage holes at the bottom of each planter. The planters get full, direct sun until about 1pm, then receive increasing shade from the porch as the day wears on.

Problem 1: I read that MG’s naturally lose their bottom leaves—like losing baby teeth. However, this yellowing and then dying problem has gone beyond the bottom leaves. It’s worked its way about 2 feet up the plant! By this rate, there will be no leaves left very soon! Is this normal? (The last two pics illustrate the prob--including the naked stems at the bottom of the plant)

Problem 2: Leaves (not necessarily on the bottom) develop spots. Some are big brown spots. On these, the leaves eventually die. I suspect sun scorch. Other leaves become spotted with mottled tannish spots (third pic). These leaves don’t die as quickly as the others. (First 3 pics illustrate spotting)

I water daily or every other day. (I read that they like the drier side of things, but when in pots, I gotta keep ‘em hydrated). I only fertilized once when they were little and struggling b/c I read not to fertilize because it encourages foliage without flowers.

Any diagnosis? Any suggestions? What am I doing wrong? Did I put too many plants in one pot? If it is sun scorch—how do I protect ‘em? (I was told they like shaded 'feet' so I put up a small trellis at the base of the planters)