Twice I have tried growing moonflowers and both times I've had problems with getting a substantial flowering time out of them. The first year I tried them I started them indoors but then when I transplanted them outside they didn't appreciate the transplant process and basically did nothing for an entire month. I did get blooms from them finally, but only for about a week until we got our first frost. The second time I tried them I directly sowed them into pots outside as soon as weather permitted, but because I had to wait for warmer weather I ended up losing valuable time again we were only able to enjoy the blooms for about a week until the first frost turned them into a withered mess.
If anyone has any tricks up their sleeves for how I can more bloom time from moonflowers here in my zone 5b garden please let me know. I didn't even bother growing them this year because I thought I could better use the space for morning glories. I do enjoy having evening fragrant flowers though (I have jasmine tobacco, woodland tobacco and mignonette growing along our walkway and front door) and I do miss the anticipation of that first flower.
Any thoughts appreciated--thanks! :)
Growing moonflowers in zone 5b
Hi Niere!
The first year did you have them in regular pots or did you use peat or cowpots? If they resented the root disturbance the cowpots may help in this area.
I planted some last year that I started in cowpots. They were about 14 inches tall when I planted them outside and they started blooming in the beginning of Aug. Hope this helps.
Hi Sandy! Nice to see a fellow Rhode Islander. :)
I can't remember what I started them in two years ago, though I'm sure you are right in that they probably did not like the root disturbance. I usually use soil blocks made with a soil block maker to start my seedlings, but they are only 2x2 inches and likely not large enough for a moonflower seedling. How large are the cowpots? Can they be found in RI? And do you remember when you started them? I'm thinking I'd have to start mine at least in mid-March.
I would love to be able to get some blooms in the beginning of August! You've given me hope. :D
I picked them up at Agway; 4" pots. If I remember correctly, I started them in March(beginning to mid). I soak mine overnight and use Miracle Grow Potting Mix.
:-)
Thanks Sandy--I'm going to try to mark this down so I don't forget. There will be a few other things I'll be starting around the same time , so I'll just add it to the list.
Thanks! :)
Your welcome! Hopefully next year the weather will be more cooperative as well!
Sorry but relieved to hear of others with moonflower challenges...I didn't realize they took so long to flower...might still be hope for my one sole vine then.
Sandy--you said it. Though I didn't mind the rain today--it was the nearly six straight weeks of rain that had me ready to build an ark. :p
Chantell--yes, they do take a long time to flower, but once they do the flowers are stunning and the fragrance is unbelievable. I don't know when you started yours but if I recall correctly they usually took at least four and a half months before I even saw a bud. And since you are down in VA you will have way more time. Keeping my fingers crossed for you--let us know if they flower!
Ahhh thank you!!! Will let ya'll know...I LOVE my fragrants so have been very sad with the moonflowers and butterfly ginger
I must have been enormously lucky the first year, I planted them directly outdoors in the ground. Haven't had a repeat performance like that since. They were gorgeous, I had an arch entirely covered in them. I thought maybe I would try growing them in big containers, maybe two gallon size, and starting them inside and putting them out when the weather warmed up. This was taken in early August and only one or two blooms had opened, and of course, this was daytime. They grew down to the ground on the other side of the arch, and sometimes I had twenty or more blooming at the same time. Pure luck. I had no clue what I was doing.
Edited to tell you that you do NOT see that large grassy weed on the lower left of the photo. It is not there. Really.
This message was edited Aug 13, 2009 6:41 PM
luv the edit!! lol