Moonflowers

I would love some input from someone who knows what they are doing when it comes to moonflowers, as I certainly don't qualify. :)

This year was the first time I have ever tried moonflowers. I started them by seed and they seemed to do very well. I was then working on hardening them off and accidentally left them out all night one night last spring. Of course we had a frost and the seedlings weren't too happy about it, but they survived. A few days later I left them out too long in the afternoon and they proceeded to get sunscald. The little troopers still hung on, and after a few weeks I felt they were finally doing well enough to be transplanted into a half-oak keg with a trellis. After transplanting them they proceeded to do absolutely ZERO, and of course now I know that they really don't take to transplanting so well. I also made what I am guessing was a crucial mistake, in that I removed many of the "initial" leaves from the seedlings because I thought they looked too damaged to be of any use. I think doing that was a major mistake because the little guys just didn't have enough surface area to really get themselves going.

So...

finally the little guys started to grow, and they've really taken off the past few weeks. My question is--I'm in what I think is Zone 5--is it too much to expect to get a bloom from these plants before frost (typical first frost in my area is mid-September)? The vines are now getting to be in the five to six-foot range and I'm not seeing ANYTHING on these plants that look like little mini-flower buds, the way you typically see them on Morning Glories.

Also, as a side note, I've noticed that some of the leaves on some of the vines seem to have quite a bit of diversity. some of them are the typical heart-shape, some appear to have one regular "heart" side and have a two-lobed other side and some of the leaves are very long and "arrow" looking.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

A close-up of one of the "arrow-shaped" leaves.

That's a very cool leaf, that arrow leaf! If there is a threat of frost, maybe you can just cover the trellis up with a light barrier like thin plastic that night then remove it in the morning?

Joseph

Thanks Gerris2--isn't that an interesting leaf? And now I find that my other whiskey barrel of moon flowers has a plant doing the same thing with the leaf diversification. As for the cooler weather, I am definitely going to try to extend my season with some protection over the vines. I just wish I had some idea of whether or not I'm likely to see a bloom off of them.

Well--next year I'll know what mistakes to not make! :D

Thanks again!

I grew moonflowers about four years ago and they didn't bloom till early September. Mine were bigger than yours by now though. I belong to another garden forum and I do remember that several of us were wondering if our moonflowers were going to bloom before frost. Here's a pic of the first bloom on September 7th.

Oh thank you revclaus--you've given me hope!!

And what a gorgeous bloom you had. :)

Got quite a few too!

Niere, I think you will still get blooms. You can start them in peat pots in the Spring, that kind of helps so you don't disturb the roots, just plant pot and all. Here's what to look for: the bud starts are at the base of this bud which is just starting to open (from last year). I didn't start any this year and I really miss them.

revclaus--even if I can just get ONE, I'll be happy! :D

AuntB--I could totally hug you to pieces right now!!! Thank you so much for providing this picture--I noticed something like that on one of my vines this morning, but wasn't sure if it was the very beginning of a bud or just more baby leaf starts. You have given me hope!!! :D

Thanks so much everyone--I am so loving this site! :D

When yours blooms, don't forget to smell- so nice! So glad you can see the buds!

Niere, Your experience parallels mine over several years of growing moonflower. I ALWAYS worry I won't have bloom, but nearly always get at least one. Their requirement of a growing season is so long I don't always get them in early enough here in zone 5. This year, the weeks of rain end June , early July seem to have slowed them somewhat. Sooo glad you'll have success....if no one has mentioned this, go out at night--oh say after 8;30 PM, and see if you can watch it open! May take some monitoring, as sometimes it seems the bud is ready to open, but won't until the next night. And AuntB's tip was right on, the scent is glorious--sensual, mysterious.

MvalleyLily--thank you so much! I'm glad to hear that you usually had a few blooms at least. I will definitely be watching these buds like a hawk. If it looks like rain for that evening, I'm going to pitch the beach umbrella over the plant and myself--after all I've been though, I'm not going to miss it! :D

AuntB--just wanted to thank you again for the picture--it's really stunning, and the more I try to take pictures of things in my own garden the more I appreciate really good photography in others! It can't compare of course, but I wanted to share with you where my first buds are at now (and I've found three other sets of buds since!)