If the plant is a moon flower (Ipomoea alba)

I purchased a plant and seed tracking software and need help with the Scientific Classification section. To get an idea of what information would possibly go in each field, do you know a good online site to learn about Scientific Classification?
Any help would be appreciated. thanks. For example what is pH??

Division------------------------- Family--------------------------
Sub Division---------------- Sub Family---------------------
Class--------------------------- Genus--------------------------
Sub Class-------------------- Species-------------------------
Order----------------------------- pH-----------------------------
Sub Order-------------------- Planting Density-------------
Female Parent---------------- Root Deph------------------
Male Parent------------------- User Defined----------------

You could start with these resources right here on DG:
http://davesgarden.com/glossary/

Great, thank you very much.

Try this site for a lot of the taxonomy information. You can look it up either by common name or latin name http://www.zipcodezoo.com/Plants/

Here's a moonflower entry in zipcodezoo http://www.zipcodezoo.com/plants/i/ipomoea_alba_%60meekerii%60.asp The cultivar is Meekerii, but I didn't know which cultivar you were wanting information on.

This site explains soil pH pretty well http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/soilph/soilph.htm To find the pH requirements of certain plants takes some research, but a good place to start would be right here with our PlantFiles http://davesgarden.com/pf/ Not all of the entries have that information yet, but lots do.

Hi Dee. . .
Here is a bit more information on pH

pH Definition:
pH can be viewed as an abbreviation for power of hydrogen or more completely,
power of the concentration of hydrogen ion.
Also:
pH is a measure of the ACIDITY or ALKALINITY of a solution
Here is a link that explains
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH#Definition

In short: Some plants require more ACIDITY and some more ALKALINITY
You can purchase kits to check you own soil pH
Or send a soil sample to your extension office for a small fee to learn what your soil pH is.
Here is some great information on how to change the pH of your soil
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1650.htm

Regarding your Subject title:
“If the plant is a moon flower (Ipomoea alba)”

I will try to find the Thread where we talked about this before - where I posted several of my photos of various blooms, including my Datura Blooms [that is not related to Ipomoea].

IMPORTANT:
It is best to refer to Ipomoea alba as
Moon VINE
and not
Moon FLOWER
Information below will explain . . .

In short:
The ‘Regular’ Ipomoea alba Blooms are White http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/893/
and the seeds are normally Tan to Whitish.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/1132/
Some are a darker color
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/9251/

Ipomoea alba 'Meekerii'
Is the Dark Seeded form of Ipomoea alba.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/120337/

[and is NOT the same plant as the darker seeds that Ipomoea alba sometimes produce]
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/9251/

Ipomoea alba 'Meekerii' is different [but similar to] Ipomoea alba
Here you can read more about this species by Stacey ‘QueenB’
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/136688/

Here is cut and paste of her experience growing this species:
"This is a dark-seeded form of I. alba. The seedling proved to be very cold hardy, surviving short periods of freezing temps when I placed it out a little too early. Other tropical species I had planted near it experienced damage resulting in death. The mature vine isn't near as aggressive as the white-seeded form, being somewhat slow growing in spite of the fact that it's planted in an area that gets ample moisture. The vine also tends to be more wiry with less of the typical red pigmentation that the white has, and the flowers aren't quite as large. This may be a better cultivar for those who want the flowers, but not the massive amount of vines the white one produces, and also good for those who live in colder areas who have trouble growing this species."

Both are a member of the Convolvulaceae Family [Morning Glory] and BOTH are Moon Vines, which means the blooms do not open until very late afternoon and will remain open through the night, closing the following morning. Blooms are Extremely Fragrant.

Also, Ipomoea alba Moon Vine is not to be confused with the DATURA aka: Moon Flower [NOT MOON VINE] because it too opens late afternoon and blooms until the following morning.
Here is the perfect example of this.
'taterslady' has posted her photos to Ipomoea alba in the PlantFiles and
IT IS MOST DEFINATELY NOT IPOMOEA ALBA, but is a DATURA. . .

I will report these 5-photos to be moved out of Ipomoea alba.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/169587/

Finally:
There are several other species that are also MOON VINES
Two that I can think of are
Ipomoea turbinata
Lavender Moon Vine
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/88060/

And
Ipomoea macrorhiza
Pink Moon Vine
[Most Blooms are White with a Pink Throat
and some are actually Pink with a Darker Pink Throat]
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53206/
Here is an EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL BLOOM
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/168446/

Hope this helps . . .

Emma






This message was edited Oct 13, 2007 12:12 PM

MGJapan,
I am not very good at this, I get most of my help from everyone here! That is how I learned what it is I have. But, here is a pic of my moon vine/flower that is being grown in VERY POOR soil. I will tell you that my first one broke off during a bad storm, but had reseeded and is already over half way back to the size of the original one. They seem to grow extremely fast! Good luck with yours, Misty

Misty, yours is Datura (sometimes called moonflower), not Ipomoea alba (moon vine)

Thanks ecrane-then I am glad mine is what it is. Just curious, how long have you been gardening? Thanks, Misty

Not too long--really only about the last 3-4 years. Before that I sometimes had houseplants or patio plants, but I never really got excited about gardening until I moved to California and bought a house. I guess when I was a kid I weeded the strawberry patch and grew things like cosmos and 4 o'clocks from seed occasionally, but I'd say my real interest in gardening and any knowledge I have about it have come in the last few years.

Well you sure have learned a lot in a short amount of time! I hope I can have learned as much like you in a short time frame! I just started last year, but I learn as much as I can about every plant I have. Thanks again, Misty

Just keep hanging out here! I also read a lot of gardening books and magazines, but really a lot of what I know came from reading the forums here.

I try to keep up, but there are just too many things here to look at! Much more than my poor pea brain can endure! If I see something someone has posted that looks like something of mine, then I try to help, that is about all I am good for! HE HE HE Misty

Thanks guys for sharing your ideas and pointing me in the right direction.
Here is a link to my 2007 growing season for morning glory AKA Japanese asagao.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/707963/

happy gardening.

Dee