How to Grow a Moon Vine

Moon vine (Ipomoea alba), also called moonflower, is related to the popular morning glory, but as its name suggests, moon vine's white flowers open at night. Moon vine produces very large, trumpet-shaped flowers, with a scent similar to honeysuckle. Each flower lasts only one night, but the vine produces them in such abundance it is covered in snowy blossoms throughout the summer. Moon vine is a perennial only in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 10 to 11, and is most commonly grown as an annual. Very fast-growing, it will cover a chain-link fence, arbor, gazebo or other structure, and provide lush greenery and gorgeous flowers from early summer all the way through fall.

Instructions

Start seeds indoors about three weeks before the last date of frost in your area. Soak the seeds in water overnight, then nick the seed coating with a knife. This aids germination.

Place one or two seeds in small peat pots that are filled with potting soil. Push the seeds down 1/4 inch into the soil. Mist the potting soil to dampen it well, and keep it moist until the seeds germinate. This will usually be within a week.

Transplant the seedlings into the ground in a sunny spot once your last frost date has passed. You can plant the entire peat pot in well-drained soil rich with organic compost. Plant it only as deep as the base of the seedling; do not pile soil up past the stem.

Provide a trellis for the vines to climb, or plant them against the structure you want covered. Moon vines grow very quickly, and stems can grow as long as 15 feet.

Fertilize the plants monthly throughout the spring and summer using plant food designed for roses or flowers, following the package directions. This will keep your moon vine healthy and full of blooms.

Pinch off tips of stems if needed to control growth, but do not heavily prune or trim the moon vine. You can direct stems in desired growth patterns by tying them to supports with twist ties. The moon vine will quickly twine around the support and continue its growth pattern.

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