Morning glory vines bring old-fashioned charm and a quaint cottage feeling to any garden. However, if you don’t have time to take care of an aggressively seeding plant, you might want to think twice about introducing them into your garden, as they can get out of hand in a hurry. If you have a space where they can run wild over a fence, pergola or arbor, they will make quick cover of it. Their funnel or tubular-shaped flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s more information on growing morning glories.
Annual in areas that get below 45 F, but can still reseed and come back year after year on their own; perennial in warmer, more tropical climates.
Beach morning glory (Ipomoea imperati) is a stunning vining plant known for its heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers. However, despite its beauty, beach morning glory has a tendency to get leggy and fall over, especially when grown indoors. If your beach morning glory is sprawling instead of standing upright, don’t despair! With a few simple care adjustments, you can get your plant looking perky again in no time.
Reasons for Beach Morning Glory Falling Over
There are a few key reasons why beach morning glory plants become leggy and start falling over, including:
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Insufficient Light – Beach morning glory thrives in full sun outdoors. When grown indoors these plants need very bright direct light to grow upright. Insufficient light leads to weak, lanky growth that causes the stems to fall over.
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Overwatering – Too much moisture causes overly soft weak growth in beach morning glory. Overwatered plants are more likely to flop over under their own weight.
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Lack of Air Circulation – Stagnant, still air causes weak growth. Beach morning glory needs good air movement to grow sturdy stems.
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Lack of Support – As a vining plant, beach morning glory needs some type of support structure to climb upwards Without support, the stems sprawl outward
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Potbound Roots – When rootbound, beach morning glory puts energy into upward growth, causing a leggy, weak appearance. Timely repotting is needed.
How to Fix a Falling Over Beach Morning Glory
luckily, with a few simple fixes, you can get your sprawling beach morning glory to stand upright again:
Increase Light Levels
The very first thing to address is light. Beach morning glory simply won’t grow well without ample illumination. Increase light levels by:
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Placing the plant 1-3 feet from a very bright south or west facing window. Sheer curtains can filter direct sun.
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Using supplemental grow lights to provide 12-14 hours of daily light. LED full spectrum bulbs work great.
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Moving the plant outdoors in spring through fall, ensuring it gets sun all day. Bring it back indoors before frost.
Water Only When Dry
Overwatering causes weak, floppy growth. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings. The pot should feel light when lifted.
Increase Air Circulation
Use an oscillating fan near the plant to create gentle air movement. Open windows regularly for fresh air. Avoid stuffy, stagnant conditions.
Stake or Trellis Stems
Insert plant stakes around the pot to support lanky stems until they re-strengthen. Attach twine between stakes to create a trellis for stems to climb.
Repot Annually
Repot beach morning glory each spring into a container one size larger. This prevents root congestion and encourages healthy, upright growth.
Fertilize Regularly
Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during spring through fall. Stop fertilizing over winter. Proper fertilization nurtures strong stems.
Prune as Needed
Prune back any extra-leggy stems, shaping the plant into a more compact form. New growth will be bushier.
How to Prevent Beach Morning Glory From Falling Over
With proper growing conditions and care, you can prevent flopping issues in the first place:
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Choose compact varieties like ‘Candy Pink’ instead of aggressive climbers.
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Start with a sturdy support structure like a trellis or obelisk.
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Grow in bright southern or western light. Avoid darker locations.
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Water only when the top few inches of soil are dry to the touch.
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Ensure excellent drainage and air circulation around the plant.
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Turn or rotate the pot frequently for even growth on all sides.
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Avoid drafts, vents, or cold spots which can weaken stems.
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Fertilize regularly during the active growing season for healthy growth.
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Prune leggy stems back by 1/3 their length to encourage bushier regrowth.
When to Worry About a Falling Over Beach Morning Glory
As long as you can pinpoint the cause of the flopping (insufficient light, overwatering, etc), you should be able to revive your plant with the fixes suggested. However, if the weak, sprawling growth continues despite your best efforts, it could indicate a more serious underlying issue such as:
- Root rot from overwatering
- Spider mite infestation
- Fungal disease like powdery mildew
- Excessively high or low temperatures
- Nutrient deficiency
Ruling out problems like these will be key before your beach morning glory will stand tall and upright again. Don’t give up too soon! With a little TLC, this beauty will be back to its glorious self once more.
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Are morning glory vines invasive?
Morning glories are often mistaken for their aggressive and invasive cousin, field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), also called creeping Jenny, but they are two different species. Morning glories are from the family Ipomoea and, yes, can also be hard to handle and stubborn. They grow quite rapidly and will aggressively self-seed if not prevented by cutting back and removing seed pods, and some varieties have been declared invasive in certain areas. Field bindweed, on the other hand, sends out deep roots that make it nearly impossible to get rid of. These deep roots also allow it to overwinter in colder climates to return again and again. Field bindweed blooms in white or pink flowers and usually has smaller leaves than morning glory.
Morning glories are easily grown from seed and can be started indoors four to six weeks before the last spring frost. If sown directly into the garden, plant after any threat of frost and once the ground has warmed up to 64 F.
Pick a site that gets plenty of sun. They will tolerate some very light shade, but bloom their best in full sun. Because of their rapid growth, choose a location that will allow for its mature size. Morning glories will readily self-seed if allowed, so make sure they are in an area that is accessible for cutting back spent blooms before they go to seed or an area where self-seeding is acceptable. Be considerate of neighboring yards and where the seeds might fall.
If planting from seed, file seeds to break the outer shell and soak for 24 hours prior to planting to help with germination. Cover lightly with one-quarter to one-half inch of soil and water thoroughly. When transplanting, be careful of the roots, as they don’t like being disturbed. Water deeply for several days after transplanting to help the roots get established in their new home. Helpful hint: If starting from seed, use peat or other disintegrating pots that can be planted directly in the soil to lessen the stress on the root system.
Morning glories grow quite rapidly once established, up to 12 feet or more in one season.
No pruning is required; but to prevent unwanted self-seeding, old flowers should be thoroughly removed before they form seedpods.
Morning glories prefer moderately fertile, well-drained soil that is kept consistently moist until the plant is well established. Adult plants aren’t as picky about their soil and can tolerate poor, dry conditions.
Although usually not necessary, you can apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during growing season. Be careful not to fertilize too much as this can produce more foliage than flowers.
Water freely during growing season and once or twice a week during dry periods; but again, established morning glory plants can tolerate drier conditions. Cut back watering in winter.
Softwood cuttings of perennial species can be rooted in spring or summer. Harvest mature seeds in the fall.
Morning glory vines are sturdy and not generally affected by disease or pests, but can occasionally be susceptible to white blister, rust, fungal leaf spot, stem rot, and wilt. They can also be bothered by aphids, leaf miners, spider mites, and caterpillars.
Deer will eat morning glory leaves and vines, although the seeds are poisonous.
All morning glories should be grown with care and you should check for locally invasive species. Here are a few of the more widely acceptable types: Swipe to view slides
Photo by: alybaba / Shutterstock.
Common morning glory Ipomoea purpurea
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: 6 to 10 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: June to October; year-round in tropics
Color: Purple flower with white throat
Trumpet-shaped purple flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon, which is what gives morning glories their common name. This fast grower grows up to 10 feet in one season. See more on the invasiveness of this species.
Photo by: ChViroj / Shutterstock.
Moonflower Ipomoea alba
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 10-12 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: 10 to 15 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: July to October; year-round in tropics
Color: White flower
This tropical native is noted for its fragrant nighttime blooms and broad, deep green leaves. Flowers open in the evening and close before noon the following day. (Not to be confused with daturas, also commonly called moonflower.) See more on the invasiveness of this species.
Photo by: Hemerocallis / Shutterstock.
‘Heavenly Blue’ Ipomoea tricolor
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: To 12 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer, year-round in tropics
Color: Blue-purple flower with white throat, yellow center
Fast growing, twining climber with a classic morning glory look. Prohibited in Arizona and Arkansas.
Photo by: I_Fleurs / Shutterstock.
Flying Saucers’ Ipomoea tricolor
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: To 12 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer, year-round in tropics
Color: Silvery white, streaked with blue
One of the more popular varieties due to its variegated flower, it produces large saucer-shaped blooms.
Photo by: Jjaikla / Shutterstock.
Beach morning glory, railroad vine, bayhops Ipomoea pes-caprae
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11
Height/Spread: Ground cover 16 inches high and can spread over 30 feet
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Late summer
Color: Pink petals with a darker center
Tolerant of sandy soil, salty air and water. Found along southern beaches from Texas to Florida and Georgia. Fast growing ground cover with evergreen leaves.
Photo by: Lucia Barabino / Pixabay.com.
Mile-a-minute vine, Messina creeper, Cairo morning glory Ipomoea cairica
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11
Height/Spread: 8 to 10 feet
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer, year-round in tropical climates
Color: Purple
Noted as invasive in some areas, check locally before planting.
Photo by: Carol Cloud Bailey / Millette Photomedia.
Ground morning glory Convolvulus sabatius
Zones: Perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 20 F
Height/Spread: Groundcover 1 foot tall and spreads 3 feet in diameter
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Spring through fall, year-round in mild winter regions
Color: Lavender-blue
Forms a mat of green leaves with funnel-shaped flowers.
Photo by: Sari ONeal / Shutterstock.
Cardinal climber Ipomoea xmultifida (I. sloteri)
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer
Color: Bright red
A favorite of hummingbirds, with bright red tubular flowers and deeply cut foliage.
- Morning glory vines will quickly cover trellises, pergolas, arches and fences.
- Use them to create a colorful wall or to cover an unsightly area.
- Fashion a living fence, porch or deck railing.
- Plant vines in containers with a supporting trellis.
- Drape out of a hanging basket; they will also twine up the hangers.
- Grow responsibly in areas where reseeding is acceptable.
- Some varieties are considered invasive in certain areas, check locally before planting.
Blue My Mind® dwarf morning glory. Photo: Proven Winners.
Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’. Photo by: Hemerocallis / Shutterstock.
Morning glory vines bring old-fashioned charm and a quaint cottage feeling to any garden. However, if you don’t have time to take care of an aggressively seeding plant, you might want to think twice about introducing them into your garden, as they can get out of hand in a hurry. If you have a space where they can run wild over a fence, pergola or arbor, they will make quick cover of it. Their funnel or tubular-shaped flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s more information on growing morning glories.
Annual in areas that get below 45 F, but can still reseed and come back year after year on their own; perennial in warmer, more tropical climates.
6 to 12 feet, or more depending on variety.
Varieties available in purple, blue, red, white, pink and bi-colored.
Morning glory seeds are highly toxic if ingested.
Growing Morning Glory in Pots | Learning from Last Year’s Mistakes
FAQ
Why is my morning glory plant drooping?
Why is my plant flopping over?
Why is my plant falling over?
Why is my prayer plant falling over?
Why does my Morning Glory Wilt?
To prevent this from happening, do not overhead water your morning glory and remove any infected leaves. Canker is a disease that causes the stem of the morning glory to be sunken-in and brown. It wilts the ends of the leaves and then spreads onto the stem. It is a fungus that, if not taken care of, will affect the whole plant.
Why are my Morning Glory leaves turning yellow?
Insufficient sunlight can be a cause of yellowing leaves, as morning glories require full sun to flourish. To remedy this, you can transplant your morning glory to a sunnier spot in the garden or trim any plants that are blocking the sun. Another cause of yellow leaves is either under-watering or over-watering.
How do you grow beach morning glory?
Growing best on dry to moist sandy soils in full sun. Beach morning-glory is tolerant of heat, drought, and wind, as well as salt spray. Propagate this plant by seed or division. The large, showy funnel shaped whitle flowers open in the morning and close by afternoon blooming from early summer to fall.
Is beach morning glory poisonous?
This plant has low severity poison characteristics. Beach morning-glory is a perennail vine in the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) family. It is native to the coastlines of tropical and subtropical areas across the globe where it is found sprawling along sandy beaches and dunes.