Morning Glories

Q. I live in central Kentucky. Several years ago I planted Morning Glories. They were beautiful and I just loved them. Last year I tried to plant again but nothing came up. This year I replanted in the same area as the first year. I have gobs of vines but no blooms. We have had a very wet summer this year plus I have watered the plants when they look wilted. What would cause these plants to just produce vines? Our soil is basically clay but I've tilled in top soil. Please help me understand this.

A. I have been deluged with problems in gardening when before there was none. The season has been weird all over the US with maybe my state being OK. Rain is heavy in areas temperatures are severely hot in some and drought has been terrible in still others!

I would like three things. Try them again next spring. Buy some good leaf mold or compost and mix into the clay [I gardened in it for years!] to a depth of two feet. Add peat moss if you like or even dried leaves.

Look around to see if there is something which you can prune to give the spot more sunlight or choose a brighter location to grow them. True they like woodsy shade but flowering is greater with morning sun. Mine in total shade did little blooming. Give them a good 4-5 hours of light but never the hot afternoon sun.

Feed them once they have sprouted at 1/2 strength. Then feed them every two weeks with a general food as Rapid Grow Scotts Hyponex or Miracle-Gro. Food is essential for good flowering. Drench them well when watered so that it seeps way down into the root system.

If the soil feels moist to the touch and they are wilted do not water. It could be rot from the heavy rainy summer you had. The clay has poor drainage and that is why I want you to dig deeply and amend it as above. The heavy water has ruined them this year but I want you to come back next summer and tell me how nice they are blooming!

Q. A coworker gave me a start from a plant she is calling a moon bush. It is not a climbing vine. It has grown on a very thick stalk about 3 foot high. It has large white fragrant trumpet shaped blooms that open in the early evening and last almost exactly 24 hours. What can you tell me about this plant and how to care for it? Will it come back on its own next year or do I harvest seeds from it to plant?

A. Ipomoea purpurea or I. quamoclit [Cypress Vine Cardinal Climber] is the Morning Glory vine which comes in blue red rose pink or white. In this same family is I. alba the Moonflower Vine or Bush. All are vigorous and useful for fast coverage. Morning Glory is often considered a weed but many cultivated varieties are available. Cypress Vine has delicate fern-like foliage and small red flowers. Moonflower is grown for its large fragrant white nocturnal flowers. It comes in a vine or bush form and is quite hardy but shade-loving. Keep well-watered and protected from bright direct sunshine and wind. Stake if needed for support. Feed every 2-3 weeks with a general garden fertilizer. It readily reseeds itself.