Morning glories need full sun to reach their potential and develop full blooms. Aim for a minimum of 6–8 hours of full sun daily, but don’t be afraid to let your morning glories bask in the light for up to 10 hours a day. Keep in mind, severe winds can dry out the soil and counteract the benefits your morning glories get from the sun. With this in mind, select an area where your morning glory vines will receive at least some shelter from strong winds.
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How Many Hours of Sun Do Morning Glories Need?
Morning glories need at least 6 hours of full sun daily, but 8 is even better. Even if your flowers are planted in an area of your garden that gets strong sun all day, this should not be a problem. Morning glories thrive in the sun, so the more they get, the better. Just be sure to make sure you morning glories get the necessary amount of water to thrive.
- Morning glories need a minimum of 6 hours of full sun daily.
- 8 hours of full sun per day is not too much for these flowering vines.
- Without the required hours of full sun, morning glory blooms may be lackluster.
Morning glories are a low-maintenance vine that grows in just about any condition with little intervention. However, without the necessary 6–8 hours of full sun, your morning glories may not bloom to their fullest potential. So, while they may survive with less light, you’ll get the best from your morning glories by providing them with lots of direct sunlight.
Can Morning Glories Grow in Indirect Sunlight?
Morning glories can grow in indirect sunlight, but it’s important to understand the difference between “grow” and “bloom.” Because they are tough, adaptive vines, morning glory plants will establish themselves in less-than-perfect conditions. However, if you want lots of flowers, your morning glories must have direct sunlight no matter what.
- Morning glories can grow in indirect sunlight.
- Most morning glory plants will not bloom if direct sunlight is not provided.
- Morning glory flowers only open when exposed to sunlight. So, make sure they receive direct sun early in the day.
The typical pattern of morning glories is to open in the morning when the sun comes up, and “close” in the afternoon as the sun begins to sink. Without full sunlight, your flowers will remain curled up, and you will essentially have a fast-growing vine that features no blooms.
Can Morning Glories Grow in Shade?
Morning glory vines can grow in shade, but the flowers will never open. Instead, they will remain in their curled-up position. If this is the case, you won’t be able to enjoy the lush blooms that likely made you choose morning glories for your garden.
- Morning glories can grow in shade.
- Morning glories planted in shady areas will fail to flower.
- Root rot and discoloration may occur if you try to grow morning glories in shade.
Shade-grown morning glory vines may develop brown spots and the roots may rot if they are completely deprived of sun. To ensure your morning glories open each day and develop lush blooms, avoid planting them in shady areas.
What Happens if Morning Glories Don’t Get Enough Sun?
If your morning glories receive some full sun, but less than the recommended 6–8 hours, blooms may be significantly smaller. Additionally, the vines themselves may grow out of control in various directions in an effort to find sunlight. If your plant doesn’t get adequate sunlight, you may also end up with an overgrowth of leaves and few flowers.
- Morning glories that get insufficient sun may feature smaller blooms.
- Morning glory vines may grow in random, abnormal patterns in their search for sunlight.
- It is best to plant morning glories where they will face the morning sun.
Like most fast-growing, flowering vines, morning glories curl up at night and unfurl in the morning. Therefore, if you want your flowers to be truly “glorious” when their day begins, plant them where they will be facing the morning sun. Of course, you can also opt to plant them where they get full afternoon sun. Just keep in mind that the flowers will open much later in the day if you choose this option.
Can Morning Glories Get Too Much Sun?
It is possible for morning glories to get too much sun, but this typically only happens in very hot climates. In most cases, the sun is the least of your worries for these adaptable vines. It is important to note, however, that the combination of strong winds—which can dry out the soil—and excessive sun exposure can be unhealthy for your morning glories.
- Morning glories can get too much sun, but this is very rare.
- Excessive sun exposure and strong winds are a bad combination for morning glories.
- If your morning glories are scorched by the sun, provide them with this shade cloth in the afternoon.
Overexposure to the sun, or full sun under constantly windy conditions, can lead to the wilting of your morning glories. Too much sun and dry weather can also cause dry, curled blooms. If they are damaged by sun scorch, the leaves on the vine may also turn yellow and brown and fall prematurely. To prevent this, set up a shade cloth or plant a shade tree that also helps block heavy winds.
How Much Sun Do Morning Glories Require?
To fully develop their lovely blooms, morning glories need full sun. Plant them in moderately fertile, well-drained soil where they can thrive in 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily. In most cases, morning glory vines can tolerate up to 10 hours of full sun per day.
- Morning glories need up to 8 hours of full sun daily.
- In most cases, all-day sun is not dangerous for these vines.
- Strong winds can dry the soil and counteract the sun’s benefits.
- Morning glories are sturdy, but should still be grown in their preferred environment.
Morning glories will thrive in well-drained, moderately fertile soil where they receive direct sunlight for the majority of the day. Even though flowering vines can typically hold up under less than ideal conditions, it’s always better to try to grow them in their preferred environment. For morning glories, what they prefer is full sun.
