Expert: C.L. Fornari - 6/16/2008

Question
I bought morning glories from a grower at a farmer's market early this spring. I live in west central WI, near Minneapolis, MN. The flowers were planted in one of those hanging bags, and almost immediately after I brought them home, they began to have yellow, dried up leaves. I water the bag thoroughly every day or every other day. They get full sun from 10- 5 PM. I am almost ready to give up on them, i am losing so many leaves and the blossoms are getting fewer by the day. I appreciate any advice.

Answer
Lyn,
I think that this may be the wrong plant for your growbag... morning glories do best when planted in well drained, infertile soil where they go dry between waterings.  My guess is that the soil in the bag stays moist and is, perhaps, too fertile as well.  Plants that are too dry first wilt, then the leaves get brown and crispy. Plants that are too wet get yellow leaves first that then turn brown.

The other problem with morning glories is that they bloom later in the summer, not all summer, and they bloom best when stressed by poor soil etc.  So I think that this isn't the best plant for your situation.  

The good news is that most garden centers still have a pretty good stock of plants at this time - see if you can find Scaevola or Wave petunias - they would do better in a hanging growbag.

all the best,
C.L.