The Morning Glories have been growing super fast, so I thought it was time for another update! 😊 Many Ipomoea nil varieties have lovely variegated leaves. Some are only slight, but there are some that are so beautiful they would be worth growing even if they didn't have amazing flowers too!
These are 'Kokoah', which should have a very dark purple flower, but one of these had a different colored hypocotyl which sometimes determines the flower color. I'm eagerly waiting to see if it blooms in a different color too!
'Asuka Ray Mix' has maple-shaped leaves, and one plant is also variegated.
I also can't get over the leaves on 'Purple Reverse Tube'! There's just nothing like them!
I. pubescens is ready to start climbing and I need to provide some kind of support soon.
The caudex...
I. transvaalensis just got moved to a bigger pot and is starting to climb too.
Well, if you all remember my comfrey tea experiment from a few weeks ago, I now have proof that it does indeed contain lots of nitrogen! I watered my morning glories with it a couple of times and not only have they been growing like crazy (perhaps too much...if overfed they will only produce lots of foliage and no flowers), but I also accidentally splashed a few of the leaves, which started to burn. Thankfully the plants are still fine, just minus a few leaves!
A new life begins...I recently bought several more rare varieties from a seller on eBay. I will have to save most of them until next spring as there just aren't enough bright windows in the house, but I had to try a few now!
Cotyledons of 'Blue Silk' ('Akatsuki Tsuyu' in Japanese)...
The cotyledons of 'Midnight Illusion' are really something else! Interestingly, the backs of the cotyledons on one of the seedlings is an almost neon purple, while the other is pale green/yellow. Both show purple hypocotyls, which will also be the color of the future flowers.
The same things happened with my two 'Hamafubuki' seedlings, only in pink! 😁 These should have stunning, pink and white blizzard blooms.
Having all these beauties to look forward really helps to lessen my dread of the coming winter. Hopefully when the snows come I will be able to say with Tennyson:
"Bite, frost, bite!
You roll up away from the light
The blue wood-louse, and the plump dormouse,
And the bees are still'd, and the flies are kill'd,
And you bite far into the heart of the house,
But not into mine."
I look forward to the blooms of your beautiful morning glories. Your home will be a virtual jungle. It will be sheer ecstasy!
ReplyDeleteThe 'Purple Reverse Tube' is especially interesting as well as 'Midnight Illusion' and 'Hamafubuki'.
I raised a variety of Wasp violets. They are very different, with a ruffled bustles on the back of the leaf coming off the stem. They have delicate blue and pink blooms. There are several different wasp violets. Your I. Transvaalensis and I. Pubescens look like they could be classified as mini's. Can't wait to see them bloom. You go girl!
Yes I think I will be on cloud nine when they start to bloom. The contrast of the dreary winter outdoors and these bright flowers indoors will be a delight! :)
DeleteYour Wasp Violets sound so lovely. My darling kitties wreaked havoc on my African Violets, so I guess I won't be able to grow them anymore, or at least not until the cats mature and settle down a little (hopefully!). That's one reason why I'm starting my MGs while it's still warm outside. They will have to be big and strong to withstand the kitties!
🤣🤣🤣 But,there is nothing like a kittie.
DeleteQuite exciting! You'll be living in a tropical jungle this winter! ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope so! :)
DeleteYou have a great eye for detail and are obviously amassing knowledge of the different cultivars. I hope you enjoy these, and learn to propagate and collect seed etc keeping these pure and also creating your own hybrids.
ReplyDeleteThanks Noelle. :) Growing these is dangerously addicting, as I've found out too late! :D I do hope to be able to save seeds from these and experiment with hybridizing. We'll see what happens!
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