White Moonflower Seeds

Moonflower seeds should be soaked in warm water overnight before planting to speed up germination time to 7-10 days. Sow Moonflower bush seeds 1/4 inch deep, and slightly cover with fine soil. Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, or directly outdoors after nights consistently stay above 50°F. Soil temperature needs to be around 75°F, and it needs to be moist, not wet. Germination will not happen if the temperature is under 65°F.

Moonflower (Ipomoea Alba) requires full sun. It won't tolerate any less than 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. If it doesn't get enough light, it sulks, becomes leggy, and produces few blooms. Ipomoea Alba Moonflower prefers well-draining soil; moisture collected in the roots leads to rotting. Average garden soil is perfectly adequate; it doesn't need special treatment, and rich soil encourages more leaves instead of blooms. It needs regular watering until it's well-established. Once the roots are deep, Moonflower handles short dry spells without drama.

Give it something to climb from day one – a trellis, fence, pergola, or even a rope will do. The vine will twine quickly, and if it does not have something to twine on,  it tangles on itself. No fertilizer is necessary, as these are vigorous growers and do not need to be coaxed. Deadheading is optional but will keep the plant looking nice. If container-growing, be sure to use a large container, at least 12-15 inches deep, as a shallow container restricts the root system and stunt the vine by August. Light pruning is necessary if it outgrows its space, but really, most gardeners wish they had given it more room.