NOTE: Moonflower may be referred to as Ipomoea alba in this article, in fact, those are the same plants, Ipomoea alba is the botanical name for Moonflower.
Moonflower is a vine that can add a lot of beauty to a night garden. This vine is often grown as an annual outside of its tropical and subtropical USDA hardiness zones, and is sometimes regarded as a night-blooming species of morning glory. It has large, heart-shaped, dark green leaves on strong, prickly stems. Its trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in mid- summer and last until fall.
They are usually an iridescent white and grow around 6 inches long and 3 to 6 inches wide. On cloudy days, the blooms unfurl from the cone-shaped buds as the sun goes down. They stay open all night, releasing their sweet scent into the air the next morning. It is a fast-growing vine that can grow up to 20 feet in a single season.
Why does my Ipomoea alba roots have rot?
Root rot on your Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) can be fatal if not treated with care. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you follow our guide to keep your plant alive if the symptoms occur: Root soft and blackened.
Why does my Moonflower have gray mold spots?
Gray mold spots are a type of fungus that is found a lot in flowers, and spreads quite rapidly. If you notice brown (or gray) spots, it is probably this fungus. Don’t ignore these symptoms, as they may end up killing your plant.
Our Solution
The solution is quite logical when you know the cause of the problem. Most of the time, it is due to overwater of the Ipomoea alba. We advise you to remove the infected parts of the plant, cut off the infected roots and leaves, then repot your plant using sterile potting soil and a clean pot.
Why does my Moonflower have leaf spots?
This type of disease is one of the most frustrating for Moonflower owners, we give you all the leads to spot and save your plants that present symptoms such as leaves that suddenly change color, or wilt/droop.
Why are my Moonflower leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing leaves are arguably the most prevalent issue in the gardening world. Overwatering or a lack of nutrients are the 2 main causes of this issue.
When it’s overwatering, simply reduce your watering frequency, and if you think it’s a nutrient deficiency, here’s how to check it:
Here are some indicators of yellowing on the Ipomoea alba brought on by its numerous flaws:
- The first symptom of a magnesium deficiency is yellow patches between leaf veins on elder leaves. The leaf’s core turns yellow while the veins stay green. The edges of the leaf yellow last.
- Yellowing between leaf veins is another sign of iron shortage, but young leaves on plant tops and branch tips are initially affected.
- The newest leaves are first affected by sulfur deficiency, rendering them completely yellow.
- Leaf edges turning bright yellow but inside leaf remaining green are signs of potassium insufficiency. The symptoms first appear on older leaves, and the leaf edges quickly become dark.
- A broad yellowing indicates a nitrogen deficiency. Yellowing starts with older, inner leaves. Yellowing spreads as it advances, eventually touching new leaves as well.
Our Solution
According to the symptoms mentioned above, you just have to act accordingly. You can reduce your watering frequency, or fix a deficiency in Potassium, or Nitrogen, for that, you just have to buy a special soil for your deficiency, a consultant in a gardening store will know perfectly well how to inform you.
Is my Moonflower sunburned?
It is quite easy to find out if your Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) has been burned by the sun. Just like on us, your plant will change color in this case, it will start to turn yellow or white.
The leaves of your Moonflower can also change color in case it gets too much water or not enough light, as we saw above.
The bottom of the yellow leaves with a shaded area closer to the base can be examined to determine if they have been sunburned. If this part remains greener, the yellow leaf is most likely sunburned and not something else.
Why are my Moonflower leaves turning brown?
Most of the time, leaves of a Moonflower that turn brown is a sign that your plant has been sunburned, it has probably been exposed to too much direct sunlight. Don’t panic, your plant probably won’t die from this, but its growth will take a hit.
Should I leave my Ipomoea alba in direct sunlight?
No! If your Ipomoea alba (or Moonflower) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Moonflower is in such a state!
Our Solution
The remedy, as said in the paragraph above, is simple: just move your plant’s Moonflower out of direct sunlight. Your plant should swiftly re-grow with this strategy and appropriate watering.
Why are my Ipomoea alba leaves drooping or wilting ?
In most cases, this happens when your Ipomoea alba lacks water. This is especially the case for large plants, naturally they need more water than others.
Whether your Ipomoea alba plant’s pot appears light, the soil and roots are likely fairly dry and need water, so you can readily tell if it needs to be hydrated.
Our Solution
If the soil in the container is completely dry, you must first moisten it to guarantee that your plant’s roots absorb the benefits of the water. One common mistake is to drown the Moonflower right away after a dry time because you think it needs a lot of water.
This is true, but the easiest way to end it is to give too much water at once. Instead, you should water the soil properly, returning to a peaceful watering rhythm.
Caring Tips for Ipomoea alba
Water Occasionally
Water is essential to the survival of your plant, however, it is important to balance the rate of watering. As we explained above, overwatering could have fatal consequences for your Ipomoea alba.
The best way to know if your plant needs water or not is to touch the soil, if you feel it is still wet, it is probably a good idea to wait a few more days.
Always keep temperatures stable
Maintaining a consistent temperature for your Ipomoea alba is also a good idea, especially if it is kept indoors. At GreenShack, we typically advise reserving a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees F. Of course, avoid positioning your Ipomoea alba close to air conditioners, radiators, or other sources of hot or cold air.
Keep your Moonflower Dust-Free
This one relates to indoor plants. Just like your furniture, dust collects on the leaves of your indoor plants. The issue is that this can block the photosynthesis process from starting, which would cause the plants to gradually lose their color.
For your Moonflower, this would be a true descent into hell, and it would also appease the pests.
Take a microfiber cloth and gently massage the plant’s leaves to get rid of the dust. Use a damp cloth to make dust removal easier, but avoid using corrosive materials like rubbing alcohol!
Keep drainage in mind
If you tend to overwater, you need to pay attention to your drainage, and we advise choosing a saucer and a pot with drainage holes if they are not already there.
If your pots don’t already have holes in them, you can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the meantime. This will assist in creating a channel and keep the water from pooling there for an extended period of time, protecting the roots from decay.
