How to Pollinate Common morning glory

(Ipomoea purpurea)

Common morning glory, also known as Purple morning-glory

Common morning glory draws pollinators such as bees and moths with its vibrant colors and sweet nectar. The pollination mechanism involves these pollinators transferring pollen from the male parts to female parts of the flower, ensuring successful fertilization. This intriguing process, often occurring in the early morning, is crucial for common morning glory's reproduction and survival.

Which Pollinators are Suitable for Common Morning Glory?

Bloom Time

Late spring, Summer, Fall

Primary pollinators

Bees, Moths

Potential pollinators

Butterflies

How Does Pollination Occur in Common Morning Glory?

Common morning glory produces large, funnel-shaped flowers. The flowers are generally purple, white, or a mix of both, and they open in the morning and close in the afternoon which is suggestive of the plant’s name.

Pollination of common morning glory commonly occurs through cross-pollination, aided by insects. However, self-pollination also occurs when cross-pollination is not successful.

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How Can You Enhance the Pollination of Common Morning Glory?

Plant Diversity

Increase the diversity of flowering plants in your garden or farm. Opt for a mix of flowering plants that will bloom at different times, providing a continuous food source for pollinators (bees, moths, butterflies) throughout the year. This can be particularly beneficial to bees and butterflies that tend to visit a wide variety of flowers.

Provide Shelter

Create spaces for pollinators to live and shelter. For bees, consider installing bee houses; for moths, create a habitat with dead wood and piles of leaves; for butterflies, provide host plants (like milkweed) where they can lay their eggs.

Water Source

Create a shallow water source in your garden or farm, keeping it fresh and filled with stones or marbles to provide rests for bees, moths, and butterflies while they drink. These pollinators need access to water for survival and may be more likely to frequent your space if this necessity is easily found.

Reduce Pesticide Use

Minimize or eliminate the use of pesticides, as these can be harmful or lethal to bees, moths, and butterflies. If pest control is necessary, opt for organic or less harmful methods, and aim not to spray during the daytime when these pollinators are most likely active.

How Can You Determine if Common Morning Glory has Been Pollinated?

Flower Closing

After successful pollination, the common morning glory flower closes up, this is typically a good sign that pollination has occurred.

Seed Formation

Once pollination has been successful, common morning glory starts producing its seed. The presence of seed pods or fully formed seeds indicates successful pollination.

Fruit Development

In common morning glory, the successful pollination is usually followed by fruit development. If you notice a small fruit-like structure below the flower, it indicates pollination.

Understanding Hand-Pollination in Common Morning Glory

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

15 mins

What Tools are Necessary for Hand-Pollinating Common Morning Glory?

Paintbrush

This is used to transfer pollen from the anthers of a flower to the stigma of another flower.

Tweezers

Ideally a pair with thin tips to remove petals without causing any damage to the reproductive parts of the flower.

Magnifying glass

Optional, but can make the process easier by enhancing the visibility of tiny floral parts.

Clear Tape

To seal the pollinated flower and prevent any contamination from outside pollen.

What is the Optimal Time for Hand-Pollinating Common Morning Glory?

The best time for hand-pollination of common morning glory is in the morning as the flowers of this plant open early and die by noon. Pollination should ideally happen when the plant is in bloom, which is typically from midsummer to early fall.

Steps to Hand-Pollinate Common Morning Glory

Step1: Preparation

Ensure that the flowers you're about to pollinate are mature, i.e., fully open. Use tweezers to carefully remove the petals of the female flower, making sure not to damage the ovary, located at the base of the flower.

Step2: Gathering Pollen

Select a male flower and using your paintbrush, collect pollen by lightly brushing the anthers. This will typically appear as a fine, yellow dust collected on the brush.

Step3: Pollination

Carefully transfer this pollen onto the stigma of the female flower by gently brushing it. Make sure that enough pollen grains get deposited.

Step4: Protecting Flower

Once pollinated, wrap the female flower with clear tape or a bag to prevent cross-pollination from other pollen sources.

Step5: Monitoring

Keep an eye on the development of the flower. It should begin producing seeds in a few weeks if the hand pollination is successful.

Why Aren't There Fruits on Common Morning Glory Despite the Presence of Flowers?

Poor Pollinator Attraction

If there's poor pollination, consider modifying your garden to attract more pollinators by planting a variety of different flowering plants.

Late Flowering

Late flowering in common morning glory can lead to missed pollination windows. Adjust planting schedules to ensure flowers bloom when pollinators are active.

Lack of Pollinators

For indoor common morning glory plants, manual pollination might be the solution. This involves using a small brush or cotton bud to transfer pollen from the male to the female parts of a flower.