Morning gloryries are climbing plants that grow quickly and have heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in bright colors. They grow well in full sun, are easy to care for, and add a splash of color to any wall.
However, it can be disheartening to see the leaves of your morning glories turn from vibrant green to an unsightly yellow. Yellowing leaves are usually a sign of stress and can damage the health of your plants if left unchecked.
In this article, we’ll explore the various causes of yellow leaves on morning glories and provide solutions to restore the foliage to its former verdant glory.
Why Morning Glory Leaves Turn Yellow
Morning glories prefer consistently moist, well-draining soil and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Anything less can stress the plants weaken the foliage and cause yellowing of the leaves.
Here are some of the most common reasons for yellow leaves on morning glories
Insufficient Sunlight
Morning glories thrive in full sun locations. When plants are under too much shade, they get stressed out and make less chlorophyll, which turns their leaves yellow.
Solution: Move plants to a sunnier spot with at least 6 hours of direct sun. Prune off the worst affected leaves.
Overwatering
Excess moisture weakens leaves and roots, creating conditions for fungal diseases like root rot.
Solution: Prune yellow leaves. Plant in well-draining soil. Water thoroughly but don’t let water pool around roots.
Underwatering
Inadequate water, especially during warm and dry periods, causes leaves to yellow.
Solution: Water 1 inch weekly in absence of rain. Mulch around plants to retain soil moisture.
Disease
Wet conditions and poor air circulation promote fungal leaf infections like powdery mildew.
Solution: Prune infected leaves. Improve airflow. Water in morning rather than evening.
Pests
Aphids and other insects that feed on sap take away the color and energy from leaves. Caterpillars and leaf miners chew holes in foliage.
Solution: Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays. Pick pests off by hand. Ensure adequate watering.
Too Much Fertilizer
Excess fertilizer accumulates in the soil and prevents water uptake, causing leaf discoloration.
Solution: Fertilize lightly every 4-5 weeks during active growth with a balanced, low nitrogen fertilizer.
Cool Temperatures
In areas with cold winters, cooler fall temperatures cause some natural yellowing as morning glories decline.
Solution: Bring potted plants indoors before frost. Morning glories are annuals in frost prone climates.
Other Morning Glory Leaf Problems
Besides yellowing, morning glory leaves can suffer from other issues like:
Leaf Rust
Leaves have tan, rusty, or black spots with yellow rings around them. Caused by fungal spores in wet conditions.
Solution: Prune infected leaves immediately. Improve airflow. Water at soil level. Sterilize tools. Apply copper fungicide spray.
Browning Leaves
Crispy, brown leaf edges caused by sun scald or insufficient water.
Solution: Provide afternoon shade. Maintain even soil moisture.
Wilting Leaves
Inadequate water uptake due to under watering or leaf chewing caterpillars.
Solution: Eliminate pests. Make bactericidal spray with Bacillus thuringiensis. Follow proper watering schedule.
Curling Leaves
Caused by viral infections like potato leaf curl virus or exposure to toxins from nearby plants.
Solution: Isolate affected plants. Grow morning glories away from invasive trees like Ailanthus.
How to Prevent Yellow Leaves on Morning Glories
Here are some tips to grow vigorous morning glories with healthy, green foliage:
- Plant in loose, well-draining soil enriched with compost
- Site in full sun locations (at least 6 hours direct sun)
- Water 1 inch weekly in absence of rain
- Avoid overhead watering to limit fungal disease
- Prune away any diseased or dying foliage
- Provide support for vines to climb
- Mulch around plants to retain moisture
- Avoid excess fertilization
- Monitor for pests and treat promptly
- Bring potted plants indoors before first fall frost
With proper care, your morning glories will reward you with months of abundant, vibrant blooms and lively green heart-shaped foliage. A bit of vigilance and prompt troubleshooting at the first signs of yellowing will help nurture these fast growing vines through a long, vigorous growing season.
Morning glory vine diseases
A fungal disease called rust is another culprit of yellowing leaves. To diagnose whether your plant has rust or not, look closely at the leaves. There will be powdery pustules on the backside of the leaf. They are what cause the leaf to turn yellow or even orange. To prevent this from happening, do not overhead water your morning glory and remove any infected leaves. Canker is a disease that causes the stem of the morning glory to be sunken-in and brown. It wilts the ends of the leaves and then spreads onto the stem. It is a fungus that, if not taken care of, will affect the whole plant. If you suspect that your morning glory has this fungus, cut away the infected vine and dispose of it.
Environmental problems with morning glories
If the leaves on your morning glory plant turn yellow, it means that something is wrong with it. Insufficient sunlight can be a cause of yellowing leaves, as morning glories require full sun to flourish. You can move your morning glory to a garden spot that gets more sun or cut back any plants that are in the way of the sun. Another cause of yellow leaves is either under-watering or over-watering. Once your morning glory has been watered, let the soil dry before re-watering. Morning glory plants do best in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Make sure you live in one of these zones for the best results.
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FAQ
How to fix yellow leaves on morning glory?
Insufficient sunlight can be a cause of yellowing leaves, as morning glories require full sun to flourish. You can move your morning glory to a garden spot that gets more sun or cut back any plants that are in the way of the sun. Another cause of yellow leaves is either under-watering or over-watering.
What do overwatered morning glories look like?
Conversely, overwatering results in brown, often mushy leaves that may also develop a smelly fungal growth. Will Common morning glory recover from underwatering? Yes, with prompt action, Common morning glory can recover from underwatering.
What is lacking when leaves turn yellow?
Nitrogen is often the first nutrient that comes to mind as lacking when leaves turn yellow, but yellowing of the leaves can also indicate that the soil is low in other nutrients such as iron, manganese, or zinc. The most reliable way to assess the problem is to do a soil test.
How often should you water your morning glories?
When it comes to watering, give morning glory plants plenty of water during the growing season and only once or twice a week when it’s dry. However, established plants can handle dry conditions. Cut back watering in winter.