How to create a morning glory pot display

You will need

Ipomoea, morning glory, annual climber - seeds or several pot-ready 'Purple Haze' plants
48cm urn or similar sized pot
Willow plant support
John Innes No.3 compost
Multi-purpose compost

Pots & container categories

Overview

Each blue or magenta flower of Ipomoea, the morning glory, lasts just one day, but it blooms reliably throughout the summer. The dense mat of heart-shaped leaves provide a perfect backdrop for the cheery flowers.

How to grow annual climbers from seed

Plant it: sow in February, pot on in April, plant out in June

At its best: summer

Takes just: an hour

How to do it:

1Plant up pots in position as they'll be heavy to move later. Put a few bits of broken pot over the drainage hole to stop compost washing away while allowing excess water to drain.

2Fill your large pot up to about two-thirds full of compost. Use a half-and-half blend of John Innes No.3 and multi-purpose compost, to ensure a balanced potting mix.

3Make a hole in the centre of the compost, remove climbers from their pots and plant 15cm apart. Firm the compost around the climbers, making sure there are no air pockets around the rootballs.

4Place the willow support carefully over the top of the climbers. Push the legs firmly into the compost, ensuring the structure is even by checking the support's bands are horizontal.

5Encourage climbers onto the support by tying stems with soft twine to the willow, leaving some give in the twine so that the stems don't break in the wind and have space to grow.