Ipomoea AQUATICA

Ipomoea AQUATICA - Water spinach, Water morning glory, Ipomoea aquatica, Swamp morning glory.

Ipomoea is the largest genus of flowering annual plants, perennial shrubs, and small trees of the Convolvulaceae family, numbering about 450 recognized species. Representatives of the genus grow natively in tropical and subtropical regions.

Garden morning glories grown in mid-latitude conditions are vines reaching 5 m (16 ft) in length. The cordate shoots are densely leafy and abundantly covered with flowers that open early in the morning and turn following the sun. Their closing is observed at noon; however, on cloudy days they can close closer to evening.

Large double or simple fragrant flowers have red, blue, white, pink, and other colors. Flowering begins in the first summer weeks and ends with the onset of frost. Under natural conditions and in indoor culture, it is a perennial, but in temperate latitudes it is cultivated as an annual plant. The plant is able to climb any support and weave an incomparable living carpet of amazing beauty on it, which attracts a large number of colorful butterflies to the garden.

Water spinach is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant. The stem is smooth, rounded in cross-section, thick and hollow, with adventitious roots forming at the nodes. Leaf petioles are 3-14 cm (1.2-5.5 in) long, also glabrous. The leaf blade has a variable shape; it can be oval, ovate-lanceolate, oblong, or lanceolate; its length varies from 3.5 to 17 cm (1.4 to 6.7 in), and width - from 0.9 to 8.5 cm (0.4 to 3.3 in). It is only rarely densely pubescent, usually smooth. The leaf base can be cordate, sagittate, hastate, or have another shape. The tip of the leaf blade is acute. The leaf margin is entire or wavy.

Inflorescences contain 1-3, rarely 5, flowers and sit on peduncles 1.5-9 cm (0.6-3.5 in) long, pubescent at the base. Bracts are scale-like, 1.5-2 mm (0.06-0.08 in) long. Pedicels are 1.5-5 cm (0.6-2.0 in) long. There are 5 sepals; they are glabrous and have approximately the same shape. The two outer sepals are thin, oval-elongated, and have a length of 7-8 mm (0.28-0.31 in), acute tips, and a white margin. The three inner sepals typically have a length of up to 8 mm (0.31 in), oval to elliptic in shape. The funnel-shaped glabrous corolla has a width of 3.5-5 cm (1.4-2.0 in) and can be white, pink, or purple with a darker center. Stamens are pubescent, do not protrude beyond the corolla, and have varied shapes. The stigma also does not protrude from the corolla; the ovary is glabrous and conical in shape.

A very interesting plant - a relative of ordinary morning glories, used as a leafy vegetable. To the taste - slightly pungent, tender leaves. In some places, this is a substantial food source. It grows in soil, in flooded areas, or directly in water. It roots excellently, so this plant can be propagated by growing a small bush in winter and taking cuttings. It is also great to grow it hydroponically, including passive hydroponics, that is, simply in a pot with expanded clay.

The plant is cultivated in almost all of Southeast Asia, where from 75 to 112.5 tons (metric tons) are obtained from one hectare. After the first harvest, the plant continues to grow and branch out, so they can be used for three to eight months, harvesting young shoots every two to three weeks. In taste, they resemble spinach. In China, the plant is one of the most popular summer vegetables, while in Africa it is considered a vegetable consumed only in times of scarcity.

By seeds, cuttings, layering. For container culture, seeds are sown at any time of the year; into open ground - in May. Some species are planted for seedlings in peat pots in March-April before planting in a permanent place.

Seeds are pre-soaked in warm water for 24 hours until swollen; unswollen seeds can be slightly pricked with a needle or rubbed with sandpaper and soaked again. Then swollen seeds are sown in a mixture of peat and sand to a depth of 0.5-1 cm (0.2-0.4 in), moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun, at a temperature of 22-27 °C (72-81 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the crops.

Seeds germinate in 10-15 days. Seedlings are repotted a couple of times into larger pots while preserving the root ball. It is recommended to install a support for each sprout so that the plant climbs and does not intertwine with neighboring specimens. Otherwise, it will subsequently be very difficult to untangle the stems without damage.

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Ipomoea is great for growing in culture, looks good both solitary and in a group with other plants. For vertical landscaping, it is necessary to install a trellis or other support along which the vine will climb. In apartment conditions, it can be grown for balcony landscaping. In the house or greenhouse, morning glory feels good at normal temperatures. In summer, plants can be kept in open sunny areas, taken out into the garden or onto a balcony, where the temperature should not be below 18 °C (64 °F), and the winter temperature should not drop below 12 °C (54 °F).

In spring and summer, the plant is watered regularly and abundantly as the top layer of soil dries out. In winter, watering is limited, depending on temperature once every 3-4 weeks, but the soil should not dry out completely. Mature specimens tolerate mild drought more easily than waterlogging. It easily tolerates dry air, but responds well to regular misting of the leaves.

Prefers fertile, well-drained soil with a high proportion of sand, perlite, or vermiculite for better permeability. For sowing and growing, you can use a substrate of 1 part coconut coir, 2 parts leaf humus, 1 part peat, 1 part vermiculite, 1/2 part fine expanded clay, and pieces of charcoal. A drainage layer should be placed at the bottom of the pot. Fertilizing is carried out during the active growth period from March to late August every 2-3 weeks with complex fertilizers for ornamental flowering plants that do not deacidify the soil.