Morning glories aren’t just a quick fix for hiding a drab wall or a boring corner of the yard. Thanks to their unique needs and growth habits, these Mexican climbing beauties are actually a fantastic choice for creating a decorative privacy screen right on your balcony.
Growing Morning Glories on Your Balcony
Since these climbers are native to Central America, they’re total pros at handling heat—even those scorching mid-summer afternoons on a sunny balcony. The main rule of thumb? Just make sure they’re getting plenty of water.
A south-facing balcony is the “sweet spot” for these plants, mostly because the number of trumpet-shaped blooms you’ll get depends directly on how much sunlight they soak up. For a truly spectacular show, give your plants a little fertilizer regularly, but don’t go overboard. It also helps to start your seeds indoors early in the season and use a loamy potting soil to give them a head start.
Pro Tip: Be careful with the plant food! Over-fertilizing can actually backfire and result in fewer flowers.
Climbing Supports for Your Balcony
Morning glories aren’t picky when it comes to what they climb. You can use simple bamboo stakes or small wooden trellises to get them moving. Coarse netting or mesh is another great option to help them reach for the sky from their pots.
You can stretch these nets a few inches away from the wall, above the balcony railing, or along the sides. By gently guiding the long vines of this Mexican beauty along the netting, you’ll end up with a gorgeous, leafy screen that provides some much-needed shade all summer long.
The Perfect Spot for Your Morning Glory
Your balcony is actually an ideal home for this climber for one specific reason: it allows the roots (the base of the plant) to stay cool and shaded while the top of the plant basks in the full sun it loves.
This setup is a lifesaver because it keeps the plant from drying out too fast, saving you from constant watering duties and protecting the plant during heatwaves. If you have a corner balcony, try to plant them in a spot that offers a little bit of protection from heavy winds.
