Morning Glory, or Hoa bìm bịp, is a familiar flower to the people of Vietnam, especially in the countryside. Despite its popularity, not many know about its meaning, or how to cultivate and care for it. Let’s explore this in the article below.
1 Introduction to Morning Glory
Morning Glory has the unique ability to change color
Morning Glory is special because it changes color from blue to pinkish-purple from early morning to evening. Additionally, Morning Glory is considered to have many health benefits. It also has several other names such as bìm bìm and hao triều nhan, and comes in various types like yellow and purple Morning Glory.
Morning Glory is a climbing vine that grows to a height of 1.8 – 2.4 meters. The stem is green or light red, surrounded by white hair. The leaves are heart-shaped, and the stem has hairy leaves. Morning Glory flowers are funnel-shaped, about 5cm wide, blooming profusely in the morning and on sunny days. The fruit is a round capsule containing 4-6 seeds.
2 Meaning of Morning Glory
Morning Glory carries multiple meanings
The story of Morning Glory is associated with various interpretations. Here are some of the primary meanings:
Simplicity and Humility: As a climbing vine, Morning Glory relies on other trees for support, reflecting a simple and humble way of life.
Perseverance and Resilience: Morning Glory is adaptable and thrives in diverse conditions. It tolerates cold and drought, so when planting, choose a location with moist, loose soil for the vine to flourish. Even when the soil lacks nutrients and is dry, Morning Glory persists and thrives.
3 Benefits of Morning Glory
Benefits of Morning Glory
Environmental Protection: Morning Glory absorbs toxic gases like carbon dioxide and dust, purifying the surrounding environment. Growing this flower will give you a sense of fresh and cool air.
Weather Forecasting: Due to its thin petals and climbing nature, Morning Glory cannot withstand heavy rain. Therefore, when you see the flowers drooping, expect rain in the next 15-30 minutes. This helps farmers predict the weather and proactively care for their rice fields and crops.
Medicinal Properties: According to folklore, Morning Glory leaves have diuretic properties, and the seeds cure kidney swelling. It is also said to treat freckles and melasma, giving you clear and smooth skin.
4 How to Grow and Care for Morning Glory
Growing Morning Glory
Techniques for growing Morning Glory
Before sowing, use a knife to make incisions around the seeds and soak them in water overnight. Create small holes in the soil with a diameter of 2cm, then remove the seeds from the water and place them in the holes, covering them with a thin layer of soil. After about 1-2 weeks, the seeds will germinate and grow into seedlings.
Caring for Morning Glory
Maintain soil moisture for seed germination
When the seeds are first sown, you need to maintain soil moisture for them to grow and develop into vines. After about three months, the seeds will produce the first batch of flowers.
During care, you should pinch off the buds on the young branches to help the vine concentrate its nutrients on feeding the main buds, resulting in faster flower development. Once the vine is mature, you can wrap it around iron gates, house columns, or roofs to create a Morning Glory canopy.
Notes on Growing Morning Glory
Some notes on growing Morning Glory
Sow the seeds in a plastic container to easily control sunlight exposure and provide optimal conditions for germination and seedling growth. Once the seeds have germinated, move them to a location with moderate light and shade from larger trees to protect them from rain.
When the seedlings have about 3-5 leaves, transplant them to different locations. If you want to grow them in pots, use large ones to provide enough soil and nutrients for their growth and abundant flowering. If planting outdoors, mound the soil around the base to prevent root rot during heavy rains.
5 Where to Buy Morning Glory and Price
Where to buy Morning Glory
You can buy Morning Glory from reputable fresh flower shops or ornamental plant stores to get healthy vines and receive guidance on how to grow and care for them effectively. If you want to buy seeds, choose a reputable seller of high-quality plant seeds to ensure their viability and avoid buying inferior ones.
A packet of Morning Glory seeds costs around 20,000 VND for 50 seeds.
A Morning Glory vine costs approximately 90,000 VND.
6 Photos of the Calm and Simple Beauty of Morning Glory
Purple Morning Glory
Pale Purple Morning Glory
Morning Glory in Various Colors
Pinkish-Purple Morning Glory
Stunning White and Purple Morning Glory
Pure White Morning Glory
Yellow Morning Glory
Blue Morning Glory
Attractive Blue Morning Glory
Now you know more about Morning Glory: its meaning, and how to grow and care for it. Hopefully, this article has provided you with the information you need to cultivate and nurture this beautiful flower successfully!