Why No Flowers on Ololiuqui?
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: LaDamiana
Posted on: October 15, 2001

I purchased an oliliuqui from you this spring and it has grown beautifully, but we are at the end of our growing season and nothing but leaves. should I cut it back and mulch it; bring it in or just let it be?

Ololiuqui (Turbina or Rivea corymbosa) is a tender perennial and has to be brought indoors in climates with freezing winter temperatures. The problem with morning glories is that they need a long growing season before they flower and in the annual varieties they have to be started indoors if the grower expects to see any flowers in late summer.

To get flowers next year, bring the plant indoors before it is damaged by frost and keep it in a sunny window over the winter, leaving it as large as you can manage. Put it outdoors as soon as all danger of frost is over and fertilize with a high phosphate fertilizer (high middle number). It might be best to keep the plant in a large pot in which it does not need to be disturbed except to renew the soil every two years or so. You can then plant it out of doors, pot and all and will not give it such a shock when you bring it in in the fall.

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