Red morning glory (Scarlet creeper) care

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Best in full sun; at least 6 hours of direct sunlight is needed for prolific flowering. Plants in partial shade produce fewer blooms and longer, leggier stems. Does not tolerate deep shade. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for red morning glory — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering red morning glory: once or twice a week; drought-tolerant when established. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water regularly to establish, then reduce frequency — this species tolerates dry conditions better than most Ipomoea. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering encourages rank leafy growth and root rot.

Soil and pot

Red morning glory grows best in average to poor, well-draining soil. Unusually tolerant of poor, sandy, or dry soils. Rich fertile soil stimulates excess foliage and reduces flowering. Good drainage is essential; avoid clay or waterlogged positions. pH 6.0–7.0. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Red morning glory sits happiest at around 30–60% humidity and 18–35°C (65–95°F). Adapts readily to a wide range of outdoor humidity levels. No supplemental humidity is required. Naturally suited to warm, somewhat arid conditions typical of the US South and Mexico. If you keep the room above 18–35°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed red morning glory sparingly. Apply a low-nitrogen fertiliser (e.g., 5-10-10) once at planting. On poor soils a single midsummer feed may help; over-fertilising depresses bloom production. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on red morning glory in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Invasive reseeding — In warm climates (zones 9+) plants self-sow prolifically and can spread beyond the intended area. Deadhead spent flowers before seeds ripen, or pull seedlings early in spring.
• Sparse flowering in rich soil — Excess fertility pushes leaf growth at the expense of blooms. This species actually performs better in lean, average soil with minimal fertilising.
• Fungal leaf spots — Cercospora and other fungal leaf spots can appear in humid, wet seasons. Improve air circulation, water at soil level rather than overhead, and remove infected foliage promptly.

Propagation

Direct-sow seeds outdoors after all frost risk has passed and soil is warm (above 16°C/60°F), or start indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost. Nick or lightly sand the seed coat and soak overnight. Thin to 15–30 cm (6–12 in) apart. Does not transplant well once established. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Red morning glory is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Ipomoea species (morning glory) as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Seeds contain indole alkaloids including lysergic acid compounds; ingestion causes vomiting and, in large quantities, hallucinations and incoordination. Considered a noxious weed in Arizona and Arkansas. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Red morning glory deep-dive guides

Every aspect of red morning glory care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Red morning glory watering schedule
• Red morning glory light requirements
• Best soil mix for red morning glory
• Red morning glory fertilizing guide
• When to repot red morning glory
• How to propagate red morning glory
• Red morning glory growth rate & size
• Red morning glory cold hardiness
• Red morning glory temperature & humidity
• Is red morning glory toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is red morning glory toxic to cats?
• Is red morning glory toxic to dogs?
• Getting red morning glory to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Red morning glory qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Red morning glory is also known as Red morning glory, Scarlet creeper, Redstar, and Mexican morning glory.

• Zantedeschia 'Black Star' care — light, water and common problems
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• Zantedeschia 'Schwarzwalder' care — light, water and common problems
• All 6887 plant care guides in the Growli library