How to Grow Morning Glories on a Balcony

Choose a plant pot or window box with straight sides and a flat bottom with a depth of at least 6 inches. This provides room for roots to grow and creates a stable planter than does not tip easily with the weight of growing vines.

Fill the planter to within an inch of the rim with potting mixture. Equal parts peat moss, perlite and all-purpose potting soil makes a good soil for container plants, as it is lightweight and does not compact easily with watering. Garden soil or potting soil is too heavy for container gardens and compacts easily, choking out oxygen to the roots of growing plants.

Place a trellis in the pot to support your morning glories. These climbing plants reach heights of 6 to 10 feet and require support to hold them upright. A simple garden trellis found in the hardware store will work, but a teepee or obelisk works well, too.

Soak the morning glory seeds in lukewarm water overnight to soften the hard seed coat. Some prefer to nick the seed with a fingernail file to hasten germination.

Plant seeds to a depth of 1/4 inch, spaced 4 inches apart in the planter. Cover with soil and firm down lightly with your hands to secure the seed and remove air pockets. Water thoroughly until water runs freely through the bottom of the pot.

Place the container in a location that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight. Morning glories will tolerate less light, but prefer full sun. Morning light is preferred and creates a dazzling display as the morning rays reflect off these brightly colored flowers.

Water when soil feels dry to the touch, saturating the soil until water runs freely from the bottom of the pot. Use a plastic saucer or catch basin under the planter, if dripping water is an issue. Watering needs vary depending on the growing conditions and growth rate of the plant. Container-grown plants may require daily watering.

Fertilize sparingly, as morning glories thrive in poor soil and do not require excessive fertilizer. A water-soluble fertilizer applied once or twice a month typically provides the nutrients your morning glories need to thrive.

Deadhead blooms daily to prevent the vine from setting seed. This channels energy into producing new flowers and prolongs the blooming period.