Thanks to Ronnie (Veronica) , I got "hooked" on growing these Japanese morning glories. Some seeds were so kindly shared by the member, with me ( & quickly began to germinate. ) & now I find myself suddenly ordering these packets of morning glory seeds of Japanese origin, online, as if I was a kid in a candy shop.
It's almost like wanting to taste a different flavor, every day I see another beautiful variety.!
I am so pleased to finally have started another new interest to add to my gardening, repertoire, ( as they are rather like works of "art") beside the typical Moonflower, or ordinary morning glory.
I'm happily "hooked" !

Welcome to a wonderful world

I certainly do appreciate it! This may be a small world, but this is rather new to me. I'm most thankful to have been so kindly introduced to it.

"You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile." Haha

You aren't kidding Joseph, it already hit me like a sledge hammer ! I've got seeds germinating in baggies all over a table & thought they would take some time to germinate. Not these !
I can't pot up fast enough, as it was just too windy, yesterday, plus two days prior... Otherwise, I would have sown directly in pots. Yep, I like alot of them, including mutants !
Time to start getting busy...

I can get that way, whenever I find it interesting enough. I had wanted to, for years & just didn't do a whole lot with vines ^& climbers. But these are totally different & some are almost unbelievable. I am waiting for more seeds to arrive in the mail, this coming week...I potted up half a dozen types so far & a few are rather twisted up & some have pinkish stems. Some roots aren't quite growing straight, either. Have absolutely no idea what that indicates, or means. with regards to any different results.....
I potted up some blue speckled, 'Sazanami,' & Blue Silk. Growing out all the no ID seeds that were gifted, to see if any are nice surprises & hope to get something really special or unusual !
Just got 'Fuji Musume' with pkt. originally from Japan & waiting on 'Raiko' ( purple - 'Lightning' too, plus another from Baker Creek,( Reikyu, or Keiryu ?) It is 'Mountain Stream' in any case, which their stock has mostly sold out of of what they first had on offer...
I can always do 'Chocolate' later, as that is so fairly widespread now days, as it seems rather commonly available.

Well, unfortunately, just after completion of potting up, what had been sown, as I worked on the little patio like area, near the back door... I got interrupted & then distracted... Where there was once shade from the tree top, is now in direct sun, during mid noon hour & all afternoon sun, too. I hadn't noticed the abrupt change, as for the previous three days was constant wind. So some got slightly sun burnt, before the seed leaves even finished opening.
Spring cleaning ( & multitasking, aren't quite my speciality,) Least ways not when others problems with life, start becoming my own worries & have to do the "thinking for them" too !
At least, those done just prior & potted later, are better off. Time to move them to shade by 11:00 A.M. & then later, indoors for a nasty cold front, but gladly trade that one awful chilly rainy day & night, (with possible Thunderstorm?) for remainder of week (predicted) as beautiful weather !

@Gerris2 Yep Joseph, you were right- "Resistance is futile." I just had to order another packet of seeds from the website @ Onalee's Japanese morning glory seeds & there aren't too many varieties remaining, in stock. of quite some selection. I got a deep dark violet blue, 'Yoi no Tsuki', (seed packet, is sourced from Japan - the real deal ! ) & it was the last one listed available ... At least until some brand new stock arrives.
@luvsgrtdanes Look what you've done to me, 'Ronnie' ! But I'm not complaining, as I really am lovin' it, immensely. I had to get more pots, plus growing medium... The Dollar Tree has mini trellis, but I will have to see how fast they start to climb, or if I want them tall, against a stockade fence & train them to flower, at just about eye level, with twine...
I think 'Raiko' ( translates as 'Lightning" ) & probably had 100% germination, which I also got from Onalee's .
It will be heat of summer, before posting the spectacular blossom photos, I'd imagine.

Onalee sells packages she gets in from Japan. They should be viable.

She offers a guarantee ( but didn't read it.) I know some plants get depressed reproduction, from inbreeding, in some cases.... I started to notice that some offered at auction websites, may not look like the same cultivar, as shown on the packets. Therefore, outcrossing, may be easier to produce seeds, unless it was unintended cross pollination.
Joseph, have you noticed if some have been more difficult, at producing seeds, than others ?

@Gerris2 Joseph, I was reading, that pollen production & seed formation, is reduced, when the temperature is 60F. But, I shouldn't think that would be a problem, where I am.
Then I noticed not all Japanese seed production, is controlled, with some open pollination, but some do take precautions, to avoid cross pollination. Do you use any special, method(s) to prevent unwanted cross pollination?
The other question I have, is if you know if a seedling with stunted roots, is going to be a "smaller" growing plant?
While I would imagine, most are selected for the best flowers & lead to inbreeding of select lines, over time. But perhaps, some were selected, specifically for culture in a pot...

I've found the speckled flower cultivars not very fecund.

It's my observation that during cooking hot summer temperatures flowers do not set seeds well. I guess the heat cooks the pollen.

I used to be concerned about unwanted crossing by bees but I don't bother about preventing it. You can always tie off a flower bud the night before, then in the following morning open and hand pollinate it, then tie it again if you want to ensure no crossings.

I don't know about the root size question. You could experiment to learn directly.

Thanks for the info. I know there are hawk moths around here & they would visit Moon Flowers, late at night...Honey bees, meanwhile, are rather scarce.. I hadn't actually considered "tying off" the flower bud ! Interesting solution.
Now that the back patio is drying off, I can get started with transplanting from trays of various seedlings, before it briefly gets suddenly warmer than average.. Trying to keep up with that plus germination, deliveries & all, seemingly is becoming overwhelming ! The sun is out, but at least I haven't got to water, also...
There appeared to be a rather smaller sized flowering, heavily variegated 'Sun Smile Violet' at Jung Seeds....I would have included it with an order of Gladiolus...
But already am busy enough, as I just had to get the last pkt. of a deep blue 'Yoi no Tsuki' Japanese & those will be on the way from Onalee's ! Help me, I've fallen once again !

Now , I have the opportunity to obtain some seeds that are rather old. Does anyone have any advice, with regards to better increase chances with germination of aged seeds? I'm expecting some fairly nice varieties & want to give it my best shot, at reviving these older deeply dormant seeds. Thanks, in advance, for any practical advice..

How old are they Shawn? Morning Glories last a really long time with great germination. Only thing I would suggest is to soak them in half water half peroxide.

Thanks, Ronnie. The "extra" oxygen may help. I will try that, plus get some extra warmth from being in a baggy, with moist coffee filter, on top of coffee maker, just after brewing is done. Plus, provide exposure to sunlight.
It looks like some have changed over the years & wanted to see if any difference, compared to same varieties, with newer flower photos ( & older ones, also.) To see if any differences. Like a time capsule, of genetics...

We're glad you are here. We need more active folks participating in this forum.

Thanks Joseph. I'll be attempting to grow at as many as I possibly can ! I think I may need to get some raffia, to tie up some blooms, to try & avoid unwanted hybrids, to keep the true to name, by doing the pollination myself... Trying to figure out also, which ones stay relatively short ,& other one's that I may want to pinch back or not...
Ronnie, you were really a great help, with those seeds ! That got me to ordering away, to get Japanese packets, even if I did just get a bit of a late start... Sure are lots of potted seedlings, as I couldn't wait to start getting germination . May need more labels, just to keep things straight for later seed collecting, too.

It should be a fun season for you. I usually don't pinch the vines but sometimes it is necessary if you want the plant to fill in a trellis with secondary vines that form after the main vine is beheaded.

Here is the first flower, from the "mixed bag" of seeds from Ronnie. Some others, of named cultivars are yet to start...I would have to look back & see when they were sent, to figure out approximate germination date. But I thought it is a fairly nice flower, to start the season off, already. It really has been rather warm here. Thanks, Ronnie !