Eileen,

"I didn't know what to do so I gave it a very weak solution of fertilizer (I usually don't fertilize mgs) Does anyone know what could be wrong?"

Despite your very weak solution of fertilizer, your morning glories seem to be exhibiting severe nutrient deficiency symptoms. Possibly more than one critical nutrient is deficient. Both potassium and magnesium look like likely candidates, and maybe nitrogen as well. I would suggest watering with a good soluble nutrient formula at the recommended dilution, probably one tablespoon per gallon. Something like Miracle-Gro, that contains micronutrients as well as macronutrients. The links on this page let you view specific nutrient deficiency symptoms in various crops.

Miracle-Gro is good, and is available nearly everywhere, but if you have a Lowes Home Store in your area, they carry a soluble orchid food called Better-Gro that I like even better than Miracle-Gro. It's quite good for nearly any flower, including orchids. It comes in a growing formula and a blooming formula. I use both on my zinnias, and they thrive on it. One tablespoon per gallon would be a suitable dilution rate for your poor morning glories until they get "back on their feet" and then you could water them regularly with one teaspoon per gallon.

MM

Although the premise of nutrient deficiency, has plausibility, I believe your condition is normal, especially Heavenly Blue. This, of course is assumming you also have good growth as well. Are you just showing the bottom leaves, which, incidentally, look exacly like mine? The tops are growing rampantly, and even though a large proportion of the plant died back it was quickly covered by new growth. Several people here have mentioned the chlorosis of the lower to mid leaves, as the plants way of maintaining growth where it is needed, as it climbs hight into the sunlight.

That being said, If your entire plant is suffering, I would say you have a magnesium deficiency, especially in sandy soil, and non humus rich soils.
Epsom salts at the rate of 1 tbls a gallon might help, although the plant foods mentioned also supply this micronutrient.

Note~*, the degree to which I have had interveinal chlorosis, followed by yellowing and then browning and leaf drop, has lead me to use a suppliment of Epsom salt, especially after alot of rain, which tends to wash out magnesium in sandy soils. Can't say it is a cure, but I can say that my Heavenly Blues are going nuts. Even though they continue to loose leaves, (bottom looks horrible) the rate of new growth is astonishing and they are beginning to flower profusely.

Oxmyx,

"Several people here have mentioned the chlorosis of the lower to mid leaves, as the plants way of maintaining growth where it is needed, as it climbs hight into the sunlight."

I believe the browning and death of the lower leaves does indicate a deficiency or deficiencies. Since magnesium, potassium, and nitrogen move readily within a plant, the shortage of one or more of those elements causes the plant to "rob" them from the lower leaves to support the new growth. Although the growth proceeds, the loss of the lower leaves is a loss in overall photosynthetic capacity, which reduces the plant's overall vigor.

I believe your morning glories, as well as those of Eileen, would benefit from the soluble nutrients I recommended. Your use of magnesium sulfate solves your magnesium deficiency problem, but not the potassium deficiency or a possible nitrogen deficiency which could be causing your continued loss of lower leaves.

MM

Thanks for the valuable information - I think I will try some miracle grow and see how she does.

- Eileen