Q.Why Won’t My Moonflower Blooms Open Completely?

Zone North Mississippi | LeaGriffith added on August 1, 2020 | Answered

This is my first year growing moonflowers. It’s August 1st in MS so smack in the middle of the usual hot as Satan’s armpit summer. We’ve had delightful clouds and much lower temps the last 2 days though. Highs only low 80’s and lows in upper 60’s last night and tonight. The vine has done great in the ground climbing up a back porch post – about 15′ tall and still climbing – with many flower buds set. I had to throw up additional homemade/make shift lattice 7 days ago at the top of the post, asking the vine to make a horizontal turn, because it was growing onto the roof of the house. It’s already covered 3′ of the temp support, and I feel sure I’ll be adding on and making notes for next season. The first 2 flowers just bloomed (started about 5:15 pm thanks to the clouds) but they didn’t open all the way. They got about 1/2 way open then stopped. My vine is mostly west facing so it’s usually still bright daylight until about 7:00-7:30 when the sun starts sinking behind a tree line in the distance. I’m wondering if perhaps the future blooms will open fully once the temps drop consistenly? Did it open too early in the evening, confused by the cloudiness and cooler temps after so many many sunny days with temps consistently in the low to mid 90’s and heat indexes of 100+? I’ve been counting the days awaiting these beauties, and while even the 1/2 open blooms are gorgeous and fun to watch (time lapse video running as we speak), I’d love to have the full show with completely open blooms. Any guidance, tips, knowledge is greatly appreciated.