{"id":66508,"date":"2026-08-16T05:03:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T20:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phys-edu.net\/wp\/?p=66508"},"modified":"2026-08-16T05:03:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T20:03:48","slug":"why-do-morning-glory-vines-twist-the-plant-mystery-hidden-in-wreath-making-a-classic-summer-science-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phys-edu.net\/wp\/?p=66508&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Morning Glory Vines Twist? The Plant Mystery Hidden in Wreath-Making (A Classic Summer Science Project!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m Ken Kuwako, your Science Trainer. Every day is an experiment.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When we think of summer vacation homework, many of us probably picture illustrated diaries or independent research projects. This year, however, the school assigned something a little different. The task wasn\u2019t simply to keep an illustrated diary about a morning glory. Students were also asked to use the morning glories they had grown to make a <\/span>wreath<\/b>. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the idea of taking a plant they had carefully grown and then turning it into something they could actually make with their own hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The process is surprisingly simple. Once the morning glory has grown to a reasonable size, cut the stem near the base and carefully unwind the vines, one by one, from the support. Once they have all been removed, arrange them into a circular shape. Use one of the thicker vines as the main stem, then wrap the remaining vines around it to build up the wreath. Finally, secure everything firmly with craft wire or pipe cleaners, let it dry, and you have your very own dried wreath.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Apparently, the students will also have a class where they decorate their wreaths. I thought it was a wonderfully creative homework assignment\u2014one where a summer memory can literally become part of the home decor.<\/p>\n

A detailed, photo-filled guide to making the wreath can be found here, so take a look if you\u2019d like to give it a try<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why Do Morning Glory Vines Wrap Around Things?<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s take a quick look from a science perspective. The way a morning glory vine neatly wraps itself around a support is not just a coincidence. Plants have a fascinating property called thigmotropism<\/b>. When the tip of a vine comes into contact with something, that stimulus causes growth on the side that touched the object to slow down, while the opposite side continues to grow faster<\/strong>. As a result, the vine naturally bends toward and wraps around the object it has touched.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s more. Even when the vine isn\u2019t touching anything, its growing tip continues a slow circular motion, tracing a wide arc through the air. This movement is called circumnutation<\/b>. In other words, the vine is constantly sweeping through the surrounding space as if it were searching for something to grab onto. Once it finds a support, it starts wrapping around it.
\nEven more fascinating is that the direction in which a vine wraps is often predetermined<\/strong>. Morning glory vines typically climb around their supports counterclockwise when viewed from above. Other climbing plants, such as wisteria, twine in the opposite direction. This wrapping direction is largely determined by the species. So when the vines used for the wreath naturally coil in the same direction, they are simply following one of their built-in botanical habits.<\/p>\n

The Mystery of Flowers That Bloom in the Morning and Close by Noon<\/h3>\n

Morning glories are, of course, famous for blooming in the morning\u2014just as their name suggests. Interestingly, the timing of flowering is thought to be controlled not simply by the time of sunrise, but by an internal biological clock<\/b> that senses the passage of a certain amount of time since the previous sunset. Experiments have shown that even when morning glories are grown in a completely dark room with no changes in brightness, they still tend to open their flowers at roughly the same time. This is a wonderful reminder that plants, too, have an internal system for keeping track of the daily rhythm.<\/p>\n

Another fascinating feature is the way the color of the flowers changes. Morning glory petals contain pigments called anthocyanins, and the color of these pigments changes depending on the chemical conditions of the fluid inside the flower\u2019s cells<\/strong>. Hydrangeas are another famous example!
\nWhile the flower is still a bud, the cell fluid tends to be more acidic, giving it a reddish-purple appearance. As the flower prepares to bloom, the conditions shift toward neutral or slightly alkaline, producing those beautiful clear blue and purple colors. If you ever noticed in your summer observation diary that \u201cthe color looks a little different from yesterday,\u201d you may actually have been watching a chemical change in action.<\/p>\n

Even After Becoming a Dried Wreath, the Plant\u2019s Structure Lives On<\/h3>\n

The final step in making the wreath\u2014drying it\u2014also gives us an opportunity to look at some interesting science. Living vines contain plenty of water, which keeps them soft, flexible, and easy to bend and wrap. This is partly because the fluid inside the cells fills them and keeps the cells firm and flexible. As the vine dries, this water gradually escapes. However, the tough framework of the plant cell walls, made largely of a strong fiber called cellulose<\/b>, remains. As a result, the once-soft vines become lighter and firmer while retaining the shape into which they were wound, eventually developing the distinctive texture of a dried wreath. In a sense, the very structure the plant built up while it was growing is what gives the finished wreath its strength.<\/p>\n

Grow a plant, transform its shape into a piece of art, and then let a natural process\u2014drying\u2014finish the job. I think this homework assignment is a wonderfully thoughtful combination of gardening, science, and hands-on crafting. I\u2019m already looking forward to seeing how the students\u2019 decorated wreaths turn out at school.<\/p>\n

Contact & Inquiries<\/h3>\n

Want to bring the wonders and fun of science a little closer to everyday life? I share fun science experiments you can try at home, along with simple explanations and useful tips. Take a look around and see what you can discover!
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