A friend gave my hubby a Mandevilla a couple of years ago so I put it in a large pot. Last year I brought the whole thing indoors for the winter, And needless to say leaves dropped off and went everywhere. I am thinking about cutting the plant back this year rather than sweeping leaves all winter and let it come back out over the time it has to stay inside. Good or bad idea ? What do you do for yours if you have one.
A couple of years ago I followed the advice from a local nursery for wintering-over a Mandevilla and failed miserably, the plant died. Last year I followed my own advice with a new plant and managed to keep it healthy, alive and it even had three blossoms during the winter. This summer, outside, it grew well but it had no blossoms. It has been suggested that because the plant requires a large amount of nutrients that I should have repotted it and provided additional fertilizer when I moved it outside for the summer. The plant is now inside for its second winter. It will receive the same lighting and water as last winter. I will repot it next summer when I move it outside for its second summer. Hopefully I have blossoms. If you have any more questions do not hesitate to ask. Jerry
My problem is I do not have a space with enough light to support it !! This one is blooming now which I thought a bit odd for a mandevilla to bloom in November !! That is why I was thinking of letting it go dormant or at least try to and hold off on fertilizer till just before spring !!
hey mart, I posted this same question a few weeks ago here. I was given a big healthy plant in late Sept. I didn't really get much advice, so I have just been using my intuition. I placed it in a west facing window (good window space is at a premium here when all my plant kids come in for the winter ) It was doing OK, well sort of... so the last time I watered (and picked up all the dropped leaves) I gave it a good trim. It was starting to lose leaves and die back on branches. I cut about a third of the way down on the bad branches. Then I watered it well with a very diluted Miracle grow solution. I have begun to see new growth, and I also squeezed it into my sunroom with south and east exposure. (always room for one more huh?) I think I need to water it more often too, it was once every 10 or so days, but I'm going to water maybe once a week now. I will take Jerry's advice too, if I'm lucky enough to have it survive all winter. P.S. Jerry, if you have any more words of wisdom concerning these plants, please chime in again! Much appreciated!
It's going to be in stress because of the light and temperature change from being brought inside, so cutting it back is probably best. If it survives it will grow back from the roots not re-leaf the old stems. Don't fertilize too much, without the proper amount of sun and warmth it might put it in more stress. I can't find the link now, but one bit of info I read on them last year said something about not expecting blooms unless they are getting full sun inside and outside. I left mine in the ground last year, it came back a little bit last spring but never vined or bloomed. Probably won't be back at all next spring. I have got to stop falling in love with tropical plants, I just can't overwinter them properly
Thanks everyone !! I don`t do well with tropicals either !! OK Here is my game plan, I am going to put it in the garage and let it dry out a bit. (its been raining here finally) then cut it back to about a foot above ground and bring it in before freezing weather. Will do a weak miracle grow because I don`t want it to grow too fast during the winter. Then feed it well before it goes out in the spring. I can put it out pretty early since this one has handled frosts pretty well. We have had a couple of light ones. Any more tips ? I can use all I can get.
