The tropical-looking vine, Mandevilla blooms in the summer months with a dazzling display of trumpet-shaped flowers. It's a beautiful addition to landscape borders and beds. Often used to climb over trellises and arbors mandevilla is a beautiful container plant. It is best to grow in frost-free zones 10 or above. However it can be planted in colder climates as an annual. If you have a trellis in your garden, plant the vine in the shade.
Indoor Mandevilla vines thrive in conditions of moderate to high humidity. To increase the humidity, mist the leaves of Mandevilla vines with water and then use an electric humidifier to keep the air moist. Temperatures must not fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or the vine will die. The humidity level should not exceed 50 percent. Otherwise the Mandevilla plant could die.
In summer, Mandevilla vines are susceptible to a variety of pests. Regular inspection of the plants will help prevent these pests from infesting your garden. Aphids, for example, attach to the undersides of leaves and feed on plant's nutrients. Aphids can cause plants to weaken and become yellower and its leaves could even start to fall off. Aphids can be difficult to remove and you must be on the lookout for signs of an infestation before you bring it indoors.
Mandevilla plants are fast growing. After removing any other causes for slow growth, you can move them to a larger pot. They require a soil that is acidic and contains a good amount of organic matter. You can amend the soil by adding compost and feed it twice a month with an equilibrated liquid fertilizer. The plant should be watered often, but it prefers a slightly drier soil. To provide humidity you can dampen the leaves.
Choose a spot that is sunny and receives enough sunlight when you are choosing a spot for your plant. Mandevilla can tolerate some shade but it won't flower as well in too much. You can move the mandevilla under the roof of your patio or shade tree in the summer. Root rot can be prevented by making sure the soil is well-drained. Mandevilla plants can be killed by heavy soil. You should select a loose, well-drained soil that has plenty of organic material.
If you have an Mandevilla plant in your garden you're probably aware that it's susceptible to disease. Common symptoms of plant disease include yellowing leaves, decreased blooming and a reduced amount of foliage. If your plant's leaves are yellow, it could be due to nutrient deficiency. A poor soil or insufficient water can cause leaves to turn yellow. Be sure to select fertile soil to ensure that your Mandevilla plants are healthy.
Meaty Bugs, and Red Spider Mites are the most frequent pests and diseases that attack Mandevilla plants. You can stop them by applying an organic insecticide such as Bonide or Organocide. Mandevilla plants aren't often affected by Fusarium and Cercospora. If you discover that your Mandevilla plants are infested with aphids, it is important to spray them with neem oil.
Mandevilla vines continue to grow through winter, but shouldn't be bought during colder temperatures. The minimum nighttime temperature for mandevilla plants must be at minimum 50degF, or 10 degrees Celsius. The leaves of the plant will naturally shed any spent flowers which makes it more vulnerable to diseases and pests. To keep your mandevilla's health in good shape take out the flowers that have been squandered to keep it healthy and to prevent the plant from becoming a target for disease or pests.
If you would like to see your mandevilla grow healthy, you can give it an ideal soil by adding organic matter to it. Although fertilizer is great for mandevilla, it will require more organic matter than other plants. You can also add leaf mold, wood chips and worm casings to your mandevilla's soil. It will not require a lot of water during the winter. It will still grow slowly.
Mandevillas must be planted in a garden that is constantly humid, but not soggy. It must be kept moist, but allow the soil to dry between waterings. Overwatering can cause root rot, and soil that is dry can cause leaf drop and stress. A mandevilla plant needs to have a balance between dryness and moisture.
During the day, mandevilla prefers bright, direct sunlight. However, they will be tolerant of dryness. They require constant water after that. Make sure to soak in the water slowly and thoroughly so that the soil can absorb the moisture. Misting the foliage multiple times per day is a good practice when planting mandevilla. The flowers will spread out from the container. If temperatures at night fall below 12 degrees Celsius Move your mandevilla plant inside before they get frozen.
Mandevillas can be found in zones 9 and 10 and thrive in cooler temperatures, they have to be relocated indoors when temperatures are consistently in the low fifties. In general, mandevillas are able to survive for a few nights in the upper forties without harming themselves. The process of winterizing mandevillas is similar to overwintering other houseplants. Mandevillas can be kept outside throughout the year, but only brought inside when temperatures fall below freezing.
Once the winter season is over, mandevillas can be planted outdoors in the spring, and put in a sunny spot. Plants should receive at minimum six hours of sun every day, and the soil temperature should be at least 65 degrees. If the soil is nearly dry, it is time to water mandevilla. They must be kept moist but not dry enough to wilt. Mandevillas can overwintered in greenhouses or cold storage to get them through the winter.
If the Mandevilla plant is growing outdoors, you may have to dig it up and bring it inside. The plant will not tolerate temperatures below forty-five degrees Fahrenheit. You can cut the vine back to 12 inches and move it indoors. Mandevilla plants aren't particularly robust in winter. They should be brought indoors if temperatures fall below 50°F. They can be brought back outdoors in the spring, however you must move them back into a pot.