About Mandevilla Plant
The Mandevilla is a beautiful vining plant that features glossy leaves and billowy, fragrant flowers in colors ranging from white to deep red. Over 100 species of the plant exist, and it is native to Central and South America. You don't have to live in a tropical area to enjoy the beauty of the Mandevilla, though. If your deck or yard receives plenty of warm sunshine in the summer, it will grow just fine. There are a few things to know about the Mandevilla plant, especially if you intend on growing one yourself.
Since it is a climbing plant, the Mandevilla is wonderful for planting near a trellis, mailbox or fence, and will produce spectacular blooms all year long. Many nurseries and home improvement stores sell Mandevillas in hanging baskets, but they will grow better if they are planted in a larger pot or in the ground near a support. Hanging baskets are often too small to support their root systems and extensive vines by the end of summer.
Wherever the Mandevilla is planted, it should receive plenty of bright, hot sun. Though it is a perennial, it doesn't fare well over the winter in most climates, including the balmy Southern United States. If you intend on keeping a Mandevilla plant after the summer is over, you will need to bring it indoors. Keep it in a cool place that receives an adequate amount of light, and inspect it for pests frequently—spider mites are especially fond of this plant. When indoors, the Mandevilla should be misted every so often to maintain humidity. In February, the vine should be pruned aggressively to encourage new growth, since this is where the blooms come from. It can be planted outside again when the temperatures are warm, and should be watered frequently and fertilized monthly all throughout the summer.
