I’ve Purchased A Mandevilla Plant And I Live In South-central…
David Asked
I’ve purchased a mandevilla plant and I live in south-central Kentucky. I need to know if this plant can withstand our winter. I also need to know how to properly take care of it and keep it disease-free.
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, David in Kentucky: Mandevilla are considered a tropical vine for those of us not gardening in hardiness zones 9-11. These prolific bloomers thrive when planted where they will receive a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight. They are happy to grow in a container or the garden. Either way, they will need a trellis of some sort to grow up. Mandevilla like their soil to be moderately moist but never sopping wet. In the heat of the summer you will need to water your vine every day if grown in a container. They are not susceptible to many insects or disease issues. Your vine will likely reach 3-4 feet in one growing season. It can get to 10 feet where it can be grown year-round, but since our growing season is much shorter than in tropical regions it will not get to be this large. You can feed your vine with your favorite fertilizer every couple of weeks to encourage blooms. A well-balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 is fine, or a fertilizer with higher potassium is fine as well. As with any fertilizer, it is important to follow recommended application rates since too much food can have the reverse effect in terms of flowers. If you choose to use a granular food you will not need to feed as often as a water-soluble one. This vine can be over-wintered indoors. Ideally it would like to be in a south-facing window or any space that receives bright light. It will not bloom indoors but the idea is to keep it alive so you can take it back outside next spring. During the winter months you will want to cut back on your watering and fertilizing.
