| I recently purchased a beautiful Mandevilla plant with deep pink trumpet flowers at -- of all places -- a grocery store and know nothing about its care. I had planned to plant it next to our balcony so the vines could grow up it but on reading posts on the internet discovered that it cannot winter outside. Any tips for care would be so appreciated. |
| Except for the Chilean Jasmine (Mandevilla laxa), which is root-hardy to about 5F degrees, most mandevilla's are considered greenhouse or indoor plants in cold-winter areas. Bring your plant indoors, and place it in a brightly lit area where the minimum temperature will be above 55F degrees. Water sparingly, and don't feed, because growth will be minimal in the winter months. In the early spring begin watering often enough to keep the soil moist, and mist the leaves every few days (this is especially important when the plant is developing flower buds). When the weather warms in the spring, take your plant outdoors, where it should put on an attractive performance throughout the summer months. |
