I purchased my first Mandevilla this year.
Love them! I'm Z5 so no leaving them out.
I have two that are pretty big.
I have limited space in my house and unfortunately I don't have a green house. Can they be cut back and how far? Any tips for keeping them happy appreciated. THANKS!

I've pruned them down to about 6 inches in the past, to take them indoors. They sulk a bit because the humidity isn't high enough for them. They just do not look as good as they look outside.

@needrain can probably offer some tips also. Those are beautiful, healthy looking plants! I have never been able to overwinter them.

Technically those are dipladanias. I cut mine back pretty hard and they do great in the g'house. Of course, I have more humidity up there than there would be in the house. They grow and bloom really nice in late winter/early spring.

Mine also grow well and bloom a lot in the greenhouse. Our home is just too dry and misting doesn't seem to help the plants much. I've never tried the water tray like people put under orchids. That might make them happier in the house.

I grow mine outdoors, but as others have done, I have pruned it hard before and it comes back nicely in Spring. Although lately I have changed tactics, allowing it to grow as it wishes. With our wacky Fall temps right now, it has actually made a late season bloom when we finally got this rains in Fall after being so dry here.

So if you bring yours indoors got to remember its temperature and humidity needs. It seems happier here when temps hover in the 70's to 80's range. If you can duplicate that indoors with good humidity it will be good for your plant. Or just got to be patient and wait for Spring, when it resumes active growing.

We don't keep our home warm enough for it. I am hot if it's 70. I'm not even trying to bring it in the house this year. It's nice that your plant loved the fall rains, T.

Karen, I keep my indoor temps at 68F, that's about what I compromise with. Yeah, this plant is teaching me to be very patient. I was so tempted to pull it out before but then I realize it was reacting to our very long dry season and it really likes the comfy warm 70's to 80's with some rain. I don't bring this one in, just the other tender succulents. It does respond to that nice pruning.

Vicky, your growing area is much different than mine, so I do hope you can try and prune a bit and find a warm, comfy area indoors for it to grow during cold season.

I have two plants that I bought as Mandevilla. They are similar, but not the same. This will be the third winter for one. I have an unheated porch with a glass front facing east and I hang it in there. Last winter I did cut it back because the porch is narrow and crammed with plants in the winter months. I didn't cut it back anymore than I needed, so I wouldn't call it a severe haircut. It's growing as a hanging basket, so it was cut just enough to give me air space. The new one is grown in a container but on a fixed trellis outside. It will have to be cut off more drastically just to free it from the trellis. The plan is to see if I can overwinter it in the garage under low light conditions and hope it regrows next spring when I can take it back outside.

That sounds interesting, Donald. Please update us next spring.

I have one Mandevilla and two Dipladenia. I have over wintered them in my garage (worst place), a back bedroom (best place) and the basement. The plants are 2 - 4 years old.

I cut them back by about 1/2. All three get to be and are now (not in yet) 3 - 4 feet and all three are in full bloom.

The biggest problem I have is keeping the moisture up around them.

Last winter, I almost lost the Mandevilla in the garage - it died back to almost top of pot. Thankfully - it did recover.

The basement actually works best, but I am limited for space there cause I have so much else there - brugmansias, oleander - tons of big things. But I can control the humidity there easily with a humidifier.

Good luck Vicky.

In '92 I bought three Mandevilla vines and would cut them back to 12" and bring them to the sunny porch (enclosed, unheated) for the winter. I lost one about 2005, then the other two died a few years ago. They'd grow up the cord for the blinds.

Keeping them alive that long in your climate was pretty amazing Arlene. I suspect yours simply died of old age. Good growing.

I was happy to have them and should buy them again next year. The prices went up dramatically. Originally they were $15.00 and now they're $30.00.

Those Mandevillas look pretty happy too.

Brought mine inside a few weeks ago, hoping they would stop blooming so I could cut them back. No such luck. The sun is still very warm and even with the shade cloth on they are lovin it in the Greenhouse. It is difficult keeping the humidity and moisture in their pots during this period. They love to be watered almost daily. I just soak them and let them go. These are all red in color.

I lied above. I have 2 Mandevilla - not one. A new White one my wife bought me.

No, you didn't, you just miscounted. Congrats on acquiring the white one. I found one on clearance this past summer. I'm about to bring it indoors for the winter.

I will be bringing mine in soon. I brought a lot of other tender stuff in today.

Thank you all for the advise! So far they're still alive and the one is growing like crazy. I allow the soil to dry out between watering and not giving any fertilizer.