Mandevilla is a flowering plant known for its beautiful trumpet-sized flowers. This plant belongs to tropical and sub-tropical areas and grows in warm and moist conditions. Mandevilla is also called rock trumpet due to its trumpet-shaped flowers.
It grows perennial in hardiness zones 10 to 11 USDA. In other zones, it grows as an annual plant. Mandevilla is grown for its five-petal flowers which come in different colors like red, pink, and white. Growing them is fairly easy if you provide ideal conditions.
In this post, I’ll explain how to grow Mandevilla from cuttings and include the ideal conditions to grow them.
So, if growing this beautiful plant in your house is your interest, keep reading:
How to Propagate Mandevilla
Mandevilla is a fast-growing vine that grows up to 3 to 10 feet taller and 3 to 4 feet wide. It grows from seeds as well as propagation from stem cuttings.
However, most gardeners prefer to grow them by taking a small plant from the nursery or propagating from stem cutting.
Growing from cuttings is a great method to propagate plants. It grows plants similar to its parent plant regardless of its cultivar. If you have a mature or at least one-year-old Mandevilla plant, you can use its stem cutting to propagate multiple new plants.
Quick Guide
| Common Name | Mandevilla, rocktrumpet |
| Scientific Name | Mandevilla spp. |
| Plant type | Vine |
| Mature Size | 3 -10 feet tall; spread 3 to 4 inches |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun, partial shade |
| Soil Type | Moist, but well-drained soil |
| Soil pH | 6.1 to 6.5 (slightly acidic) |
| Bloom Time | Summer, fall |
| Flower Color | Red, pink, and white |
| Hardiness Zones | 10 to 11 USDA |
| Native Area | North America, South America |
How to Grow Mandevilla from Cuttings
You can grow Mandevilla in pots or in the garden. If you do not live in zones where Mandevilla is hardy, better plant them in pots because you will need to overwinter them.
- Take a sharp shear, and cut at least 5 to 6 inches long stem cutting from the plant.
- Stem cutting should have some set of leaves on it. Also stem cuttings should not be too woody, use soft, green stem cutting.
- Clear all leaves from the bottom half of the stem cutting to promote stem growth.
- Dip the bottom end of the stem cutting in rooting hormones to initiate fast growth. This is optional, the plant will grow after a few weeks.
- Plant the cutting in a small pot, you can plant it in a large pot or directly in the ground. You don’t want to waste it’s all its energy on growing roots at the cost of leaves and blooms.
- Use a potting mix and well-drained soil. Also, your pot should have adequate drainage holes (more than one) to flow water outside.
- Water the pot thoroughly to make sure water flows from drainage holes.
- Cover the whole cutting with a plastic cover. The cover should not bend the stem cutting. This helps to retain moisture.
- Place the pot in indirect sunlight. Do not place it in direct sunlight, it does not have roots yet.
- Remove the plastic cover after the afternoon, so that cutting takes air.
- It will start growing within 14 to 20 days and get established within a month.
- When roots start coming outside the pot, report it in a bigger pot.
When to plant
Mandevilla grows from summer to fall. So, to bloom, you have to plant them earlier in the season. Plant them after the winter gets over or during early spring. Planting in this period will give the plant enough time to get established. As this is a fast-growing vine, it will produce bloom during the season.
Related post: Best Flowers Plants to Grow in the Garden
How to Care for Mandevilla plant
Although Mandevilla plants do not need much maintenance. You have to give them an ideal condition to get established.
Light
This plant prefers to grow in full sun. They need at least 6 hours of daily sunlight most days to produce blooms. However, in the hot summer season, they appreciate partial shade conditions.
Ideally, plant them where they receive early morning sunlight and afternoon shade. It is best to plant the Mandevilla plant in the pot if you do not have any area that constantly receives sunlight. You can follow the sunlight and place the pot respectively.
Soil
Mandevilla vines prefer sandy, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter added to it. Use potting mix soil, if you’re growing in a pot. The plant grows well in slightly acidic soil but also does well in alkaline soil.
Do not plant them in clay soil. It does not allow water to flow which damages or kills Mandevilla vines. Mixing sand or perlite in soil improves drainage, it creates micro-holes with soil which helps to escape water easily.
Water
Mandevilla vines need regular watering to produce a good bloom. However, the plant can tolerate slight drought conditions. It is important to water the vine when you notice its soil getting dry.
You can spread a thick layer of mulch around the plant to retain moisture if your plant gets dry quickly. Also, water only when the soil looks dry. Avoid overwatering, this makes soil soggy which leads to poor growth.
In the ground, overwatering is not a big problem because excessive water goes deep into the ground if planted in well-drained soil. But, in the pot water does not easily exist and remains moist.
Water slowly so that the soil gets time to soak moisture.
Water directly in the root of the vine. Watering plants will make wet leaves wet. Wet plants for too long can cause fungal diseases if you live in high-humidity conditions.
Pruning
Pruning once a year to Mandevilla vines is recommended to maintain their profusely and tidy look.
Prune or cut back its stem during winter or early spring to promote new growth. Pruning too late in the season potentially can cut growing buds from the plant.
You can cut off any damaged or dead leaves and blooms from the plant at any time.
These dry leaves might look dead, but they keep sucking energy from the plant. Cutting them off will redirect energy to grow new leaves.
The green thrumb rule, they do not cut more than one-third of a plant’s mass. Before pruning, water the plant to make it hydrated so that it does not get stressed by pruning.
Temperature and humidity
This vine needs warm temperatures and high humidity conditions for good growth. The temperature during the day should be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and at night not should be less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, when planted outdoors. If you live in a dry climate, misting your plant occasionally will help to keep the humidity level up.
Fertilizer
When you plant Mandevilla vine mix plenty of organic compost in the soil. This is enough for the first year of growth in the plant. You can feed them slow-release fertilizer in the early spring or water-soluble fertilizer to extend growth in the new season.
But, do not feed too much fertilizer, this will result in the overgrowth of leaves and only some flowers. Adding more fertilizer does aid in more growth in foliage, and increases nitrogen levels in the soil which harms plants’ growth. It’s better to add organic compost like banana pills, and eggshells, and use tea bags instead or use conventional fertilizer.
Common pests
Mandevilla vines do not encounter any harmful diseases. But, they are often infected by red spider mites, aphids, scales, and whiteflies, especially indoors. You can spray insecticidal soap or horticultural oil like neem oil. Spraying water on the plant also removes these pests.
Keep checking your plant occasionally so that it does not get infected heavily. Remove any pests as soon as it gets visible when moving plants.
If you’re Mandevilla is not growing. Here is the article on why is my Mandevilla plant dying.
Popular Mandevilla vines
There are more than a hundred species of Mandevilla vines present in the world. Below are listed some popular varieties that you can grow in the house.
Mandevilla boliviensis:
This species is known for its white petals. The plant vines grow up to 3 to 10 feet tall in height and spread 3 to 6 feet wider. Due to its high petal, this is also called white Mandevilla.
Mandevilla laxa:
This Mandevilla species bears heavy white scented flowers, reaching a height of 20 feet tall. The plant is also called Chilean jasmine.
Mandevilla sanderi:
This variety is also called Brazilian jasmine, found in large numbers in Brazile. The species grow very fast and can reach a height of about 15 feet in ideal conditions. It produces pink blooms in twining woody stems.
How to overwinter Mandevilla
If you live in zones where Mandevilla is not hardy, you have to overwinter them to regrow in the next spring season. This plant grows perennial in hardiness zones 10-11 USDA. But, grows annually in other zones.
It’s better you plant them in pots if you live in non-hardiness areas because you need to bring your plant indoors once the outside temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you planted Mandevilla in a large pot, divide it before frost arrives. During winter, avoid watering plants as they go dormant. Place the pot indoors in indirect light.
Also, snip off any bud from the plant, you do not waste the plant’s energy in growing bloom during winter. You can bring the plant outdoors in the full sun after winter ends or in early spring. After regular watering for one to two weeks, the Mandevilla begins to grow normally.
How to Get More Mandevilla to Bloom
Many gardeners witness very few blooms in Mandevilla vines. But, if provided with ideal conditions this plant produces many blooms.
The first and most vital factor is sunlight. Make sure your Mandevilla vine gets at least six to eight hours of continuous sunlight per day. If you do not have a spot where the direct sun comes, plant it in a pot to chase sunlight.
In the growing season, an adequate fertilizer is rich in phosphorus. When planted in a pot avoid adding too much fertilizer. But, yes, feeding them fertilizer organic or conventional leads to good growth.
Water regularly, this plant-like moist soil. It is vital you regularly water them to keep their soil moist. If your plant dries quickly spread a thick layer of mulch around the plant to retain moisture.
Mandevilla vines grow taller in height and provide stalk or support to let them climb. They are also elegant in hanging baskets.
FAQ
Will Mandevilla cuttings root in water?
It is possible for Mandevilla cuttings to root in water, but it is not the most effective way to propagate the plant. Mandevilla cuttings are more likely to root successfully when they are placed in a rooting medium, such as potting soil or a mixture of sand and peat moss.
This allows the cutting to access the nutrients and support it needs to grow roots and establish itself as a new plant. Additionally, rooting Mandevilla cuttings in water can increase the risk of fungal or bacterial infections, which can harm the cutting and prevent it from growing properly. It is generally recommended to root Mandevilla cuttings in a rooting medium rather than water.
How long does it take for Mandevilla cuttings to root?
The amount of time it takes for Mandevilla cuttings to root can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the age and health of the cutting, the temperature and humidity of the rooting environment, and the type of rooting medium used. In general, Mandevilla cuttings can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to develop a robust root system.
It is important to provide the cutting with the right conditions and care during this time to encourage healthy root growth. This may include providing the cutting with adequate moisture, warmth, and indirect light, as well as protecting it from drafts and extreme temperatures. Regularly checking the rooting progress of the cutting and adjusting its care as needed can help ensure that its roots are successful.
Hey! I’m Madhuresh, a passionate content creator, and a Plant lover. I created Shiny Plant to explore and learn about new plants. The purpose is to provide simple and effective Gardening Tips. Hope you’ll find this informative.