Find Your Ask The Plant Expert: I have a flower and the name of it is Crimson Mandevilla. I was wondering how to care for it during the winter. The spelling of it may not be exactly right. Can you help? Rhonda
Plant Expert Reply:
Rhonda,
To over-winter Mandevillas, it depends on where you live. Mandevilla (formerly the genus Dipladenia) splendens is hardy in zone 9-11. So if you live in parts of Arizona, California, Texas, Louisiana or in Florida, you can simply leave them outside and water as needed.
Preparing Mandevillas For Overwintering
However in other places, you will need to pot the Mandevilla and bring it indoors. If your plant is not already in a container, be sure to prune the plant back by a 1/3 to compensate for any roots lost during the transplanting process.
Be sure to clean the plant and check for insects before you bring the plant indoors. Remove all dead foliage and check the back of the leaves for insect eggs and larvae. I recommend wiping all the leaves and stems off with a soapy wet rag (make sure the rag is damp not dripping with water). If you find a large infestation of insects, treat the plant with an insecticidal soap before you bring it inside.
Overwintering Tips
Once the plant is inside, keep the soil moist to slightly dry, do not fertilize, keep the temperature above 60° and place it in a bright filtered light exposure. Hope this helps!
Help! My crimson is dying and I have no idea why. I have kept the soil moist, has enough sunlight, and gave it plant food. The leaves are just turning yellow and falling off. I don’t know what to do.
Hi Lisa,
There are a few different things that could cause your plant’s leaves to turn yellow. Too much water, a pest problem, and pathogens can all cause yellowing leaves.
We live in Alabama and my Mom planted her plant outside, should she dig it up and bring it in for winter?
Darlene,
It depends on what area of Alabama your mother lives in. If she lives in the southern part of the state, her plant will probably be fine over the winter. Here is a link to the hardiness zone map from the USDA. It is suggested that Mandevilla be brought inside if they are outside of zones 9-11.
I live in Columbus, Ohio. How far do I trim it back before bringing it inside for the winter? Any other tips would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Hey Shannon,
You will want to trim your Mandevilla back by about a third before bringing it inside. Also, remove any dead leaves and foliage and check the plant for insects before bringing it in. You can also wipe the leaves and stems with a damp, soapy rag as a precaution to kill any eggs or larvae. Once indoors, keep the soil moist to slightly dry, do not fertilize and let it get plenty of bright, filtered light!
Hi Jamie.. I’m just curious if it is a must to trim back while bringing inside for winter? Mine is not out of control large, and in it’s planter I bought it in, in April. Thank you
If you are planning to keep it in the planter, you need to at least trim off any dead leaves and flowers. If you are going to transplant it into another container, you should definitely trim it back. This is to help the roots deal with the shock and still be able to sustain the plant outside of the growing season.
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