6+ tips to help you care for your Mandevilla plants

There are several varieties of the tropical vine known as the Mandevilla plant, and all are gorgeous and showy. With bright red, white or pink petals and shiny green leaves, the Mandevilla vine can brighten up your outdoor landscaping or a sunny spot on your patio.
Its large, trumpet-shaped flowers with the yellow throats cover the plant from spring through fall, while its glossy, oval evergreen leaves add to the tropical elegance it brings to any setting. If you would like to grow a Mandevilla vine successfully, here are six suggestions for its proper care:
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1. Give it good soil
After you purchase your Mandevilla vine, you'll probably either transplant it in the ground or in a container. The Mandevilla plant prefers sandy, well-draining soil. Mixing two parts peat moss or potting soil to one part builder’s sand will do the trick.
2. Provide some shade
If your Mandevilla will be outdoors, you can give it full sun if you're in a cooler climate. Otherwise, make sure it's getting some afternoon shade. Indoors, it likes bright light from either direct or indirect sunlight. In very hot climates, it should have afternoon shade, inside or outside.
3. Feed it
You don't want to add fertilizer to a newly-purchased plant. It probably already has some, and you could burn the roots with more. But after you’ve had your Mandevilla for a while, you can use a slow-release fertilizer or a diluted water-soluble fertilizer solution.
4. Water it regularly
Your Mandevilla likes to be consistently moist. Allow the soil to get almost dry. Then give it a slow trickle of water to soak the soil thoroughly. It does not like standing water and could develop root rot if the water can't drain properly.
5. Prune it in the spring
Pinch the tips of your Mandevilla with your fingers at to encourage bushy growth. Prune them in the spring before new growth begins by cutting off older or crowded stems. You can also control the size of your plant by cutting the stems back close to the ground.
6. Bring it indoors for the winter
Once temperatures dip below 50 F. (10 C.), you should bring your Mandevilla plant indoors. Make sure you check it for pests and treat these pests before you bring it inside. Place your plant where it will get bright, indirect light. Water it when the soil gets dry to the touch.
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When spring returns and the temperatures remain above 50 F. (10 C.), move your plant back outside so you can enjoy it for another summer.