Comments on Julie Zickefoose: The Great Red Mandevilla

Hi Oomer, Good score on the red mandevillas. Thi...

2009-06-22T06:54:16.745-05:00

Hi Oomer,

Good score on the red mandevillas. This is the time of year for bargains, for sure. Indoors keeping--south window, full sun, keep them sprayed regularly for aphids and whitefly, keep them a bit dry to avoid root rot, and hope for the best. Take cuttings, put them in soil and water and see what roots (use rooting hormone powder on them). Sometimes it's just easier to buy them each spring. it really depends on your light situation.

Just bought 5 red mandevilla at Lowes and potted t...

2009-06-17T22:08:27.405-05:00

Just bought 5 red mandevilla at Lowes and potted them into one large pot as they were only $1 each and raggedy looking when we purchased. A week of TLC and they were back to filling out the pot, showing an abundant amount of blooms and now I've added a tomato cage to train the vines and shoots. It is truly an amazing plant, don't have a greenhouse but wanted ideas to keep it through winter? any thoughts?

Hi, Brian. Plants which are dormant and not growi...

2008-10-03T04:17:00.000-05:00

Hi, Brian.

Plants which are dormant and not growing actively generally resent being overwatered. So a mandevilla brought inside for the winter will need to be kept on the dry side, definitely. I wish you luck. I have never found Alice DuPont to be very tolerant of dry heat and lower light levels found in most houses in winter. I'd cut it back pretty severely and keep it sprayed for pests, and just hope to keep it alive until spring. I wouldn't expect much bloom unless you've got a sunroom or greenhouse.

I recently purchased a Alice Dupont plant - it's d...

2008-10-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

I recently purchased a Alice Dupont plant - it's dark leaves and pink flower was unique.

We brought it in the house for the Winter, just trimming the extensions - hopefully it will last. The nursery where I got it from said it prefers drier soil, not sure if I was reading was correct, but a reader said it drank every other day 2 gallons... thought plants in general don't like wet feet.

Oh wow! Look at that red Mandevilla! Would you be ...

2008-02-20T09:22:00.000-05:00

Oh wow! Look at that red Mandevilla! Would you be interested in selling a few cutting of it?

Thanks,
Michelle
sunshine@camtel.net

Hi, Jo. I'm assuming you're in Melborne, Australia...

2007-09-26T09:41:00.000-05:00

Hi, Jo.

I'm assuming you're in Melborne, Australia? I haven't seen a situation that this mandevilla didn't like. West facing with some protection should begreat.

Is a 9m planter box 9 meters long? I'm a little puzzled...however, the only thing to keep in mind is that this plant has enormous growth potential, and if the meter box is that big, well, it should be just fine. It does fine when rootbound, but if it doesn't freeze where you are I'd suggest planting it right in the ground so it can really go crazy. Try rooting cuttings as described in the post and make more!

Hi Julie,I've been searching the internet for info...

2007-09-26T01:23:00.000-05:00

Hi Julie,
I've been searching the internet for info about the mandevilla - which I came to know it as the Red Brazilian Jasmine!? after seeing it at my local nursery. I live in Melbourne where we are currently experiencing an array of weather - particularly a water shortage :( I've actually been looking for a vine to place outside in a 9m planter box that faces the west - so it gets all the afternoon sun with some protection from our pergola. Do think that this will work ?? Thanks ~ Jo

I loved hearing about the hummingbird tracks! I wi...

2007-09-16T14:51:00.000-05:00

I loved hearing about the hummingbird tracks! I wish I knew which kind of Mandevilla I had- red flowers, but i lost the tag. Anyway, great blog!

Julie,I love that red! I have the pink variety. ...

2007-08-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

Julie,

I love that red! I have the pink variety. We just bought two (you chimped me when I called them hibiscus) and the nursery said they might possibly make it through the winter (HA!). If we have a frost this fall like last April, I'll kiss them goodbye. But...I could dig them up and grow them in the sunroom...

I had a mental image of you hauling that monster around - too funny!

Too bad such a dramatically beautiful plant must s...

2007-08-07T10:03:00.000-05:00

Too bad such a dramatically beautiful plant must start again each spring. My intentions to move plants indoors and out usually get careless. All too often I realize something has been forgotten--and, too late!
You must have a to-do list for fall!

Never had any luck growing mandevilla up here in P...

2007-08-07T09:32:00.000-05:00

Never had any luck growing mandevilla up here in PA, but I love it so much! I also like clematis, which comes in many more colors.

Yesterday was spent almost entirely on the front p...

2007-08-07T09:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was spent almost entirely on the front porch doing what should have been done a couple months ago when it first arrived: finishing Letters from Eden. Congratulations on (and thanks for writing) this GOOD book. I found the chapter about the bird pox particularly moving in its evocation of the reponsibility we have to those with whom we share space (and with whom we interfere?). And the chicken chapter, well, that was hilarious. It sure seems to telegraph Chet Baker.

Any word on the next book you were planning?

Oh how I love mandevilla. I brought an "Alice DuPo...

2007-08-07T08:38:00.000-05:00

Oh how I love mandevilla. I brought an "Alice DuPont" to Pennsylvania with me from California and kept it alive for years. Then it finally gave up the ghost. I know the pink variety is so prone to whitefly. Now I'll have to go on a search for the red variety! Thanks for sharing about this beauty!

Hi Julie,that's an amazing and beautiful plant! d...

2007-08-07T08:08:00.000-05:00

Hi Julie,
that's an amazing and beautiful plant! do the hummingbirds come to the flowers?