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Mandevilla is a showy vine with big, shiny leaves and eye-catching blooms available in shades of crimson, pink, yellow, purple, cream, and white. This graceful, twining vine can grow up to 10 feet (3 m.) in a single season. Mandevilla plants in winter survive the season in fine shape if you live in a tropical climate that falls within the temperature ranges of USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and above. However, if you live in a more northern climate, planting the vine in a container is the best way to go. This tropical plant wont tolerate temperatures below 45 to 50 degrees F. (7-10 C.) and must be wintered indoors.
Mandevilla is a tropical flowering vine that produces gorgeous blooms from spring through fall. But in colder climates, this plant must be overwintered indoors to survive. Proper pruning is crucial for successfully transitioning your mandevilla from growing outdoors in summer to a dormant state for winter storage.
Follow this step-by-step guide to learn when and how to prune back your mandevilla plant to set it up for vigorous regrowth and abundant flowering next season
When to Prune Mandevilla for Winter
Timing is important when pruning mandevillas before winter You’ll want to cut back the plant once it has gone dormant in late fall or early winter. Pruning too early while it’s still actively growing can shock it
Some good times to prune are:
- In November or December after bringing the plant indoors
- After the leaves have dropped in late fall
- Once nighttime temperatures are consistently below 55°F outdoors
Gather Needed Supplies
Before pruning ensure you have these supplies on hand
- Sharp, clean pruning shears or garden scissors
- Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol to disinfect tools
- Heavy gloves to protect your hands
- Large garbage bag for plant debris
Disinfecting tools between cuts prevents disease spread. Gloves shield hands from the sticky sap mandevilla releases when stems are cut.
Choose the Right Pruning Location
Select an appropriate spot to prune your mandevilla plant. It’s best to prune soon after bringing it inside for winter. A heated garage, enclosed porch, or bright indoor area works well.
Ensure you can access all sides of the plant. Spread out newspapers or a tarp to collect fallen leaves and cuttings.
Examine the Plant’s Current State
Before making any cuts, assess the current state of your mandevilla plant. Look for:
- Areas of dieback or dead stems
- Leaf loss
- Loss of vigor in growth
This helps determine how much to prune back the plant. Remove all dead or damaged growth. Weak, spindly stems can be cut back further to encourage fresh, robust regrowth.
Make the Pruning Cuts
Now you’re ready to begin pruning. Make cuts with sharp, clean shears just above leaf nodes or buds. Prune back each vine to 8-12 inches above the soil line or pot rim.
Also remove any dead leaves, spent blooms, and seed pods. Clean up the overall shape and silhouette of the plant.
As you prune, immediately drop cut pieces into the garbage bag to reduce mess. Occasionally disinfect your shears while working.
Dispose of Pruned Growth Properly
Once finished pruning, seal the yard waste bag containing the mandevilla clippings. Never compost diseased plant material as it may harbor pests or pathogens. Instead, discard the sealed bag in the trash.
Afterward, thoroughly clean your pruning tools with soap and water. Spray or wipe them with rubbing alcohol again to disinfect.
Give the Plant Aftercare
Post-pruning care is also important. Water the mandevilla vine well after pruning to help it recover from the shock.
Move the plant to its overwintering spot in a bright, cool indoor location. Keep the soil slightly moist but not saturated over winter. Aim for temperatures between 50-60°F.
In spring, return the mandevilla outdoors after the last frost. New growth should quickly emerge, ready to bear masses of blooms!
What to Expect After Pruning Mandevilla for Winter
Pruning triggers dormancy in mandevilla over winter. Expect minimal leaf and stem growth once cut back and overwintered indoors. Lower light and cool temps also slow growth.
The significant pruning stimulates vigorous regrowth when moved back outside in spring. Flower production peaks on new stems, so your mandevilla should reward you with even more blooms after hard pruning over winter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pruning Mandevilla
Properly pruning mandevilla for winter is important but also raises questions for gardeners. Here are some common queries answered:
How much should I prune back my mandevilla?
In fall, prune stems to 8-12 inches above the soil. Remove all dead or damaged growth too. This severe pruning induces dormancy.
When should I prune my outdoor mandevilla?
For winter dormancy, prune in late fall after bringing plants indoors. For summer shaping, lightly prune in early spring. Avoid pruning actively growing vines.
Can I prune my mandevilla in summer?
You can do light pruning in summer to shape vines or remove spent blooms. But avoid heavy pruning that removes lots of foliage.
What should I do with the cuttings when I prune?
Discard all clippings, dead leaves, and debris in the trash, not the compost pile. Diseases may persist on plant waste.
Enjoy a Healthy Mandevilla After Pruning
Although it may seem harsh, pruning mandevilla vines drastically before winter benefits the plants. You’ll bring back outside a reinvigorated, vigorous specimen ready to grow and flower abundantly when temperatures warm again.
By following best practices on timing, how much to cut back, and proper aftercare, you can ensure your prized mandevilla successfully transitions through the seasons for years of beauty.
Should I Cut Back Mandevilla?
This is a commonly asked question with a resounding, yes. Knowing when to prune mandevilla vines is key to continued health and vigorous blooms. Cutting back a mandevilla vine is best done in late winter or early spring, before the plant starts to produce new growth.
Mandevilla vines put out new growth faithfully and quickly, and the summer’s flowers all bloom on this new growth. Because of this, cutting back a mandevilla vine drastically wont hurt it or particularly affect its summer display, as long as you do it before it puts out its new shoots.
You can cut back old growth or branches that are getting out of hand straight down to the ground. They should sprout new strong stems in the spring. Even branches that aren’t getting unruly benefit from being pruned somewhat, encouraging new growth and giving the whole plant a bushier, more compact feel.
A single stem of old growth that’s cut back should sprout several shoots of new growth. Cutting back a mandevilla vine can also be done during the growing season. You should never prune new growth vigorously, because this will result in fewer flowers.
You can, however, pinch off the ends of new growth early in the spring, once it’s reached a few inches (7.5 cm.) in length. This should encourage it to split into two new shoots, making the whole plant fuller and more prone to flowering.
How to Overwinter Mandevilla as a Houseplant
Bring a potted mandevilla plant indoors before the mercury drops below 60 degrees F. (15 C.) and grow it as a houseplant until temperatures rise in spring. Trim the plant to a manageable size and put it where it gets plenty of bright sunlight. Room temperatures are fine. Water the plant every week and trim as needed to maintain the desired size and shape. Dont expect blooms; the plant isnt likely to bloom during the winter.
If youre short on bright light or space, you can bring the mandevilla indoors and store it in a dormant state. Put the plant in the sink and drench the soil thoroughly to wash out pests that may be lurking in the potting mix, then cut it back to about 10 inches (25 cm.). If you dont want to trim it back, you may notice yellowing with subsequent leaf drop– this is normal. Place the plant in a sunny room where temperatures are between 55 and 60 degrees F. (12-15 C.). Water sparingly throughout the winter, providing only enough moisture to keep the potting mix from becoming bone dry. When you see early spring growth indicating the plant is breaking dormancy, move the mandevilla to a warm, sunny room and resume normal watering and fertilization. Either way you decide to winter your mandevilla, dont move it back outdoors until temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees F. (15 C.). This is also a good time to move the plant to a slightly larger pot with fresh potting mix.