Mandevilla / Brazilian Jasmine
Mandevilla sanderi
description
Mandevilla is a tropical climber with glossy foliage and large trumpet-shaped flowers.
benefits
- Fast-growing
- Suitable for containers
warnings
- Toxic to cats
- Toxic to dogs
How to care for Mandevilla
sunlight
Native to Brazil, mandevilla climbs toward strong tropical light. Indoors, give it the sunniest spot you have to support compact growth and reliable flowering.
Full sun
Place it at a south or west-facing window where it receives several hours of direct sun, ideally about 4-6 hours or more. It can grow in bright indirect light, but will usually produce fewer flowers and stretch toward the window.
watering
Keep mandevilla evenly moist while it is growing, but let the top 2-3 cm of soil dry before watering again. Water deeply until it drains from the pot, then empty the saucer.
Spring to early autumn
In bright, warm conditions, check about every 4-7 days. A sunny, actively flowering plant in a small pot may need water sooner. Water when the surface is dry and the pot feels noticeably lighter.
Cooler or lower-light months
Growth slows in cooler, dimmer conditions, so water roughly every 10-21 days. Let the top 3-5 cm dry, but do not allow the whole root ball to stay bone dry for long.
humidity
Native to warm, humid parts of Brazil, mandevilla is happiest with moderately humid air, especially while it is actively growing and flowering.
Preferred humidity
Most homes are suitable if humidity stays above about 40%. Dry air can cause crisp brown leaf edges, curling leaves, and flower buds that dry up before opening.
How to increase humidity
- Group it with other plants or use a humidifier nearby.
- Set the pot on a pebble tray with water, keeping the pot above the waterline.
temperature
Preferred temperature
Winter minimum
As a tropical climber, mandevilla grows best in steady warmth. It can handle warmer summer days if it is watered well, but cold conditions slow growth and can trigger leaf drop.
nutrition
March - September
Feed every 2 weeks while your mandevilla is making new growth or flowers, using a balanced liquid fertilizer or one made for flowering plants at about half strength. Apply it to moist soil. Stop feeding in autumn and winter unless it is still actively growing in warm, bright conditions.
Potassium
Potassium supports sturdy growth and flowering. A regular balanced or flowering-plant fertilizer supplies enough without needing a separate product.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen keeps the glossy leaves green, but too much can encourage leafy growth at the expense of blooms. Do not use a high-nitrogen lawn or foliage feed.
soil
Rich, loose, well-draining soil
Mandevilla needs moisture around its roots but declines in dense, waterlogged compost. Use a quality potting mix blended with perlite or coarse bark, plus a little compost for steady nutrients.
pH 6,0 - 7,0
This is slightly acidic to neutral, a range that helps the plant take up nutrients well. Most general-purpose potting mixes suit it, especially those made for flowering container plants.