Mandevilla is a species of plant of the tropics and subtropics. This plant has trumpet-shaped flowers in a variety of colors such as red, pink, and white.
This plant is easy to grow, easy to care for, and does not require complicated care conditions. Therefore, many people love to choose Mandevilla as an ornamental plant in the house.
Mandevilla is a plant that prefers warm and humid temperatures every year. It is 3 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Mandevilla can grow from seed or cuttings from mature trees.
Cuttings are a great way to get plenty of Mandevilla plants easily and quickly. How to propagate Mandevilla cuttings? Let’s find out in detail the steps and conditions to implement this method.
How to propagate Mandevilla cuttings – Follow the rules
Mandevilla grows perennially in hardiness zones 10 to 11 USDA. However, it grows as an annual plant in other zones.
You can grow this plant in a pot or a garden. If you don’t live in an area where conditions are ideal for Mandevillas, it’s a good idea to plant them in pots for protection from adverse weather effects.
Steps to take Mandevilla cuttings from mature trees:
- Select mature Mandevilla plants, for at least one year. The stems are healthy and free from pests.
- Use a sharp, clean pair of scissors to cut the stem to at least 5 to 6 inches in length.
- The stem to cut into the ground must have some young shoots. You should not choose the stem that is too old, choose the hard, green, and many buds.
- Remove the leaves at the bottom completely (the stem will be planted in the ground) to stimulate root growth.
- You can dip the lower stems in a rooting stimulator before planting them in the ground for faster root growth.
- You can plant small cuttings into pots, after the plants mature, you can plant them in the ground to ensure the safety of plants.
- Use well-draining soil and potting soil with enough nutrients
- Pots need to have enough drainage holes to avoid waterlogging and oxygen exchange for plant roots.
- Cover the entire cut with paper or a layer of humus to retain moisture and create favorable conditions for root development.
- Place the pot in an area with indirect sunlight. When the plant has not yet rooted, you should not put it in direct sunlight because the plant will wither and die. After all, the roots have not yet formed and are responsible for providing water to the stem.
- Roots will begin to develop in 14 to 20 days and finish the process within a month.
- When the roots grow more, you need to move the plant to a larger pot or plant it in the ground.
Ideal conditions for Mandevilla cuttings
To get the best results, when cutting Mandevilla you need to learn the growth characteristics to choose the right time, soil composition, or fertilizer.
1. Time to take cuttings
The ideal time for Mandevilla to grow and develop is from summer to autumn. So, to help them bloom, you need to plant or take cuttings before this time.
You should plant or take cuttings in late winter or spring when temperatures are warm. Cuttings at this time will give the Mandevilla enough time to mature and flower in the right season.
2. Light conditions
Mandevilla like full sun, so they need at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. However, during the hot summer, they also need a few hours of shade each day.
The best area to grow this plant is one with morning sun and afternoon shade. If you can’t find the ideal area, you should plant them in pots to easily move to the right area.
3. Soil composition
Mandevilla prefers sandy, well-drained soil with lots of organic matter. The ideal pH is between 6.1 and 6.5. This plant prefers slightly acidic soil but can also grow in alkaline soil.
You should not plant Mandevilla in clay soil as the clay will not drain well and cause waterlogging of the root system. The soil composition of sand and perlite will help improve drainage and air circulation in the soil.
4. Sprinklers
Mandevilla needs to be watered regularly to flower at the right time. This plant is only tolerant of mild drought conditions and for short periods. Therefore, you need to check the moisture in the soil regularly to water the plants.
Some notes when watering:
- Check the humidity before watering with a hygrometer or finger
- Water only when the ground is 1 to 2-inches dry
- Water in the morning when it is sunny to dry the leaves
- Irrigate the base of the plant slowly
- Do not water the leaves, because wet leaves will create favorable conditions for fungus growth
- Don’t over-water the plant, causing it to become waterlogged
- Water slowly so that the water soaks into the soil until the water comes out from the vent
5. Cut and Prune
Mandevilla does not need frequent pruning, so you should prune them once a year to keep them neat and attractive.
The right time to prune leaves and lower branches are in late winter or spring. This is to stimulate the growth of branches and leaves in the summer and fall.
Pruning too late will cause Mandevilla to lose young shoots and not be able to flower and leaf into the growing season. Before pruning, you need to water the plant to avoid overstressing the plant and leading to wilting.
6. Temperature and humidity
The ideal conditions for Mandevilla to grow best are high humidity and high humidity. Daytime temperatures of at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures of at least 50 degrees when growing outdoors.
If you live in areas with a dry climate, you can use misting to improve the humidity slightly. However, misting is not the absolute best method, you need to use some measures to maintain the humidity in your home.
7. Fertilizer
To stimulate root growth when cuttings or young plants, you need to mix a lot of organic fertilizer into the soil. You can use a slow-release fertilizer in early spring or a water-soluble fertilizer to provide adequate nutrients during the new season.
However, you should not apply too much fertilizer at the same time. Excessive fertilization will increase the nitrogen concentration in the soil which is harmful to the growth of Mandevilla.
You can use organic fertilizers such as banana peels, eggshells, plants, and organic humus to ensure the safety of this plant.
8. Pests
Mandevilla usually grows healthy and is rarely attacked by pests. However, this plant often suffers from some common diseases such as aphids, red scales, and white flies.
To kill these insects, you can spray neem oil to kill the insects. You need to regularly check the tree and remove infected leaves or branches to avoid spreading to other branches.
Conclusion
Mandevilla is a beautiful flowering plant and is loved by many as a houseplant. This plant can be grown from seeds or cuttings.
You need to follow some general rules when cutting Mandevilla cuttings such as stem selection, stem length, tools, and rooting stimulant. One of the most important factors is that you need to choose a mature, healthy stem that has many buds and is at least 1-year-old.
In addition, you also need to pay attention to the development characteristics of Mandevilla to choose the right cutting time. Besides, factors such as light, soil, watering, fertilizer, and pests also need to be ensured to stimulate the growth of Mandevilla.