Help with mandevilla vine (growing, butterfly, spring, south)

[Linda_d]

This past June, I bought a potted mandevilla vine, and since I live in zone 5 (southwestern NYS), I decided to try to overwinter it in my sunroom, which is somewhat coolish (60s). The room gets plenty of light but it lacks a lot of bright sunlight because we have lots of cloudy weather here, especially in November and December.

I have a green thumb for outdoor plants, but indoor plants don't do so well for me. Mostly it's because I don't water them as frequently as I should. The leaves on the mandevilla are turning yellow and falling off. I have the care tag, and I think my conditions seem okay. The soil seems moist, but maybe it's not moist enough? The plant sits in a plastic bowl so excess water drains into that and I refill it as necessary. Should I keep water in it all the time? Should I set the pot on a bed of gravel and put water around it?

I don't really care if it looks ugly for the winter as long as it survives until next spring when it can go back outside where it thrived in the sunshine on the brick patio.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Butterfly4u]

Linda,
Stop watering it.
You are an outdoor gardenr, so what do yellow leaves mean?
First thing that comes to mind for me is either too little or too much
water. If the temps are cool where the plant is, why would need more water?
Go buy a florescent light, small one, and give it extra light.
Don't put a bowl under it, only water it about once a week, when
you stick your finger in the pot and it is definately dry.
It's tropical, it likes sunlight and heat.
Try your best to give it that, and stop watering it.

[J&Em]

Originally Posted by Linda_d

This past June, I bought a potted mandevilla vine, and since I live in zone 5 (southwestern NYS), I decided to try to overwinter it in my sunroom, which is somewhat coolish (60s). The room gets plenty of light but it lacks a lot of bright sunlight because we have lots of cloudy weather here, especially in November and December.

I have a green thumb for outdoor plants, but indoor plants don't do so well for me. Mostly it's because I don't water them as frequently as I should. The leaves on the mandevilla are turning yellow and falling off. I have the care tag, and I think my conditions seem okay. The soil seems moist, but maybe it's not moist enough? The plant sits in a plastic bowl so excess water drains into that and I refill it as necessary. Should I keep water in it all the time? Should I set the pot on a bed of gravel and put water around it?

I don't really care if it looks ugly for the winter as long as it survives until next spring when it can go back outside where it thrived in the sunshine on the brick patio.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Let your green thumb come through by not overdoing and overthinking!!

It is tropical and it likes some humidity, but not sitting in perpetually wet soil especially since it is not growing due to low light conditions. Let the upper soil dry a little so that the water level it isn't rotting the roots. Once a week a good drench and drain should be good. As long as the roots are not sitting in water a pebble tray for humidity will help. The yellowed leaves are most likely because the Mandevilla is hung up between going dormant and trying to get by on lower light. Usually one trims them back when bringing them in and again in late winter and keep them in a cool room (60-70 degrees) --OR- once it is cool enough in the fall for it to drop its leaves store them in very cool but not freezing spot like a basement or protected garage. As Butterfly said you can also try adding a little artificial light to give the plant a little help surviving the gray days.

[Linda_d]

Thanks. I'll limit the water and add a grow light.

[newcomputer]

I cut mine down to about five inches and water when the soil is dry. Next year, put it back out doors and start watering/feeding according to directions. I have never had one hold its leaves over the winter.

As long as you don't over water, I wouldn't give up on it even if it looks dead.