Dipladenia

La Dipladenia it is a very beautiful plant. It has trumpet-shaped flowers, which by the way are very similar to those of the Adenium obesum o Desert Roses, and leaves of a spectacular bright green color. It is spectacular, yes, but also very delicate. How many times have you bought one and when winter came you could not resist it and passed away?

But those bad experiences will remain, from now on, in the past. After everything that I am going to tell you in this special article, you will know how to get your plant to arrive healthy and strong in autumn and how can spring come alive.

Dipladenia characteristics

Before getting into the subject, it is important first that you know how to identify this climbing plant from the others. Thus, also, you can get an idea of ​​what it needs to be able to develop without problems.

Well, this plant is known by the name of Mandevilla, which is the botanical genus to which it belongs and which comprises more than 100 species, including Mandevilla lax, or the Mandevilla sanderiAlthough between you and me, it is much better known as Chilean Jasmine, Chile Jasmine, Argentina Jasmine, or Jujuy Jasmine.

Originally from South America, it is from the Apocynaceae family, like the Adenium, but it does not have as thick a trunk. In reality, it does not have a trunk as such, but are thin stems that grow by clinging as best they can (they do not have tendrils) to the branches of trees and other tall plants. Its leaves are evergreen, leathery, bright green.

It is ideal for small gardens, since do not exceed 6m Tall. In fact, there are those who have it as a small potted plant, and they prune it to prevent it from growing too much. Despite pruning, it blooms. When? In summer. Its flowers, as we said before, are shaped like a trumpet, and depending on the species they can be white, pink, red or yellow ... all of them perfumed.

By the way, it also has something negative: it's toxic, so you should not ingest it under any circumstances.

Types of dipladenia

The genus of dipladenia, Mandevilla, is composed of a hundred species, among which are the following:

• Mandevilla lax
• Mandevilla sanderi
• Mandevilla splendens

At first glance it is very difficult to differentiate them, since they are all evergreen climbing plants with practically identical leaves and flowers. In fact, what can differentiate them the most is their place of origin: M. laxa is native from southern Ecuador to northern Chile; M. sanderi is endemic to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and M. splendens is also found in Brazil.

With that said, let's see how it is cared for.

Dipladenia plant care

To take care of this beautiful plant it is necessary that you keep in mind that is very sensitive to cold. If in your area the temperature drops below 10ºC, you should always keep it in a pot so that you can bring it inside the house when it starts to cool. But apart from that, you have to provide a series of care, which are:

Ubicación

It has to be in a very bright area, but without direct sunlight. If it is indoors, it has to be placed in a room with plenty of natural light, but away from drafts, walkways and windows.

Irrigation

Watering has to be frequent, especially in summer. It must regar about 3 times a week in that season, and once every 7-10 days the rest of the year. Puddling must be avoided at all times, so in case of doubt, it is better to check the humidity of the substrate before adding water. To do this, it will be enough to insert a wooden stick (the kind found in Japanese restaurants) to the bottom and carefully remove it. If when you take it out you see that it is clean, it is because the earth is dry and that, therefore, it can be watered.

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Very important if you want it to survive the winter. I recommend you pay one month with a universal mineral fertilizer, and the following month with an organic one; or even better, use only organic fertilizers, adding ground horn or horse manure (no more than a handful) to the substrate, and periodically fertilizing with guano (for sale here) for instance.

Soil or substrate

If you are lucky enough to live in a warm climate, you can plant in your garden near a pergola so it can climb up it, in spring. It grows in many types of soil, although yes, it prefers sandy ones.

In the event that you have to have it in a pot, mix black peat with coconut fiber or river sand in equal parts.

Pruning

It can be pruned throughout the growing season (spring and summer), cutting back those stems that are growing too much, or that look weak. Withered flowers must also be removed.

Dipladenia: potted care

How is it cared for in a pot? Until now we have talked about general care, but when it is planted in a container, we must think that it becomes a living being that depends on us to survive. That's why, we have to make sure it gets enough light, because although it can be in the shade, we do not have to put it in a dark place.

Furthermore, we will have to water it regularly so that the soil does not dry out completely. In fact, it is best to water 3 or 4 times a week in summer, and less the rest of the year. We will do it late in the afternoon so that the substrate remains moist for longer and thus the plant can hydrate without any problem.

It is highly recommended to fertilize it in spring and summer with a universal fertilizer or with guano, if we want to add a natural product. In this way, we will ensure that it grows healthy.

It will be very important that we plant it in a larger pot as long as the roots come out through the holes in it, or if about 3 years have passed since the last transplant. As a substrate we will put coconut fiber (for sale here) or universal substrate (on sale here).

Since we want it to be in a pot, we can think about whether we are interested in having a dipladenia pendant, for example on the balcony or inside the house. It looks very pretty with the stems hanging down, especially when it blooms, so don't hesitate to have it that way if you want to give your home an exotic touch.

Now, regardless of how you want to have it, surely it will not be difficult for you to keep it beautiful.

Dipladenia problems

This is a plant that can be affected by mealybugs, especially the cottony ones and Red spider in summer, which is when temperatures are highest and the environment is driest. The former can be removed with a swab from the ears soaked in soap, but the others will have to be sprayed with Neem oil or potassium soap.

Does not usually have enfermedades, but when it is watered a lot, fungi can harm it.

In cold environments, its leaves will start to turn yellow and then fall. It is necessary to avoid that the temperature of the home falls of the 10ºC.

How does Dipladenia reproduce?

Would you like to have new copies? So I encourage you to sow seeds in spring, directly in pots with substrate composed of black peat and sand or perlite in equal parts. But if you are in a hurry, you can opt for make 10cm cuttings in spring or summer, cleaning them before planting with water and impregnating them with powdered rooting hormones.

How to make it survive the winter

In addition to everything that has been said so far, to survive the winter there are several tricks that can help a lot. The first consists of put glasses or bowls of water around it so that the humidity around you is high. In many houses, especially in winter, the humidity drops a lot, and this can seriously harm some plants. And why not spray directly? Because the leaves could literally suffocate by clogging their pores. Also, you have to clean them from time to time so that they don't have dust.

The next trick is to wrapping your planter in a thermal garden blanket, which is like a white cotton cloth. Plastic is a material that cools or heats up very quickly, so if you wrap the pot with this blanket (be careful, leaving the drainage holes free), it will be as if you were sheltering the roots.

And there is still a third trick: fertilize with Nitrofoska. It is true that it has been said that it has to be paid in spring and summer, but in winter the Nitrofoska will not be a contribution of extra food, but rather will fulfill the same function as a wool jacket that is so warm. Add a tablespoon of coffee, mix it with the soil, and water. So once a month.

Fourth trick (extra): water with warm water. Cold water can freeze the roots, but this will not happen if it is tempered a little earlier.

And up to here the special of the Dipladenia. I hope that with these tips and tricks it will be much easier for you to have one of these beautiful plants at home.