How to Fertilize Mandevilla Plants?

Plants & Flowers
Mandevilla Fertilizer

Many people who grow Mandevilla vines want to know about the proper fertilizing routine. What do these beautiful vines need to thrive? Fertilizing Mandevilla plants is not difficult but you need to provide them with all the nutrients they need. This is the only way to make your Mandevilla vine bloom.

Mandevilla Flowering

Mandevilla vines are known for their lush, beautiful flowers. These plants belong to the Periwinkle family of sub-tropical flowering vines and bushes. They need warm temperatures to thrive and produce flowers.

In the US, Mandevillas can grow outdoors in the hardiness zones 9 to 11. However, they cannot grow outside in colder zones, so this is something to keep in mind. You need to know how to care for them in winter and how to provide adequate fertilizing routine to make them produce flowers and bloom the best they can.

Providing proper feeding to your Mandevilla will make it grow healthy and produce gorgeous blooms. Keep in mind that it's not enough to simply fertilize - you need to understand the needs of your plant and to give it proper nutrients. This is why it's crucial to choose proper fertilizer and to apply it adequately.

Good fertilizer will also ensure that your Mandevilla grows healthy into the next year. It is therefore important to follow fertilizer guidelines carefully and to give your Mandevilla vine just what it needs.

When to Fertilize Mandevillas?

Mandevillas are dormant in winter so you should never fertilize them during this period of time. You should fertilize your vine during its growing season, which is spring and summer. It is important to give fertilizer to your Mandevilla every two weeks during spring and summer.

It is important to stop fertilizing sometime in the fall, when the weather gets cold and your plant becomes dormant. If you continue applying fertilizer in winter it will make your plant develop new growth, which can be harmed by the cold.

Fertilizing should always follow the increased watering. If your Mandevilla was left indoors during winter you need to introduce it to the sunlight and outdoor conditions before you start fertilizing. Give your vine a chance to acclimate before you introduce fertilizer. Also, make sure that the frost has passed before you move your Mandevilla plant outdoors.

You may take your Mandevilla outside around March (in warmer zones) or April (in cooler zones). If you live in a very cold climate, you may even wait until May to take it outside.

You should start fertilizing in May. Young plants have a bit higher nitrogen ratio so you need to use a Mandevilla fertilizer on them to promote the growth of foliage. Feed your Mandevillas for two weeks and gradually move to balanced food that is intended to promote buds and flowering.

If you have potted Mandevillas, make sure to always use liquid fertilizer. After fertilizing, water your plant fully so the fertilizer can get to the roots and prevent them to burn.

On ground vines, use granulated time-release fertilizer. If you use this one you can apply fertilizer just once per month because the time-release fertilizers work slowly and release nutrients over longer period of time.

What Type of Fertilizer to Use?

Mandevillas need balanced fertilizer that will promote the growth of the plant and make it bloom. They respond well to diluted food you can add to their irrigation water two times per month.

Mandevilla plants benefit from 20-20-20 fertilizer that is also good for many other plant types. It's advisable to use an organic fertilizer to help protect the environment.

If you wish to promote blooms, give your Mandevilla vine high phosphorus food every 2 to 3 weeks in the beginning of the flowering season. Phosphorus is great for promoting blooming and can help your vine flower.

If you are unsure about the phosphorus content, look at the formula. The middle number refers to phosphorus. Make sure that there is high phosphorus content in the formula. However, make sure not to go overboard - this can burn your plant.

Also, make sure to go back to more balanced fertilizer hallway through the summer. This is the best way to keep your Mandevilla plant strong and healthy.

Photo credit: Fred Ortlip

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