Hi Chrissy,
You answered your own question. Because it is a tropical plant, it is considered an annual, that’s why you need to bring it indoors for the winter. With a little care, your mandevilla should survive the winter indoors and perk up in spring. Happy indoor gardening!

Hi Lauren
Mandevilla needs 6-8 hours of direct sun to bloom well. If it is in shade it will bloom less.
Make sure you protect the roots with mulch before the cold season comes. Remember it is a tropical plant and a freeze can kill the vine. If a frost is predicted, cover the vine with a blanket. It may drop its leaves from the cold but the roots will survive (depending on how severe the frost was).

Hi Lorna
One freezing winter blast will kill the plant. It sounds like more trouble than its worth. Store the mandevilla in the garage/basement, it should have a better chance of survival.

I have a mandevilla that I winterized last winter and it’s healthy except that it did not bloom for me this summer and it also took all summer for it to grow. I fertilized but still no blooms. I bought a baby plant in the spring and that one took off beautifully.
So, now I need to winterize both plants to a “dormant stage”,but while the plant was in so call dormant stage it developed pale new growth. The weather was still not ready for outdoor exposure. Can you give some tips on how to deal with that issue if it happens again? By the way love this site!

Hi Lidia
The plant will develop some spindly growth if it gets light and too much moisture. If you store it dormant in a cool, dark place then you should not get any growth. Also water once a month – just enough to keep the soil from totally drying out.
Because Mandevillas bloom on new growth, they need to put on good healthy growth early in the season in order to initiate blooming. Some Mandevilla are slow to start when they are rootbound from last years growth. You may need to replant it into a larger container or at least replace half of the existing soil and trim back the roots. In addition, cut back the plant by 1/3-1/2 in Feb/March which will stimulate new healthy growth fit for blooming. Weak, stindly growth will produce less flowers. Provide full sun and fertilze like you have been. Hopefully, this will jumpstart to an earlier bloom.

Hi Michelle
Was the plant exposed to cold temperatures? Is that why the top is turning brown. If so, cut off the browning stems and allow the new growth to grow. If you plan on keeping it as a houseplant, place it in the brightest window in the house. See the article on wintering mandevilla for more information.
Next spring, when you bring the plant outdoors, place it in a sunny location and fertilize it with a well balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) so that the vine puts on healthy new growth which should stimulate flowering.

I have read all the entries of this post, and I thank youvery much for the clear, precise information. I live in southern central Maryland. We were forecast to hit the 40s – 30s last night, so I btought in my two mandevillas. One is in a pot, so I understand what to do. I dug the other one up, and brought it in. My question is what type of soil should I use for the one that was in the ground? It gave beautiful red blooms all spring/summer, but never vinde. It has plush low growth. I’d love for it to survive the winter indoors. They will both live upstairs next to an East window. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Hi Ann
Replant your dug up Mandevilla in a good potting soil mix for houseplants. The outdoor soil will not do. It may drop some of its leaves due to lower light conditions.

Hi Mary
The plastic bag is a good way to treat for bugs but be sure to keep the plant away from sun during that time. I prefer to take them into the garage or outdoors and spray. If there are any insects, a safe insecticidal soap should get rid of the general bugs. Keep an eye on the plant during the winter for “newcomers” such as spider mites or scale. Since the plant is thriving, place it in a sunny winter and enjoy. You don’t need to prune back. As winter progresses, it will slow down growing and blooming. You can always cut it back in early spring to remove spindly growth.

Hi Marcia
You can prune them now or in the spring. Chances are that part of the stems will die back during the winter and will have to be pruned in spring. Cutting the vines back in the fall helps with storing the plant and leaves less surface for bug infestation. Make sure that temperatures do not get lower than 40F. in winter. When stored dormant or in the garage, mandevilla will drop all its leaves-so don’t panic. Your main objective is to keep the roots from freezing and drying out. Cover the plant to protect it from cold when you open the garage door and temepratures drop. For more info see above article “to winterize plant”

Hi Zina
Most likely some insects hitchhicked on your Mandevilla-that is why its a good idea to check your plants before you bring them indoors. When the weather cooperates, take the plant outside and spray it with insecticidal soap to get rid of any unwanted bugs.For more info see http://hortchat.com/info/houseplants-bring-them-inside

I know it’s probably too late, and I didn’t even plan to keep it over winter, but it was such a beautiful plant . . . any help would be appreciated.

Hi Melissa
I don’t think the roots are frozen yet. Bring the plant inside, cut off all the dead stuff and store it in the basement (dormant ) for the winter. It may surprise you and grow next spring. If you want to test the roots. leave the plant inside in a sunny window and see if it sends out new growth.