Experience the Suntory Difference! ✓ Revolutionary genetics ✓ Widest range of colors and forms ✓ Superb disease resistance Crimson, Giant Crimson, Giant White and Giant Pink – 2012 Prairie Star Winners , Kansas State University Giant Crimson and Giant White – 2012 Best Vines , Dallas Arboretum Pretty Deep Red – 2013 Favorite New Flowering Plant , TPIE
son. These plants are uniquely posi- tioned for quart pots and will finish in 14 weeks. Plant in masses in beds, containers and baskets. No trellises are needed for support. General Culture Mandevillas are long-day plants. Buds are initiated with 10-11 hour days for the Pretty type and the Originals. The Giant group will flower with 12-hour days. Varieties in each group vary depending on the color. Ideal growing temperature is 65-75˚F the first two to three weeks after potting. Keep plants on the dry side to encourage roots to grow out of the plug quickly. Temperature can then be lowered to 65-70˚F. Lower temperatures can be used, but plants will take longer. Initial potting should take place in a 4-to 5-inch pot. Growing media should have a pH between 5.0 and 5.5. Depending on the time of year, three to four weeks after pot- ting, the leading
shoot will begin to grow quickly. The plant will then require a pinch to encourage a bushy habit. Two types of pinches can be carried out: Method 1 – This type of pinch is a soft pinch, where you will leave at least four pairs of leaves and get fewer breaks and take these up for training. Pinching is done higher. Method 2 – This method is for short, compact
plants. Regular pinching is required once the desired height has been achieved. This will encourage a bushy and dense plant for a nice finish and earlier sale. Watering Watering is critical and a dry regime is more suited than a wet one, where plants can become prone to root diseases. Too dry and there will be a problem with nutrient uptake. It is best to water lightly and often. The best way to control growth is with
water retention, especially with the white-colored varieties. Pests & Diseases Monitor for whiteflies, western flower thrips, aphids, red spider mites, fungus gnats, shore flies and mealy bugs. Diseases to prevent are Botrytis, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Cylindrocarpen (root rot), Cercospora (leaf spot) and Colletroti- chum (leaf spot).
Helpful Hints from T. Jay Higgins Sun-Fire Nurseries, Sarasota, Florida
Sun Parasol offers the most variety of colors and types in mandevillas and the only true reds on the market. The Pretty varieties are the most unique because
they combine dipladenia characteristics (smaller leaf and flower) with a mandevilla growth habit (aggressive climber). Sun Parasols have more disease and pest resistance than the traditional ‘Alice Dupont’ mandevilla, along with a variety of colors and types to choose from. The amount of blooms Sun Parasol produces gives a “wow” factor. Sun Parasol can be used in various pot sizes, baskets and as a combination. The Originals have a bush habit and are ideal for 1-3 gallon bushes and any size hanging basket. The Giants are the true mandevilla and ideal to be grown on a trellis or used in hanging baskets. The Pretties are the most unique and ideal for a trellis or hanging basket. They have smaller flowers, but more flowers, and are very aggressive climbers. The biggest tip with mandevilla is choosing the right soil mix and location. They like a well- draining soil mix. They love the sun but don’t like to be wet. For the consumer: make sure you plant in a sunny location and not in a low spot or place where a gutter may drain. They can be kept in pots on the patio or planted into the ground.
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