As houseplants grow in popularity for their ability to purify indoor air, the Alice du Pont mandevilla vine stands out for its exceptional oxygen-producing capabilities. This beautiful tropical flowering vine not only enhances spaces with its vibrant blooms and lush foliage but also contributes significantly to oxygen levels through photosynthesis. But exactly how much oxygen does the Alice du Pont mandevilla vine generate? Let’s take a closer look.
Belonging to the Apocynaceae family the Alice du Pont mandevilla vine is native to tropical regions of Central and South America. With its glossy green leaves and abundant trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red and white this twining vine makes an excellent houseplant or outdoor ornamental plant. It thrives in containers, hanging baskets and climbing up supports when grown in USDA hardiness zones 10-11.
Understanding Photosynthesis and Oxygen Production in Plants
To understand the oxygen-producing capabilities of the Alice du Pont mandevilla vine, we first need to explore the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants use energy from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose for growth Oxygen is released as a byproduct of this complex series of chemical reactions that occur in plant chloroplasts.
The amount of oxygen produced depends on factors like the plant’s leaf surface area, growth rate, exposure to light and availability of water and CO2. Generally, faster growing plants with more foliage produce more oxygen.
Estimating the Oxygen Yield of Alice du Pont Mandevilla Vines
While specific measurements may vary, some general estimates can give us an idea of these vines’ oxygen output potential:
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A mature Alice du Pont mandevilla vine can produce around 5-7 milliliters of oxygen per hour per square foot of leaf surface area.
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For a medium-sized vine with approximately 10-15 square feet of leaf coverage, this equates to 50-100 ml of oxygen per hour or 1200-2400 ml (1.2-2.4 liters) of oxygen in a 24-hour period.
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Larger vines with up to 30 square feet of foliage could generate 100-200 ml of oxygen per hour or 2400-4800 ml (2.4-4.8 liters) of oxygen daily.
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During the active growing season, these rates may increase by up to 30% with adequate sunlight, water and CO2 availability.
The Environmental Benefits of Mandevilla’s Oxygen Production
As a robust grower, the Alice du Pont mandevilla vine’s oxygen contributions have meaningful impacts on both indoor and outdoor environments.
Indoors, mandevilla vines can help:
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Purify and freshen stale indoor air.
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Boost oxygen levels in enclosed spaces lacking ventilation.
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Reduce the effects of indoor pollution sources like off-gassing from furnishings.
When grown outdoors, these vines’ high oxygen yields can:
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Increase oxygen content in garden areas, patios and porches.
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Help offset carbon dioxide emissions from urban areas.
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Support local ecosystems by oxygenating the surrounding air and soil.
Maximizing Oxygen Production Through Proper Mandevilla Care
To achieve optimal oxygen release from your Alice du Pont mandevilla vines, provide good care:
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Place vines near sunny windows indoors or sites with at least 6 hours of sun outdoors.
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Maintain consistent soil moisture, watering thoroughly when the top inch becomes dry.
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Use trellises and supports to maximize foliage growth and leaf surface area.
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Prune back overgrown stems and remove dead leaves/flowers to encourage new growth.
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Apply balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the active growing season.
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Monitor for pests like mealybugs and scale which can slow growth.
With its vigorous growth habit and expansive foliage, a healthy Alice du Pont mandevilla vine can make major contributions to oxygen levels in home and garden environments. Estimates indicate these vines can produce up to 2.4-4.8 liters of oxygen daily at their peak! By understanding the oxygen-producing power of this beautiful ornamental plant through photosynthesis, we can better appreciate and nurture its abilities to enhance and purify the air around us.
How to Grow Mandevilla
Indoors, mandevillas need curtain-filtered or bright indirect sunlight. Provide night temperatures of 60 to 65 °F and day temperatures above 70 °F. Plant in a mixture of equal parts peat moss, potting mix and builder’s sand. In spring and summer, feed every two weeks with a fertilizer high in phosphorus such as 10-20-10.
Outdoors, grow mandevillas in partial shade. They need rich, well-drained, sandy soil with humus added. Provide a frame, trellis or stake for support. Pinch young plants to induce bushiness.
Since 45 to 50 °F is the minimum temperature that can be tolerated by mandevilla, plants should be moved indoors for the winter. Before bringing them indoors, examine them carefully for pests. Look under the leaves, in the leaf axils, and in every conceivable nook and cranny for insects and their eggs. Remove any diseased or dead leaves by hand. Insect-infested plants can be doused with a forceful spray of water to dislodge the pests, or you can use insecticidal soaps or other appropriate insecticides labeled for use on your plant. You may have to prune some of the plant to compensate for any root loss.
Move the plants to a lighted location where the temperature is above 45 to 50 °F. Reduce the frequency of watering to coincide with the plants’ rest periods induced by the cooler temperatures and reduced light.
In late winter or early spring before growth begins, prune by removing old, crowded stems and shortening others. Even if mandevilla is pruned almost to the ground, it will bloom the same summer on the new shoots, which develop from the base of the plants.
Mandevilla ‘Alice du Pont’ is a woody, twining evergreen vine. It grows to a height of 20 feet but is much shorter when grown in a container. The leaves are dark green, glossy, oval and 3 to 8 inches long. Clusters of pure pink, flared, trumpet-shaped, 2- to 4- inch flowers appear among the leaves, spring through fall. Even very small plants in 4-inch pots will bloom. This cultivar grows well in hanging baskets. Pinch off tips of new stems to induce dense growth.
Mandevilla ‘Laxa’ or Chilean jasmine (although it is native to Argentina) is a climbing, woody, deciduous vine. It grows to 15 feet. Leaves are opposite, oblong or heart-shaped at the base. They are 2 to 6 inches long, thin and dark green with gray-green undersides. Clustered summer flowers are white, 2 inches across and trumpet-shaped with a powerful gardenia-like fragrance. Provide rich soil. If the plant becomes badly tangled, cut it to the ground in winter. It will bloom on the new growth. Roots are hardy to about 5 °F.
Mandevilla ‘Splendens’ is an evergreen similar to ‘Alice du Pont’, with the same bloom period. The leaves are narrow, pointed and 3 to 8 inches long. The trumpet-shaped flowers are 2 to 4 inches across, pale pink when they open, with rose-pink eyes. As the flowers age, their color deepens to rose. The stems of M. ‘Splendens’ reach 10 to 15 feet in length.
- ‘Red Riding Hood’ has deep red flowers.
- ‘Summer Snow’ has sparkling white 3- to 4- inch flowers against dark glossy foliage.
- ‘Yellow’ has wide, bright yellow flowers. They are lower growing and shrubbier than the species and superb in hanging baskets.
The most common pests are mealybugs, scales, whiteflies and red spider mites.
Document last updated on 2/21 by Joey Williamson.
If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at [email protected] or 1-888-656-9988.
Marjan Kluepfel, Former HGIC Horticulture Information Specialist, Clemson UniversityRobert F. Polomski, PhD, Associate Extension Specialist—Environmental Horticulture/Arboriculture, Clemson University
This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed.
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Alice Dupont Mandevilla
FAQ
How tall do Alice Dupont mandevilla get?
Which is better, mandevilla or dipladenia?
What are some interesting facts about mandevilla?
Does mandevilla make a good houseplant?
Are Mandevilla vines a resurgence?
Mandevilla vines have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and breeding work continues to expand the vine’s varieties. Mandevillas are all about the big, tropical-looking blooms. They come in shades of pink, red, and white, and many shades in between. Now there’s a new color added to the range, a beautiful apricot.
How much sun does a Mandevilla need?
Mandevilla needs 6 to 8 hours of full sun for best flower production. In the hottest regions, it benefits from some shade during the afternoon. When planting outside, select a site with good drainage and rich soil. Amend the planting area with compost or other organic matter to support the blooms.
Is Mandevilla a perennial?
Also, the milky sap it exudes when cut can irritate skin upon contact. While mandevilla is usually grown as an annual because it dies when exposed to near-freezing temperatures, it can be overwintered indoors. It is perennial in the frost-free areas of USDA Hardiness Zones 10–11. Mandevilla is an excellent choice for the garden or patio.