The Alice du Pont mandevilla vine produces stunning blooms in shades of bright pink throughout the warm season. With proper harvesting, you can enjoy these gorgeous flowers as cut flowers to display indoors. Knowing when and how to harvest the vines is key to getting the most out of your Alice du Pont mandevillas.
When to Harvest Alice du Pont Mandevilla Vines
Timing is everything when it comes to harvesting Alice du Pont mandevilla vines. Here are some tips on identifying when it’s time:
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Wait until the vines have become established. It’s best not to harvest from new, young vines. Mature established vines will produce more blooms.
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Look for fully open flowers. Harvest blooms that have fully opened rather than buds or partially open flowers. The blooms will last longer as cut flowers.
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Harvest in the morning. Pick flowers in the morning when they are full of water rather than later in the day when they may start to wilt.
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Choose blooms before pollination. If possible, harvest flowers before bees have pollinated them. This prevents the energy from going into seed production rather than additional blooms.
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Deadhead spent blooms. Be sure to regularly deadhead spent flowers to encourage reblooming. New flower buds will form where old blooms are removed.
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Harvest weekly. Alice du Pont mandevilla vines bloom continuously when deadheaded. Plan to harvest on a weekly basis for a steady supply of cut flowers.
How to Cut Alice du Pont Mandevilla Vines
When harvesting Alice du Pont mandevilla vines, use proper cutting techniques to avoid damaging the plant:
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Use clean, sharp pruners or scissors. Dull tools can crush rather than cut the stems.
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Identify lateral shoots to cut. Look for new shoots branching off the main vines rather than cutting the tip of the vine.
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Make an angled cut right above a leaf node. This angled cut will help the vine continue growing rather than cutting it back too far.
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Cut 6-10 inch stems. Longer stems allow more flexibility for arranging in vases.
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Remove any leaves that would sit in water. Leaves decaying in the water shorten the life of the cut blooms.
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Immediately place cut stems in water. Get cut blooms into a vase of water right away to prevent air embolisms.
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Use a cut flower preservative. This provides nutrients and prevents bacterial growth in the water.
Caring for Alice du Pont Mandevillas After Harvesting
Proper aftercare of your Alice du Pont mandevilla vines ensures healthy, continual blooming:
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Avoid overharvesting. Never remove more than 1/3 of the plant when cutting blooms.
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Prune lightly after harvesting. Prune back any damaged stems and shape the vines.
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Water thoroughly after cutting. Replace any moisture lost through harvested stems.
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Fertilize regularly. Apply a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.
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Check for pests/disease. Watch for common issues like spider mites, mealybugs, and powdery mildew.
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Provide support. Use a trellis to support new growth after cutting back vines.
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Protect from cold. Bring potted vines indoors if overnight temps drop below 50°F.
Proper harvesting techniques maximize the blooms you obtain from Alice du Pont mandevilla vines without harming the plant. With the right care, you can enjoy gorgeous pink blossoms as cut flowers from spring through fall. Just be sure to harvest at the right time and using the proper methods.
Nonstop blooms make Mandevilla unbeatable
By Norman Winter MSU Horticulturist Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
My neighbor down the street already has everyone gawking with a spectacular Mandevilla on her mailbox. Its been that way for a few weeks, yielding dozens of blooms every day.
Many gardeners shop for plants that will bloom all summer and right up until fall. Thats a pretty tall order to fill considering our extreme summer climate, but at the top of that list has to be the hybrid Mandevilla Alice du Pont.
The Mandevilla is from Brazil, but at the garden center you will get the feeling it is one of the locals. It is related to the Allamanda vine with yellow, bell-shaped flowers and to plumeria, the flowers that Hawaiian leis are made of.
Alice du Pont has large, pink, bell-shaped flowers produced on a vigorous vine. The dark, glossy leaves have a leathery feeling.
As with almost every other plant I write about, it needs well-drained soil to survive. For best flowering, you will want your Mandevilla to receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day. Full sunlight is better.
Since it is such a vigorous vine and flower producer, it needs small doses of fertilizer every two to three weeks. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Be sure to maintain moisture during the hot, dry times of the summer. A prolonged period without water may prove fatal to the plant.
I have even seen Mandevilla planted in a large basket hanging on a long chain at least two stories high. The Mandevilla was growing up the 6- or 7-foot-long chain, and you really couldnt see the chain for the leaves and the flowers. A tri-color ornamental sweet potato flowing out of the basket in all directions helped set off the Mandevilla. One of the three colors was the same pink as the Mandevilla.
A couple of years ago I saw a giant, iridescent blue-flowered clematis right next to the Mandevilla. This mixture of Southern perennial and Brazilian tropical was bold and spectacular.
If you have lattice structures around the house, the Mandevilla is one plant that is a must. Its ability to climb and bloom until fall makes it a winner. Because it is a tropical from Brazil, gardeners on the Coast — probably south of I-10 — can get it to establish permanently. The rest of us will have to either treat it as an annual or give it winter protection.
Before bringing it indoors, cut off all growth to make it the desired shape. It will not bloom indoors unless it is in a sunroom. Our goal is simply to hold the plant until the next planting season.
Another method, and probably the easiest for most of us, is to cut it back to about 6 inches and provide as bright a light as possible and minimal water. Do not fertilize during this time. As the plant grows, keep it pinched back to leaf axis so it will develop a bushy habit.
In the spring, re-pot or plant in the landscape and resume a fertilization program. The Mandevilla is a hot buy right now, so take advantage of the season.
Alice Dupont Mandevilla
FAQ
How far back should I cut my mandevilla?
How do you keep mandevilla blooming?
Can mandevilla be grown from cuttings?
Do mandevillas come back every year?
How to propagate Mandevilla?
Mandevilla is a popular flowering vine that is known for its lush foliage and vibrant blooms. It is a relatively easy plant to grow, and it can be propagated in a variety of ways. In this article, we will discuss how to propagate Mandevilla from stem cuttings, root cuttings, and leaf cuttings.
How long does a Mandevilla plant take to grow?
The cutting will root in about 4-6 weeks. Once the cutting has rooted, you can transplant it into a larger pot. Mandevilla plants can be propagated by stem cuttings, root cuttings, air layering, or grafting. Stem cuttings are the most common method of propagating Mandevilla plants.
How do you grow a Mandevilla plant?
1. Take a 6- to 8-inch stem cutting from a healthy Mandevilla plant. Make the cut just below a node. 2. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. 3. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone. 4. Plant the cutting in the pot of potting soil. 5. Water the cutting well. 6. Place the pot in a warm, sunny location.
How do you air layer a Mandevilla plant?
Air layering is a method of propagating Mandevilla plants that does not require you to take cuttings. To air layer a Mandevilla plant, follow these steps: 1. Choose a healthy stem that is at least 6 inches long. 2. Make a 1-inch cut in the stem, just below a leaf node. 3. Remove the bark from around the cut stem.