The Alice du Pont mandevilla vine with its cascades of vibrant pink trumpet blooms, makes a gorgeous addition to many gardens. However there is an optimal time for transplanting these tropical vines to ensure they establish well in their new location. In this article, we will look at when and how to transplant Alice du Pont mandevilla vines successfully.
Overview of Alice du Pont Mandevilla
Before discussing transplanting times, let’s first understand a bit about this plant
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Native to Brazil, the Alice du Pont mandevilla is a twining, evergreen vine.
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It can grow up to 15 feet tall in ideal conditions.
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The vines produce lush green leaves and lovely, rose-pink funnel shaped flowers from spring to fall.
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It thrives in warm humid climates and does best in USDA zones 10-11.
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Alice du Pont mandevilla prefers partially shaded spots protected from intense afternoon sun.
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It requires moist, well-draining soil and regular irrigation in the growing season.
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Frosts can damage and potentially kill the vines, so cold tolerance is low.
Best Time to Transplant Alice du Pont Mandevilla
Keeping its tropical origins and growth habits in mind, the ideal time to transplant Alice du Pont mandevilla is:
Spring After All Frost Risk Has Passed
This is the perfect window to transplant your Alice du Pont mandevilla vines if you live in USDA zones 9-11. Wait until daytime and nighttime temperatures consistently remain above freezing. Soil temperatures should also be warm enough to promote active root growth.
Aim for around 4-6 weeks after the last expected frost date for your area. Transplant on a mild, cloudy day to reduce transplant shock. The vines will quickly establish with the warm, humid conditions of spring.
Summer
You can also safely transplant Alice du Pont mandevilla vines throughout the summer months in zones 9-11. Their active growth period makes summer a suitable time to relocate the plants if needed.
Just pay close attention to watering needs. Newly transplanted vines require more frequent irrigation until their root systems expand into the surrounding soil. Mulch well and provide afternoon shade for added protection.
Fall in Frost-Free Climates
In tropics and frost-free regions, transplanting Alice du Pont mandevilla vines is also possible in fall. But allow at least 8-10 weeks before the rainy or dry season begins for the best establishment. Water frequently after transplanting.
What to Avoid
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Transplanting during peak summer heat – Very high temperatures can shock newly transplanted vines.
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Transplanting in winter or before a cold snap – Colder temperatures, even brief frosts, can severely damage or kill vines before they establish roots to withstand the cold.
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Transplanting into overly wet or dry soil – Extreme moisture levels disrupt new root growth.
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Allowing vines to dry out after transplanting – Regular deep watering is crucial after relocating vines.
How to Transplant Alice du Pont Mandevilla Vines
Follow these important steps when transplanting your Alice du Pont mandevilla vines:
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Prepare the new planting site ahead of time. Dig in organic matter to improve drainage and nutrient levels. Install support structures like trellises.
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Water the vines well the day before transplanting.
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Carefully dig up the vine including the root ball and some surrounding soil.
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Prune back overgrown stems and remove dead foliage to reduce transplant stress.
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Quickly move the vine to its new location. Avoid leaving it exposed to wind or direct sun.
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Dig a hole wider than the root ball in the new site. Set the plant and backfill with native soil.
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Water deeply immediately after planting and 2-3 times per week thereafter.
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Mulch around the vine with 2-3 inches of organic mulch.
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Stake or trellis the vines for support until they re-establish.
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Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly to encourage regrowth.
Troubleshooting Transplant Issues
Here are some potential issues and solutions for transplanted mandevilla vines:
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Wilting, leaf drop – Increase watering frequency, use anti-transpirants, provide shade.
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Minimal new growth – Check roots for damage, replace mulch, fertilize conservatively.
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Pest or disease outbreak – Treat accordingly, improve air circulation and drainage.
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Vines dying back – Possibly due to cold damage if transplanted too early in season.
Final Tips
Transplanting Alice du Pont mandevilla vines properly is key to their health and performance. Follow these best practices:
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Time it for spring or early summer after all danger of frost is past.
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Prepare the new site in advance with ideal growing conditions.
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Water heavily and often after transplanting.
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Mulch and stake vines to reduce stress and prevent uprooting.
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Watch for signs of transplant shock and address them promptly.
With the right timing and care, you can successfully transplant Alice du Pont mandevilla vines to any area of your garden and enjoy their wonderful floral displays for years to come.
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
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