Caring for Your Dipladenia Plant Through the Winter

Dipladenia, also known as mandevilla, is a popular tropical vine grown for its glossy, evergreen foliage and beautiful trumpet-shaped blooms. However, this plant can’t withstand frost and cold temperatures, which means it requires special care to survive through the winter if you live outside its hardy growing zones.

Properly overwintering your dipladenia will allow you to enjoy its vines and flowers year after year. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best practices for protecting and storing dipladenia plants during the winter months. Follow these tips to ensure your precious dipladenia not only survives the cold but thrives into the next growing season.

Overwintering Options for Dipladenia

There are three main options for overwintering potted dipladenia plants:

Grow as a Houseplant

• Bring pots inside before first frost in fall.
• Place in a sunny south or west facing window.
• Water thoroughly when top inch of soil becomes dry.
• Remove any dead or yellowing leaves.
• Resume fertilizing in late winter.

Cool & Dark Dormancy

• Move to an unheated garage or basement before frost.
• Keep temperatures above freezing but cool, ideally 40-50°F.
• Occasionally water just enough to prevent full drying.
• Prune stems back to around 12 inches.
• Bring back outside in early spring.

Dig Up & Store Bulbs

• Allow foliage to die back after frost.
• Carefully dig up tubers once leaves have died.
• Store in cool, dark place in bag with perlite.
• Replant the tubers in spring after danger of frost has passed.

Growing as a houseplant takes more space but involves less stress on the plant. Cool dormancy requires less effort but the plant may struggle in imperfect conditions. Storing the tubers takes more work but conserves space.

Key Tips for Overwintering Indoors

If overwintering your dipladenia as a houseplant follow these tips

• Check for pests and diseases. Quarantine before bringing inside.
• Prune back long vines and remove large growth to manage size.
• Select a pot that fits available space and has drainage holes.
• Use fresh, sterile indoor potting mix.
• Place in the sunniest window possible, south or southwest exposure.
• Remove any yellow or dropped leaves to prevent disease spread.
• Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil becomes dry.
• Hold off fertilizing until late winter when new growth appears.
• Monitor for pests like whiteflies, aphids, fungus gnats.
• Mist leaves occasionally to increase humidity.
• Keep away from hot/cold drafts.

With proper care, dipladenia will continue actively growing over winter and be ready for transplanting back outside in spring once the danger of frost has passed. Transition it slowly to avoid shock.

Tips for Cool & Dark Dormant Storage

To overwinter dipladenia through dormancy

• Select an unheated indoor area like a garage or basement.
• Before moving the plant, prune stems back to around 12 inches.
• Check thoroughly for pest or disease problems.
• Occasionally water moderately when partly dry.
• Ideal dormancy temperature is 40-50°F – cool but above freezing.
• Keep dormant plants in complete darkness.
• Slowly re-introduce to sunlight and warmer temperatures in early spring.
• Resume normal watering frequency as plant breaks dormancy.
• Transplant back outside after the last frost date.

This method requires less effort but the plant may decline if not monitored properly in dormancy.

Storing Dipladenia Tubers

Here are tips for successfully storing dipladenia tubers over winter:

• Allow plants to die back after first hard fall frost.
• Carefully dig up tubers once all foliage has died.
• Rinse off any remaining soil but don’t damage tubers.
• Discard any soft, rotting, or diseased tubers.
• Allow healthy tubers to cure for 1-2 weeks in a warm, dry spot.
• Place cured tubers in breathable mesh bags with perlite.
• Store bagged tubers in a cool (40-50°F), dark location.
• Periodically check for rotting tubers and remove them.
• In early spring, plant the stored tubers in pots or garden beds.
• Water and fertilize to spur fast regrowth after dormancy.

This method allows you to just store the tubers over winter, not the whole plant. Take care not to harm tubers when digging or cleaning them.

General Winter Care Tips

Here are some key tips to remember:

• Protect from frost and freezing temps which will kill plants.
• Prune back overgrown plants before storage.
• Check for pests and diseases before bringing plants indoors.
• Reduce watering frequency but don’t allow complete drying.
• Stop fertilizing and limit repotting when dormant.
• Provide bright light for indoor care; keep dormant plants in total darkness.
• Slowly transition dormant plants into sunlight and normal care in spring.
• Use fresh, sterile potting mix and containers when repotting or moving outside.

Carefully following these guidelines will help ensure your dipladenia thrives year after year even through winter. A little extra care goes a long way!

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Here are some common problems and how to address them:

Excessive leaf drop – Some leaf loss is normal but excessive dropping can indicate pests, overwatering, or other stressors.

Failure to thrive – If the plant declines despite proper care, it likely indicates tuber rot or other serious issues. Discard any plants that fail to recover.

Tuber rot – Dark, softened tubers indicate rot. Immediately remove and discard affected tubers to prevent spread.

Pests – Most common are aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and whitefly. Isolate and treat any infested plants before bringing them indoors.

Mold or mildew – Can occur in cool, humid conditions. Improve air circulation and treat with neem oil if severe.

Catch and resolve any issues early. Discard plants that fail to recover to prevent spread of diseases.

Key Takeaways for Overwintering Dipladenia

• Dipladenia can overwinter by growing indoors, dormancy, or tuber storage.
• Prune, check for pests, use fresh mix/pots when potting up.
• Reduce watering but don’t allow complete drying.
• Ideal dormancy temperature is 40-50°F.
• Provide bright light indoors; keep dormant plants in total darkness.
• Watch for leaf drop, failure to thrive, tuber rot, and pests.
• Slowly transition dormant plants into active growth in spring.

With proper winter care, your dipladenia will return healthy and vigorous, ready for another spectacular season of blooms. Be sure to choose the best overwintering method for your needs and provide attentive care throughout winter. Do that and your beloved dipladenia will continue thriving winter after winter!