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Mandevilla is a perennial vine from the family Apocynaceae. Growing Mandevilla is a delight because they give summer vibes wherever they are planted.
You would expect such beautiful flowers to need high maintenance but they are surprisingly easy to care for.
If you have tried unsuccessfully before, you are about to discover how to get a Mandevilla to bloom well.
There are hundreds of Mandevilla species but some of the most commonly cultivated ones are Mandevilla sanderi, Mandevilla boliviensis, and Mandevilla laxa.
Commonly Cultivated Mandevilla Species
Mandevilla sanderi
Also called Brazilian jasmine, this variety is a tropical climber that is commonly grown as a houseplant in tropical regions. It prefers moist soil that drains well and appreciates afternoon shade in hot and humid climates.
Indoors, they need bright indirect light, an average room temperature, and high humidity provided by potting soil.
Brazilian jasmine grows in soil with a pH value of 6.6 to 7.5
Mandevilla boliviensis
A native of Bolivia, Mandevilla boliviensis is noted for its five white petals, yellow throat and glossy dark green leaves. It is excellent for trellises and fences.
It does not tolerate cold but requires a sheltered location in full sunlight. It can grow between 3 and 10 feet tall.
Mandevilla laxa.
Mandevilla laxa or Chilean jasmine blooms between late spring and early summer or late summer and early fall. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds because of its scent.
Mandevilla laxa is a strongly fragrant and vigorous, semi-evergreen climber with 3 to 15 large, creamy, funnel-shaped flowers. Its soil pH should be 6.5 to 7.5.
Why Do Mandevilla Plants Not Bloom?
You may find that your Mandevilla plant is not putting out as many flowers as it should. Or that they do not bloom at all.
By spring, Mandevilla should start producing buds that will open, come summer. Sometimes this just doesn’t happen.
There are many reasons why made villas do not bloom. Luckily, there are solutions to these further down in the article.
Reasons why Mandevilla do not bloom:
- Too much shade
- Overwatering Mandevilla
- Poor soil quality
- High nitrogen fertilizer
- Cold weather
- Poor soil drainage
- Wrong timing
1. Too much shade
Mandevilla planted in shade will not bloom or the blooms won’t be vibrant. Mandevilla needs full sun for 6 to 8 hours daily for maximum bloom.
If you have one planted indoors, let it receive strong lighting by placing it on a window sill or bringing it out on the patio.
Blooming will increase once this is corrected.
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2. Over watering Mandevilla
The ideal water needs of Mandevilla flowers are not much. Mandevilla can tolerate a period of drought.
When watering them, aim to make the soil damp but not soggy. This protects the roots from the rot which can happen if the soil is always wet.
Healthy roots will be able to absorb nutrients for the plant’s well-being.
While avoiding overwatering, make sure your Mandevilla have sufficient water.
3. Poor soil quality
Mandevilla is planted in sandy, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is best.
The soil should not be clayey or retain moisture. Soil can also be enhanced by adding fertilizer, peat moss and builders sand.
4. High nitrogen fertilizer
Mandevilla does not do well in soil with high nitrogen content. If yours is planted in such soil, it may not bloom.
To combat this, apply a fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus every 2 or 3 weeks. It should be a water-soluble fertilizer in the proportion of 15-30-15.
Don’t fertilize Mandevilla that have gone dormant and water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Mix according to the manufacturer’s label on the product.
5. Cold weather
Mandevilla is a tropical plant in hot, humid weather. They become withdrawn and dull when the temperature drops to a certain level.
Remember, Mandevillas need heat from the sun to bloom profusely.
6. Poor soil drainage
Mandevillas will not bloom well in soil with poor drainage. This kind of soil is excessively moist.
If you’ve planted your Mandevilla in soil with poor drainage, you can still manage the situation. Cut back on watering because the soil tends to hold water for an extended time.
Allow more time for the soil to dry before watering again.
7. Wrong timing
Mandevilla plants are summer flowers that do not bloom during the winter months due to the shorter days. That is normal. If you’ve brought your plant indoors for the winter, it won’t flower unless it’s placed in a conservatory or under artificial lighting.
But even with additional lighting, the Mandevilla can remain dormant until spring.
How Often Does a Mandevilla Bloom?
How often a Mandevilla blooms depends on the climate in which it is grown. In tropical regions, it blooms all year round and in semi-tropical regions, it begins to bloom at the start of summer and dies off immediately after winter arrives.
Places that experience the four seasons, also bloom from summer to winter before dying.
It is not unusual to see old blooms and new blooms on the same vine, in tropical zones. In these same areas, Mandevilla can undergo 2 or 3 flowering cycles.
How Do You Get a Mandevilla Plant to Bloom?
What good are flowers if they don’t open up so that we can enjoy their beauty? Have you tried in vain to help your Mandevilla flowers bloom nicely?
4 expert methods address how to get a Mandevilla to bloom nicely:
1. Let them get enough sun
2. Water them appropriately
3. Use quality, enhanced soil
4. High phosphorus fertilizer
1. Let them get enough sun
Mandevillas need full sun, meaning 6 to 8 hours of sunshine. Increase their blooms by providing sunlight.
Outdoors, Mandevilla likes full sun in cooler climates and partial shade in areas with very hot climates. Houseplants like bright light, either direct or indirect sunlight.
In the summer heat, the plant does best with some afternoon shade, either indoors or outdoors.
2. Water them appropriately
Water is necessary for any plant’s proper growth and development. Mandevillas are no exception. Water mandevillas to make them perk up and bloom radiantly.
As you water, make sure you are not overdoing it. When you sprinkle, let the soil dry some before giving another watering.
3. Use quality, enhanced soil
The quality of soil used greatly matters when it comes to mandevillas blooming. The soil should not be heavy, or high in nitrogen content.
Mandevilla vines need sandy soil with good drainage that has plenty of organic matter mixed in. High-quality potting soil is a combination of peat moss and sandy soil. They also tolerate slightly alkaline soils.
4. High phosphorus fertilizer
Want to know how to get a Mandevilla to bloom? Feed it.
Fertilize your Mandevilla vine every two weeks during the growing season with an all-purpose fertilizer or a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content than other nutrients, for instance, one that says 15-30-15.
To summarize, if your Mandevilla flowers are not blooming, it is most likely because they lack the proper care conditions to grow effectively. Or it may not be the right season to bloom.
From this piece, reasons your mandevilla is not blooming have been outlined and discussed. You should have also learnt how one factor can influence the other factors.
From this, you can start to figure out where you may need to improve.
How to get a Mandevilla to bloom? Just follow all the steps given and you will see a great improvement in your plant.
