How to Trim Mandevilla Plants

Mandevilla vines provide color either indoors or out. The plants offer spring and summer foliage and flowers, spending the winter in a period of dormancy. Mandevillas cannot tolerate temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, so even outdoor plants must be brought inside before the temperatures plummet in the fall if your area experiences freezing weather. The vines respond well to late-winter pruning to help shape and maintain their size. Some light pruning in the fall is also necessary, especially if you overwinter the plant indoors.

Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Cut out the oldest stems during the plant's dormant period in late winter, using sharp pruning shears. Remove up to a half of these older stems, cutting them off at their base.
- 2
  Trim back the remaining stems to the desired height. Make cuts within ¼ inch of a leaf node, when possible. If the mandevilla is badly overgrown, cut the entire plant back to within 2 to 4 inches of the soil.
- 3
  Prune the mandevilla lightly in the fall before bringing it indoors for winter. Inspect the plant for dead or diseased stems and foliage. Remove these at the base or by cutting them back to the nearest healthy portion of the stem.
- 4
  Inspect the underside of the leaves before bringing the plant in. Pull off leaves that show signs of mildew or disease, as well as those plagued by aphids and other insect pests.

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