Red Riding Hood Dipladenia with Yellow Leaves

Identification

• Red Riding Hood is a cultivar of the Dipladenia plant, a species that is included in the genus Mandevilla. A tropical, woody vine, Dipladenia can be grown outdoors in more northern locales but must be brought indoors for the winter and treated as a houseplant. Due to the tendency of gardeners to treat this tropical vine in such a manner, the leaves of the plant are likely to suffer from temperature fluctuations, a situation that can lead to it developing yellow leaves.

Temperature

• The Red Riding Hood Dipladenia, along with all species of Mandevilla, demand a minimum temperature of 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If the plant remained outside in the fall and faced temperatures below this, it may have suffered frost damage that injured the leaves and resulted in a yellowing as new growth later commenced. Similarly, if the vine was returned outdoors before the final frost of the spring, the same sort of injury may have occurred.

Sunshine

• When growing indoors, an ideal environment for the plant includes bright, indirect sunlight or rays that are filtered through a curtain or blind. The Red Riding Hood Dipladenia thrives when temperatures exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit and drop no lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit through the night. An inadequate level of sunshine deprives the vine of its ability to conduct proper photosynthesis and maintain the health and vigor of its leaves. Plants grown outside should reside in partial shade.

Environment

• The Dipladenia should be placed in a combination of peat moss and potting mix and treated to a fertilizer with a high level of phosphorus. Proper nutrition and cultural care will help to ensure that the vine does not develop yellow leaves. Outdoor specimens require rich, sandy soil that is well-drained. Red spider mites, whiteflies, mealybugs and scale are among the insects that are attracted to the plant. Severe infestations of those pests could result in a yellowing of leaves.