Dipladenia: A Tropical Beauty for Your Garden
Dipladenia is a stunning tropical plant that can add a touch of the exotic to your garden. It’s a close relative of the popular mandevilla vine, but it has a few unique characteristics that make it a great choice for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Dipladenia vs. Mandevilla
While dipladenia and mandevilla are both members of the same family, they have some key differences. Mandevilla is a climbing vine that can reach heights of up to 20 feet, while dipladenia is a bushier plant that typically grows to be around 3-5 feet tall. Dipladenia also has finer leaves and smaller flowers than mandevilla.
Dipladenia Facts
- Growth habit: Dipladenia is a bushier plant with stems that grow down and hang.
- Foliage: Dipladenia leaves are fine and pointed, deeply green and slightly glossy.
- Flowers: Dipladenia flowers are trumpet-shaped and come in a wide range of colors, including pink, white, yellow, and red.
- Pollinator magnet: Dipladenia flowers are a vibrant signal to pollinators, such as hummingbirds and bees.
Growing Dipladenia
Dipladenia is a relatively easy plant to grow, but it does have some specific requirements.
- Temperature: Dipladenia prefers warm temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Water: Water dipladenia frequently in the summer, but let the top few inches of soil dry out before watering again.
- Light: Dipladenia needs bright but indirect sun.
- Soil: Dipladenia prefers well-drained soil.
- Fertilizer: Fertilize dipladenia every three to four weeks during the growing season with a liquid plant food.
Dipladenia Care
Dipladenia is a low-maintenance plant, but there are a few things you can do to keep it looking its best.
- Pinch back: Pinch off gangly growth when the plant is young to force thicker, stronger branches.
- Stake: Dipladenia may need a stake to keep it upright as it matures.
- Overwintering: Bring dipladenia indoors or into a greenhouse for the winter. Suspend fertilizing during the winter months.
Dipladenia as an Indoor Plant
Dipladenia is a great choice for indoor gardeners. It can be grown in a pot or hanging basket and will bloom profusely with proper care.
- Temperature: Keep dipladenia in a warm spot with temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Light: Place dipladenia in a bright but indirect light location.
- Water: Water dipladenia regularly, but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
- Fertilizer: Fertilize dipladenia every three to four weeks during the growing season with a liquid plant food.
Tips for Growing Dipladenia
- Start with a healthy plant: Choose a dipladenia plant that is free of pests and diseases.
- Plant in well-drained soil: Dipladenia does not like to sit in wet soil, so make sure to plant it in a pot or bed with good drainage.
- Water regularly: Dipladenia needs regular watering, especially during the hot summer months.
- Fertilize regularly: Fertilize dipladenia every three to four weeks during the growing season to encourage blooming.
- Pinch back: Pinch off gangly growth to encourage bushier growth.
- Overwinter indoors: Bring dipladenia indoors for the winter if you live in a cold climate.
With a little care, dipladenia will reward you with beautiful flowers and lush foliage for many years to come.
