Question
QUESTION: We purchased two Mandevilla 10" Trel Vine Flowers.  We are going to plant them in a container and let the vines grow and wrap around the fence.  When the winter time comes how do you care for this plant so it comes back in the spring time again?  Do you cut it down and remove the vines that grew on the fence?  If you cut it down how much etc?  Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You
ANSWER: Where are you located Randy?  (follow-up)

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QUESTION: Outside Philadelphia, PA  Zone 7

Answer
Randy, they are cold sensitive so here's what you need to do; as the nights start to dip into the 40's prune it back to about 12 inches from the top of the pot and stop fertilizing,  start backing off the watering a little too. gradually move it in at night and out during the day in a dappled shady area; after about a week it goes inside for the winter.. Now is the tricky part, you are going to let it level off to maintain it but not encourage any growth; do this by keeping it relatively dry and again, no fertilizer; it will grow somewhat but nothing dramatic; come spring when you begin moving it back outside, gradually,(hardening it off) any growth that developed during the winter will die off and the plant will begin to grow naturally again, this is when you can start liquid fertilizer, half strength at first until it develops fully. When fertilizing, use a bloom booster type soluble with a high middle number. good luck Nick