Cutting dipladenia: procedure & timing

Proper care of the Dipladenia (also called Mandevilla) also includes regular pruning. We show why, when and how to cut Dipladenia and what to watch out for.

The Mandevilla (Mandevilla) is often called Dipladenia. Many also only know the Sundaville, a popular hybrid variety of the Mandevilla. It originally comes from the tropics and is valued above all for its abundant flowering. If you want to have something from your Dipladenia for many years, you should overwinter the non-frost-tolerant plant and take care of it accordingly. This also includes regular pruning to keep the plant in shape and encourage it to bloom more and more. So, in our article, you'll find out everything you need to know about cutting your Dipladenia.

Why do you have to cut Dipladenia?

If you only want to enjoy the lush flowers of the Mandevilla for one summer, you don't have to use secateurs. But if you want to have something of the beautiful plant for several years, you cannot avoid pruning your Dipladenia regularly. And there are many reasons to cut the Mandevilla: First of all, you should know that commercially available Dipladenia plants have usually been treated with a growth inhibitor so that they do not get too tall grow. However, this subsides over time and the flowering plant begins to sprout and grow to your heart's content, as it pleases. If it then grows over your head, however, it is time to cut it back. Even if there are too many long, unsightly shoots and withered flowers on the plant that disturb you, it is better to use secateurs. Very young Mandevilla plants grow more in height and not in width. If you want to encourage them to grow bushier, you can do so by pruning.

A cut in which the tips of the shoots are cut is called pinching and it causes the plant to grow in width. It also creates new and more flower buds in this way. Even if you have had your Dipladenia for many years and you have the feeling that the flowers are slowly becoming less, a rejuvenating cut can help. Another reason to cut is to prepare for wintering. A cut back heralds the cold season at Dipladenia. And last but not least, a cut is always required when the plant is attacked by diseases or pests.

Reasons for a cut on the Dipladenia:

• Too lush growth: care cut
• Too long shoots, withered flowers: topiary
• Help young plants to grow bushy and new flower buds: pinch them
• Falling bloom: rejuvenating cut
• Preparation for winter: pruning
• Disease or pest infestation

Cutting mandevilla: when and how often?

Of course, it's important to cut the dipladenia at the right time. But we already know that there can be numerous reasons for a cut. Depending on the particular reason, the right cutting time must then be selected. A care cut to keep the plant small is advisable in spring. You can cut off shoots that are too long and withered flowers at any time. The cutting of the shoot tips, the so-called pinching, takes place several times after repotting until you have achieved the desired result. Time for a rejuvenating pruning for a profuse bloom is before budding in March or April. The pruning for overwintering should of course be done in autumn before the plant is cleared. You can always use secateurs to combat pests and diseases.

The right time for pruning Dipladenia:

• Maintenance pruning: In spring
• Topiary: Anytime during flowering
• Pinching: several times after potting
• Rejuvenation pruning: Before sprouting in March / April
• Pruning: In the autumn before wintering
• In the event of disease or pest infestation at any time

Tip: The taper cut should be done as early as possible. The later the cut, the later the bloom.

Here's how to properly cut Dipladenia

The first step in pruning your Mandevilla is choosing the right tool. Blunt secateurs do more harm than good. So before cutting, sharpen your scissors again and put on gloves. The sap that escapes when the Dipladenia is cut is very harmful to the skin.

Now you can start cutting. For a maintenance cut, you can boldly and radically shorten all the shoots by half - you want to cut back the plant because it has become too big for you. The vigorous Mandevilla will grow back to its old splendor soon after the cut. For the maintenance pruning, remove all withered flowers promptly and shorten shoots that are too long as necessary. Pinching is a bit more complicated. The best way to do this is to put on thin disposable gloves in order to have a better fingertip feeling. You don't need scissors, just use your fingers. Now remove the shoot tips on all shoots by breaking them off just below the first pair of leaves. As a result, more side shoots sprout and the plant becomes bushier. This also means that more flower buds are formed.

For a rejuvenation cut, however, you will need the secateurs again. Here all the shoots are cut off so that only two buds remain on the respective shoot. The Mandevilla always blooms on this year's shoots. By pruning it is forced to sprout again and can develop many new flowers. When pruning for the winter, the extent of the pruning measures depends on the respective winter quarters. As a rule of thumb, the darker the winter quarters, the more radical it has to be cut back. Therefore, cut your Dipladenia halfway back before winter for a light winter quarters and leave only a few centimeters of the shoots for a dark winter. If your plant is attacked by pests or diseases, you have no choice but to cut off all infected parts of the plant as quickly as possible.

Overview: How to Properly Cut Dipladenia

• Use sharp secateurs
• put on gloves
• Maintenance pruning: Shorten all shoots by half
• Topiary: Remove flowers promptly, cut off too long shoots as required
• Pinching: Without scissors, break off the shoot with your fingers just below the first pair of leaves
• Rejuvenation cut: Cut back all shoots by half except for 2 buds each
• Cut back: Shorten by a third or a few centimeters, depending on the area
• In the event of disease or pests: Cut off all affected parts of the plant

Maintain Dipladenia after cutting

So that the Dipladenia recovers as quickly as possible after cutting, you should create optimal growth conditions. This means a location that is as bright as possible with temperatures that are not too cold. Regular watering is also part of it, of course. But don't overdo it. Waterlogging is very damaging to the Mandevilla. In spring it is also time for fertilization so that the plant can grow vigorously. You can fertilize with compost or a fertilizer with organic long-term effects. Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer Provides your Dipladenia with all the important nutrients and also protects the environment thanks to its resource-saving production.

Caring for Dipladenia after cutting - summary:

• Favorable lighting conditions
• Temperatures not too cold
• Regular watering
• Fertilize in spring with compost or organic slow-release fertilizer

If you love your Dipladenia, you can get it over the winter unscathed. Everything for Wintering of the Dipladenia can be read here.