Dipladenia Shock Pink (gpman 1105-10-b)

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Apocynaceae

Order

Gentianales

Genus

Mandevilla

Species

sanders

Description

An ornamental evergreen perennial herbaceous plant with a climbing or drooping habit, depending on the variety, which can also be distinguished by the height attained as well as by the size and hue of its flowers with a wide range of colours. In recent years, it has undergone strong commercial development as a species used to add elegance and colour to hanging pots, flowerbeds or planters; it also tolerates climates with hot, dry summers, ensuring that it is well watered and regularly fertilised for optimal flowering.

Varietal description

Very floriferous plant suitable for covering balconies and flowerbeds, colonnades, from mid-spring through to summer. Very hardy plant ideal for warm, sunny climates.

curiosity and special features

The generic term Mandevilla was given by the botanist J. Lindley in the 18th century as a tribute to the British ambassador to Argentina H. J. Mandeville while the specific epithet sanderi refers to H. F. Conrad Sander, a 19th century British horticulturist and collector, who brought the plant from Brazil. The genus Mandevilla now includes species that were once classified as Dipladenia.

The term Dipladenia, the name by which Mandevilla is often identified, derives from the Greek and means double gland in relation to the presence of two glands at the base of the flower's ovary.

Origin and Diffusion

Native to the tropical forests of Brazil, where it can reach up to 10 metres in height, it was introduced to Europe at the end of the 19th century; in recent years it has attracted a lot of interest, also thanks to new varieties introduced to the market.

Flower size

The flower is medium in size, clustered in an elegant, sinuous inflorescence.

Leaf

Leafs have lamina Obovata.

Flowering period

The long flowering period lasts from mid-spring to late summer for between 90 and 200 days, bringing colour and elegance to your green spaces for a long time, even in composition with other ornamentals.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence compound corymb.

Leaf color

Solid colour shades, in perfect colour harmony with the inflorescences.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.3 to 2 m, depending on the growing conditions.

Lifespan

Perennial plant.

Suggested planting locations

Its habit of growth and spectacular blooms make it ideal for decorating a wide range of spaces and environments such as balconies, outdoor tubs, borders, hanging baskets, planters.

Stem/stem

The stem is herbaceous, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower has a simple, medium-sized form with a funnel-shaped corolla and single-coloured petals. It is arranged in compound corymbal inflorescences of medium size. It flowers from mid-spring to late summer, with a flowering period of between 90 and 200 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

It expresses vigorous growth, ideal for creating focal points in your green spaces.

Plant habit

The recurring habit of growth makes the final effect very interesting from an aesthetic and decorative point of view, both on its own and in combination with other flower species in flower beds or other settings.

branching

The abundant branching gives the plant a well-tended appearance, rich in leaves and flowers.

pH

Prefers a soil or substrate pH between 5.0 and 6.0. Avoid the pH rising above 6.8-7.0 as yellowing and deficiencies may occur.

soil preparation

For varieties that can also be grown in beds, before transplanting in spring, carry out light digging to remove any weeds and bulky stones, then continue by burying organic or slow-release chemical fertiliser and breaking up the coarser clods to obtain softer soil and improve fertiliser distribution. It is advisable to bury sand if the soil is too heavy and poorly draining. Finally, add professional-quality topsoil to a height of about 5/10 cm and carefully level it out.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

sun exposure

It expresses best vegetative growth and flowering results when exposed in half shade, full sun.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 10 and 25 °C; it adapts well to hot summer climates. The biological temperature is between 1 and 40 °C, a very wide temperature range where the plant can survive and then resume normal development when the ideal temperatures are restored.

Use

Appreciated by growers and hobbyists for use in

Ornamental outdoor use

Hardiness

A variety with average rusticity, it adapts to soil and climate situations that are not always favourable for other ornamental species.

Soil/medium

It offers best growth results in peaty, well-draining soil; for use in trays, baskets and planters, a spring plant substrate containing peat and perlite is recommended.

Maintenance

Varieties whose cultivation is fairly easy, requiring a medium level of management effort.

cultivation tips

Here are one or more specific cultivation tips for best growth and flowering results:

With little light, plants do not flower

Composition

Depending on the variety chosen, it is possible to achieve spectacular results with other ornamental flowering or decorative foliage grasses such as Bidens ferulifolium, Canna indica, Ipomea x hybrida, Lantana camara, Lantana sellowiana, Senecio cineraria, Plectranthus coleoides . Adopt a suitable planting pattern by arranging each individual plant in relation to its height and developed habit.

planting

For bed planting, an average density of 3 plants per square metre is recommended in order to ensure proper development of each specimen.

Be sure to prepare the soil so that it is soft and well-draining and water immediately after planting, and for some climbing varieties it is useful to tie them to trellises or espaliers with raffia or twine.

Reproduction/Propagation

It can be propagated by apical or node cuttings.

Irrigation

Use rainwater, or alternatively low-lime aqueduct water, either manually or by irrigation. When transplanting/re-potting, water the soil or substrate well, assisting the seedling to allow it to settle properly in its new site without causing root asphyxia by over-watering. After proper planting, water frequently enough to keep the soil or substrate slightly moist at all times, preventing waterlogging with subsequent root rot and plant death, while at the same time avoiding dry spells that cause buds to fall off. Irrigation must be localised to the foot of the plant, we suggest not watering the aerial part from above so as not to incur the development of phytopathologies, also do not irrigate during the hottest hours of the day.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Fertilization

Before transplanting into a flower bed, carry out a basic fertilisation by burying organic or slow-release chemical fertiliser. After proper and complete establishment in the new planting site, during the spring-summer period, regularly apply to the soil or substrate near the foot of the plant a specific fertiliser for ornamental plants to be distributed in liquid form, i.e. diluted in the irrigation water, without exceeding the frequency and doses applied.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Edibility for humans

Non-edible.

advise 1

Prefer an east, south-east, west exposure. If exposed to the north with little light, the plant tends to vegetate and produce few flowers. In order to obtain a plant with abundant and long-lasting flowering, it is necessary to fertilise regularly.