Question
QUESTION: I have placed my two mandeville plant outside to climb on my fence. One especially is looking like it is wilting or drying up. It gets good morning light then is partially shaded the rest of the day. Temps from 75 to 85 so far this spring. I have kept it consistently moist, but it looks like it is wilting. What should I do? Also will it stand high temps this summer outside?

ANSWER: Hello Jeni,

My immediate thought was that the plant has wilted due to being in the sun as I tried growing one on my balcony up a trellis in the full sun and although it did well at first it gradually wilted and gave up the ghost!  Mind you mine had direct sun until about 2.00p.m. and it was also rather windy.

I can only suggest that you continue to make sure the soil is always moist and try misting it when the sun has passed over.  These plants do like high air humidity.  And as I say to everyone don't forget to feed your plants during the growing season.

I assume that the second plant is doing well?  Perhaps the wilting one has been attacked by insects?  Have a look on the underside of the leaves where they will congregate.  It seems strange that one should be OK and the other wilting.

Good luck,  Diana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The 2nd one now looks bad, do you think they need more shade? I do not see any bugs. This is the 2nd time I have tried to grow them without success. The first was in the ground, these are in pots. The pots are lined in plastic, do you think this is harming the plants
Thanks, I would really like to save them.

Answer
Dear Jeni,

I would move them to a shaded place and see how they respond. I wonder if these are small plants newly purchased?  If so going into sunshine straight away could have been too much of a shock for them.

I am surprised that the pots are lined with plastic - I have never encountered this before.  Did you buy them like this?  There is absolutely no need for a plastic lining.  This plastic will retain water and it could be that the roots are rotting and that is the problem.  Whether they are rotting or not remove the plastic and let the compost almost dry out before you water them again.  

If you have an area where you can put these plants to recuperate in the shade I would definitely do this and when they look stronger you could move them gradually into morning sunshine for a short time.  I know it sounds an awful lot of trouble and is one more thing to remember in a busy life but since you really want to save them, and who wouldn't, they are such pretty plants, then it could be worth it in the long run.  Do let me know how things go in the coming weeks.

Diana

P.S. After sending you this reply earlier today I happened to pick up a magazine and there, on the gardening page, was advice to line ones pots with plastic!  What a co-incidence!  This advice was given so that the pot would retain some moisture so the plant would not dry out but it was emphasised that the plasic must have holes pierced in it to allow proper drainage.  

Perhaps I will try it myself with plants which dry out quickly - one with plastic lining and another identical plant without.  But to be honest I would rather just up the watering during the summer!