Question
I have a mandevilla plant which was beautiful and healthy all summer, but I live in Illinois and left it outside for to long this fall.  It was dipping down in the 20s at night.  It is in a container.  I pruned it back by about a 1/3 and brought it indoors, in direct sunlight but it is dying, the leaves are all drying up.  Is there anything I can do to save this plant?  Thank you!

Answer
Tina,

Mandevillas are beautiful tropical plants originating in
Brazil. They can be kept indoors over the winter and rebloomed the following summer. During the winter they need to be cut back by 2/3 and be kept in a cool room and allowed to dry out well between small waterings ( a cup or 2 every 3 weeks). You can keep it for a couple of months to see if it sends out new growth but it is a very slim chance that it will. As a tropical plant it should be taken indoors when the temperature starts dropping below 50 degrees at night. Buy another in the spring and remember to take it in much earlier next year.

Darlene