Question
I bought 2 red ridinghood mandevilla plants. I live in Tx. I would like to know if I can plant them outdoors and leave the through the winter. Will they come back in the spring? Please give me some advice on planting and caring for them.

Answer
Dear Debbie

Thank you for your question.

Mandevillia are a species of orchid mainly found in clouds forests in Mexico, Central and South America. As these conditions suggest this plant likes a quite damp warm atmosphere, and they are not frost hardy.  If you are likely to get frost in winter in your part of Texas perhaps it would be better to keep your plants in their pots so that you can put them outside in the summer (in a shady place) and take them into a frost free environment in the winter.

Orchids get their nutrients from the air rather than earth, so your mandevillia should be planted into pots of finely shredded bark.  As I mentioned above, in summer give them a shady place, plenty of water and mist them with a fine spray of water every day.  Whilst they are in flower you can also given a specialist orchid feed once or twice a week following the instructions on the container.

In winter water less often and feed perhaps only once every two weeks.

In spring you may 'kick start' growth in your plants by upping the watering and giving them a half strength feed once a week for about 3-4 weeks and then a full strength feed at noted above.

I hope this information helps your mandevillia grow to their full, beautiful potential!