Here is a picture of them...

Brenda

I did some searching on them too Brenda, and I haven't found anything that says that they don't like to be transplanted, so I think it may be a space issue for the size of pots to plant them in for now. If you have the room to plant them into their final large pots and store them, then you could do that. But if storage space for large pots is an issue, as it would be for me, then you could just pot them into a slightly larger pot, if they're root bound, and then plant them into larger pots later on.

Cutting them back, from what I've read, should make them get more bushy. And from the one Canadian thread I read, it seems that they may not do extremely well this summer, but will do much better next summer. Providing of course, that they'll over winter well. And on that subject, some people put theirs down in a cool basement, and others kept them growing on inside as a houseplant. Both good options.

I certainly do hope that they do fairly well this summer, because as you know, I did pick up a red one on friday too. Apparently they love the heat, so that's good thing to know here on the prairies too. I hope mine is scented, as I read that not all varieties are. That would be a definite bonus.

Good luck with them, and take lots of pictures and notes. :0)

Laurie

I have never had a mandevilla vine but have had a friend that has. They really like humidity and heat. Theirs just grew like crazy in the greenhouse all summer. I've always been tempted to buy one but they are usually over the $30 mark here. I've never seen them in small pots.

Shelley

I have been doing a bit of info searching since I have a couple of these little beauties now. On one site they suggested (Like roses) using epsom salt on them in the summer. They actually suggested to scratch the salt into the ground.
Hmmm. I wonder if they would like the alfalfa tea that I make for my roses.

Shelley

Shelley, can you post that link? I haven't found it. Check the greenhouses now for them. They usually raise the price on them, to the $30 mark when the May season starts. They still have fairly small ones for a decent price right now.

Shauna

I can't find the place now. But at Hortchat.com there is a reference to it as well. Also lots of other good info on mandevillas. Just look on the right under Horticulture Info.

They're harder to find in smaller pots. Thanks for the link, Sazzyrose. I've never been there before. Someone is sending me a yellow madevilla. I hope it comes today.