Hey texaspinkpixie :) I may have answered this post a little too late...do you still have any of the mandevilla or sunset vine to trade? ...if so I can do a couple of brug cuttings, cassia alata (golden candle bush or candlestick bush are common names) cuttings, pink dogwood cuttings, and purple wisteria cuttings...email me if it sounds like a trade :)...if you're already out or this isn't a good trade for you I understand :)

I think you have made wonderful progress! I like everything you've done so far. Those Confederate jasmines are going to take off. They are really fast growers once they get settled in. It can be really frustrating when people, things, and/or critters mess with our progress. I noticed a cute little rabbit in my yard yesterday. I'm not going to think he's so cute though if he starts nibbling my plants. By the way, I'm a "Gamecock" too! Located in Columbia, SC.

No, 12 watts isnt gonna be enough. The effective footprint of that light is way too small for the plants you have. Its enough for one small plant and even then, it wont grow much. The best (and most expensive) LED lights produce 300 lumens per watt. 12 times that is 3600 lumens. The intensity of the sun in summer is about 100 000 lumens per square meter or 10000 lumens per square foot. Plus the sun illuminates plants top to bottom with the same intensity. This gives you an idea. LED lights have advanced leaps and bounds in the last few years, but are still way overpriced and ineffective for growing when compared to the classic metal halide and high pressure sodium lights. Thats why you never see a greenhouse tomato/cucumber/pepper/ etc grower using LED lights. The long term savings arent worth the high purchase price and weak performance. What you need is a 400 watt metal halide at minimum. I run a 1000w metal halide and a 1000w high pressure sodium light in my basement and grow food all winter long. The metal halide puts out 115000 lumens and the high pressure sodium puts out 140000 lumens, both penetrate canopy up to about an effective distance of 30-32 inches. A real capable grow light will cost you 200$, theres no way around it. Or you can check craigslist for failed cannabis farmers selling their equipment for cheap. Either way, a brand new grow light for 40$ is the first hint that it wont grow things very well. I have extensive experience growing under lights, trust me, anything other than a MH or HPS will only frustrate your efforts. Once you see how plants grow under these lights, youll never stop growing indoors :) Khaled

Hello Maureen. I have a pink mandevilla; it is a lovely plant. It is not fragrant; I'm not sure if any mandevilla have a scent. I grow my plant in a large container and put it outside for the summer. It prefers very good light indoors for the winter with average household temps. It will tend to drop many of its leaves over the winter so you can cut it back quite drastically when you bring it indoors. Make sure you spray it well with insecticidal soap before you bring it inside and watch for aphids and spider mites as they love this plant. Cut back on watering over the winter and do not fertilize until the new growth starts up in the spring. Gradually harden off before putting it back outside; wait until average temps are about 15 C or about 60 F. They need something to climb on such as a small trellis or obelisk. Keep well watered and fertilized once actively growing and place in a sunny warm spot. Good luck!