Dipladenia is a tropical vine popularly known for its brilliant variety of summer colors ranging from white, pink, and bright red. It is a beautiful plant with flowers shaped like trumpets that bloom from the summer to autumn, making it a perfect decor for pavements, sit-outs, shades, rooms, and other indoor spaces. It can be grown in beds, containers, and other outdoor areas.
Dipladenia is mainly found in Central America, Mexico, South America, South Western United States, and the West Indies. Dipladenia’s drought-resistant nature makes it easy to grow even in hot summer seasons. Its finer and pink pointed flowers blossoming in the summer and autumn fall make a fantastic view for your outdoor and outdoor spaces.
How to Grow Dipladenia Plant
Dipladenia plants can be grown in outdoor and indoor spaces. You can grow Dipladenia Plant in a pot as well. Despite its easy planting schedule, the Dipladenia plant has its peculiar planting method whether you want to pot it, grow it outdoors, or indoors. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to grow your Dipladenia plant.
Harvest Your Dipladenia Stem
The Dipladenia plant can be grown through the stem. Cut off 4 to 6 inches of the stem from a parent plant. Harvesting only the just-spriting and fresh part of the stem is advisable. Avoid older parts of the branch which look like wood.
Use A Rooting Hormone
After severing off the fresh part of a parent Dipladenia plant for replanting, dip it in a rooting hormone. The rooting hormone speeds up the growth and germination of the stem as it enables it to generate roots quickly. The rooting hormone should be used in the pot you intend to grow your Dipladenia plant.
Use A Well Drained Pot With Loamy Or Sandy Soil
Your Dipladenia pot should not be well drained to prevent excessive moisture, resulting in root rot. Cut out holes on the bottom of the pot to aid draining while the loamy and sandy soil remains less moisture. Dip the cut stem into the pool and leave for some weeks for it to generate roots. The plant will start growing after following the above process.
How To Grow Our Dipladenia Plant Through Layering
Layering is another peculiar method you can take to grow your Dipladenia plant. Layering is a novelty method of increasing your Dipladenia plant, allowing the newly developed plant to feed on essential plant nutrients through the parent plant. To use the layering method, follow the guidelines below
- Don’t cut out the stem totally from the parent plant. Let it still be attached to the parent plant, but take a slight knife cut into it.
- Twist the cut stem until it bends and exposes the crack very well. Apply a rooting hormone and bury the cut area under soil or pot close to the original plant.
- Ensure the notched stem is firmly in its place. You can use a stone to support it by keeping it under the soil.
- After some weeks, the new plant must have generated roots, and the new Dipladenia plant is ready.
- You can now detach it from the parent plant
Note: Layering requires extreme care. Don’t allow the notched stem to disconnect from the parent plant throughout the process.
How to Grow Your Dipladenia Plant on a Bed
Apart from potting your Dipladenia plant, it can also be planted on a bed. However, growing the plant on a bed differs from potting it for indoor and ornamental purposes. You have to take some peculiar measures as outlined below
- Prepare the bed at a location well exposed to sunlight. The Dipladenia plant needs good exposure to sunlight to grow.
- Till the soil to prepare the beds and help lose entangling roots, stems, rocks, and stumps to allow a good soul aeration.
- Remove all the debris, stumps, and sticks that may hamper rapid growth and generation of the roots when the stems are dipped into the beds.
- Gather dead leaves, decaying stems, and other organic substances and use them as compost manure on the beds. This aids aeration and also helps drain the soil.
- Dig planting holes for your Dipladenia seedlings and ensure that they are twice the size of the root balls of your seedlings.
- Construct trellis for orderly growth and germination of the Dipladenia seedlings when it finally begins to grow flowers.
- The holes should not be too deep to restrict the young seedling from accessing sunlight and must not be too shallow to expose to extreme summer sun.
- Let the holes be at least fifteen inches away from each other and twelve inches from the trellis to aid the growth of the flowers.
- Fill the planting holes with water and allow them to dry off before inserting the seedlings. This helps keep the soil moist but not too wet to support the seedlings.
- Position the seedling at an average depth, not too deep or too shallow, and cover up the hole with the dug-out sand.
- Water the plant well at this stage. When it grows, you can reduce the watering to an occasional routine only done when the soil is dry to the touch.
How To Care For Your Dipladenia Plant
Just like other plants, your Dipladenia plant needs proper attention and care to enable it to grow and blossom. Unlike other plant species, your Dipladenia plant is not demanding regarding routines. It is drought resistant and can cling to life in adverse conditions.
However, certain care and maintenance routines are still necessary. Follow the steps below to provide a good breeding environment for your Dipladenia plant.
Apply Fertilisers
You can apply fertilizer to your Dipladenia plant to expedite growth and trigger bloom. However, you have to be cautious when applying fertilizer. Observe the label on the plant after purchase. If it shows slow-release, you have to use the fertilizer later, not at the early stages of the plant. It is also advisable not to apply excessive fertilizer because it will hamper the plant’s flowering. Fertilizing once every year is recommended.
Transplant Your Dipladenia Plant Annually
The Dipladenia plant is accustomed to a potted environment and can grow well there. However, transplanting makes it better, keeping it in the best shape.
Transplanting should be done with utmost care. Water the plant hours before transplanting to help loosen the soil. This makes it easy to preserve the roots and prevent breakage during the process.
Temperature Checks
Dipladenia plants grow and blossom in the summer. Expose your Dipladenia plants to good sunlight. If you keep the plant indoors, occasionally bring it outside to expose it to sunlight. Though the plant is resistant to drought, excessive exposure to high temperatures can be damaging.
Watering
Your Dipladenia plant needs watering, although excessive watering should be avoided. After first watering, allow the soil to dry off before watering again.
Pruning
Your young plant needs intense running and care. Gangly growing parts can twist the growth and overall health of the plant. Pinch them off and use a stake to support the plant.
Can Dipladenia Plants Survive Indoors?
Dipladenia plants can survive indoor breeding conditions, but they should be regularly exposed to sunlight by being brought outside.
What Is The Lifespan Of Dipladenia Plants?
Dipladenia Plants are perennial plants. The leaves are always ever-green all year, but regular care routines should be followed to keep the plant lively.
Do Dipladenia Plants Grow Fast?
The Dipladenia plant does not grow fast. However, good breeding conditions can trigger a faster growth rate and allow the plant to bloom.