Saturday, October 19, 2019

The last Gerbera of summer, and Mandevilla, too

Tomorrow I will clear the plants from the deck, in recognition of the change of season. This is the first year I've been aware of the possibility of over wintering a Mandevilla, and actually doing it has been the subject of much internal debate.

I've scoured the internet. Almost. I only will bring in the red Mandevilla, and that for the reason that I've had red Mandevillas several times, and this is the first time it not only has bloomed, but has done so prolifically.

I also must repot it, as it was transferred to a hanging basket lined with some moss stuff or the other. I hope I have a pot in the shed! I must think this through tomorrow. I really would like to overwinter the white Mandevilla and have the window, but no stand. We'll see.

Yesterday I had the one year check of my reverse shoulder replacement. I was pronounced far better than the average, and dismissed forever on that score. On my way down the steps yesterday, I stopped to photograph the Mandevilla's and the Gerbera.


Charming, no? The pink Mandevilla made its way across, and seems intent on equaling or besting the white. At the bottom of the steps I stopped to investigate, thinking I had a pot. It seems I do not.


The Gerbera daisy has one last flower coming up. This daisy is red, and I do like it. I've resolved in future to buy only red Gerbera's. And if there is not an extra pot in the shed, I will buy one, rather than sending this new little fellow to bed early in the compost pile. 

33 comments:

  1. I recently bought a hot pink gerbera. It was tired when we purchased it, but if now blooming prolifically.
    I hope you can overwinter the Mandevilla. We all need some colour on the grey days/months.

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  2. I can't see why you can't overwinter that Mandevilla. It will be a friend on cold winter days.

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  3. So glad your reverse shoulder replacement report went well. As for the Mandevilla, I wasn't aware that they could be over-wintered.

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  4. I have two Mandevillas that haven't bloomed all season, i don't know why.

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  5. The Mandevillas are lovely. Being pronounced 'far better than average' ain't too bad, eh? :D

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  6. Do you plant bulbs in your flower pots? Super photos. I've got plant envy. Do you get frosts?

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    1. Yes, I planted bulbs in the pots. We get frosts and then we get a few months of freezing weather and snowfall. I've engaged the fellow to shovel my drive and deck this winter. But come April the weather will be right again.

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  7. Until I read your blog I had never seen or heard of a mandevilla. It sounds so exotic, and looks beautiful too.

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  8. Hari OM
    ...now you have us all sending wishes for the Mandy that it pulls through the season! The Gerb Hero too. &*> Congrats on acing the joint fixings. YAM xx

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  9. Congrats on your shoulder's clean bill of health!

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  10. Why am I not surprised that you were pronounced "far better than the average"? I imagine all that weaving didn't hurt.

    Pretty flowers! I've tried to overwinter outdoor plants, but they didn't get the sun they needed (I expect), and died by January. I hope yours do well.

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  11. Excellent news on the shoulder goodness and the fact that you've been released. Good luck with the over wintering. I actually looked at house plants today, haven't had one in decades. Still thinking, though.

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  12. I overwintered my mandevillas in a south facing window. The window was hot when it was sunny, but at night when it was real cold out, 0 degrees, the mandevilla survived the coldness right up against a single pane of glass. That window doesn't have a storm window on the outside of it. I overwintered them a few times. The last one I overwintered twined itself around the open mini blinds. It had blooms on it all winter.
    Mine went through a bit of leaf drop at first while adjusting to being inside but it kept growing and started blooming again. They had to be watered on a regular basis as They did not go dormant.

    Best of luck with your mandevillas.

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  13. That sure looks like a snake in the pot. I'm sure it
    s too cold but be careful when you start to transplant.

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  14. I like gerbera daisies, especially mass planted in assorted colours. I've never grown any myself, but one of my daughters tried some last summer. They lasted the summer, but barely, because she really isn't the gardening type and keeps forgetting that things need watering. I live too far away to go there everyday just to water a patch of flowers.
    I hope the mandevilla survives the winter to bloom again next spring and summer.

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  15. Those are pretty flowers. I can't believe its been a year since your shoulder surgery! Great for the fantastic report you got!

    betty

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  16. Good as new on the shoulder front and a wise move on the shovelling decision too. Keep yourself safe for more important battles.

    My Black Eye Susie has gone native in the Wrenery. It would be good if the cold doesn’t kill it there as it has given such a magnificent show. My plants love it here in Ludlow.

    LX

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  17. Good news about the reverse shoulder replacement.

    I've never even heard of Mandevillas!

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  18. I think I am an idiot never to have bought a Mandevilla. They are so beautiful. My daughter Alice always have at least one and they are gorgeous. Yours are so satisfying. I hope you have great luck with the overwintering!

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  19. We've never over-wintered a plant. Good luck.

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  20. Red daisies. I am in love already. Even with potted babies, there is a lot of work in managing them. Good on you. And I only have african violets and some weird straggly thing which looks like jade but isn't. :)

    XO
    WWW

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  21. I'm happy to hear about your shoulder! I'm very interested in your effort to overwinter the Mandevilla. Hoping for the best!

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  22. Very pleased about your shoulder.
    I find it interesting that you write about overwintering and repotting, when I just ignore my plants. I don't even water them. I do snip off dead blooms. I'm the worst gardener in the world.

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  23. I had a red gerbera in one of the flower beds (came with the house) that bloomed profusely but the hackberry in the neighbor's yard grew too big and shaded it too much and then the flood. it's gone now.

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  24. Good luck with the Mandevillas. They are worth the effort!

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  25. Happy news about the shoulder! Best of luck with the flowers.

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  26. Good luck with the Mandevilla!

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  27. Putting the 'yard to bed' has a finality to it that leaves a cold spot in your stomach. Winter is coming.

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    1. A neighbor called me Sunday night. She was coming back with a friend and said "Oh, drive down Joanne's street and see her beautiful flower baskets!", and they were gone.

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  28. Just stick the mandevilla in your living room window - cut it back, give it a shot of food and let it be. it will wither a bit, then come back and likely praise your wisdom with flowers. (I've been wintering geraniums for 20 years, including one of Jean's that is probably 40 years old)

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  29. I am also starting to think of overwinter plants. Your mandevilla should do well. Thought of putting both in a single large pot? Might work well.

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  30. I do hope your mandevilla flowers at least once more.
    We've had two really warm days this week, just as we change the clocks for winter, so I've given up worrying what the weather's supposed to be like, and decided just to accept it as it comes.

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