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| Summer - 2011 |
Not wanting to chance an early frost, last October George and I brought in the seven blooming mandevilla vines, in their planters, lifting them into a garden cart, rolling them into the elevator and setting them on tables in a cool room in the church basement. This is the second year of overwintering. A weekly watering schedule was arranged. Over the months, the vines yellowed and dropped almost all their leaves. They were overtaken by spider mites and last week I noticed a few fat green aphids as well. There were still signs of new green growth.
It was intervention time--either that or toss them all into the compost pile. Today was 40 degrees and sunny. And this is what I did. George helped.
Rolled them out on kitchen carts.
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| In spite of the snow, it was 40 degrees F and sunny. |
Hooked up a hose with nozzle and sprayed the dry leaves off.
Sprayed them with insecticidal soap. Removed dead leaves from soil. Trimmed some of the dead ends. Notice the sweet potato vine tuber that remains.
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| Upped contrast shows the green that remains. |
Finally, poured on some Osmocote and rolled them back in.
They will be taken to the grower's greenhouse by the third week off March where they will enjoy green house conditions and hopefully be treated for any insects that remain. Will they come back to bloom again and be ready for roll out for one more season at the end of May? It would be something of a miracle. The return of new green growth each spring always seems to me to be a bit miraculous
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