Mandevillas from roots???

I live in z-7a. Maryland. YES! We can have a real winter---maybe down to the upper teens or low 20's.

This past Spring I planted two new Mandevillas. Bought them in 8" pots....
Of course--they grew and grew and bloomed on forever.

We have now had frost--so today I decided to cut them back and dig them up.
I was ready to just "can" them--but when i dug them up, I saw all these fleshy roots
which looked a lot like Day Lillie's roots.
Made me wonder if I could, possibly. save these in a dried up--dormant state in my basement
like Cannas or Dahlias for next year. Yes? No?

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome.

Here are the roots as I dug them up. Looks promising to me.....

Gita

I am not an expert, but if I were you, I would save those. I have saved a lot of things like that with bare roots, just by keeping in a brown paper bag with a bit of dried peat. Where there is nothing to lose by trying, and a lot to gain, then by all means Try!( and keep trying?) I currently have mine inside in the basement, but it is still growing.

Gita, I had the same situation last fall - placed the 'extra' roots in a bucket in the greenhouse - nothing has happened - no shoots, no signs that anything will grow from them. You might consider posting your question to the folks on the PROGAGATION forum and see what they say.

I asked this same question on another forum and was told that 'no' - these roots will not grow a new plant. Since they are still in the greenhouse, I guess I'm not convinced! LOL

I just read an article on starting perennials and shrubs from root cuttings. It was in Fine Gardenings "The Autumn Garden" magazine. I have already passed it on or I would review but as I recall, you take the root cuttings, remembering the direction the root was growing in, and place them in damp sand for a while. Sorry I didn't pay closer attention but perhaps you can find the mag or maybe even the article on FG's website.

Thank you all for trying to help....
These roots look so much like Day Lily roots! I just dug up clumps of them and divided them...

Mostly what I am curious about on the mandevilla roots is just how big a root-section
it would take to start a new plant????? Seems the roots would divide????

Thanks again--Gita

I found the article I mentioned.

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/grow-more-plants-with-root-cuttings.aspx

This sounds interesting but space consuming. I so need a GH. LOL

Thanks, ardesia.

I printed it out. Will take to work and read it.....I have time there....

Gita

There are at least 100 species of Mandevilla and they grow from a rhizome (RYE-some) . The definition of a rhizome is a stem that runs either along or just beneath the surface of the soil. To explain better requires anyone understand the true definition of a stem.

A stem is not the support of a leaf, a stem is the base or central axis and main support of a plant normally divided into nodes and internodes. The nodes of above ground stems often produce a leaf in the axil of which they also produce roots and hold buds which may grow into shoots of various forms. A stem's roots anchor the plant either to the ground, a tree or to a rock. A stem may even spread as a repent (crawling) rhizome creeping across the soil and may either grow above ground, underground or partially above the soil. Specialized stem forms are called a rhizome, corm, tuber or bulb. The support of a leaf is known as the petiole.

What you have collected is the rhizome of your Mandevilla which is the point from where both the roots and the above ground portions grow.. It is the central axis from which all growth begins.

If you simply replace it in very sandy porous soil that contains humus and peat and put it outdoors in the spring it will grow a brand new plant. Mandevilla prefer bright but diffused light and the soil requirements are based on the fact these plants love to have their roots damp but never wet.

You can find more definitions here: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Botanical%20terminology.html

Steve

This message was edited Dec 14, 2010 5:46 PM

Thank you Steve for your very comprehensive explanation on all this.

Question----

Since I have dug up all these roots as a large mass--should i divide it or just try to grow a new
plant out of the whole root mass? Or should I remove each skinny rhizome for propagation?
Please see my picture again at the top. How would you deal with this mass?

I am not too into propagating things I can buy for $10 or so and fully grown ne plant..
Time is of essence and, sometimes, just buying a new plant is easiest.

Thank you for your advice. Gita

I wouldn't recommend dividing each rhizome since they grow nicer in a clump. You could easily divide four or five into each new pot and eventually have a nice place in your yard filled with them. The big trick is to give them sandy soil that is very fast draining. We used to grow this in our yard in Miami and despite the fact Florida soil is pretty sandy we'd always add a lot of compost and peat and in a year or two they would completely line a fence.

Good luck with them.

Steve

That is exciting to know, Gita, I can't wait to see your results! ;D
I sure wish I could go to Arkansas and meet Steve and his family and see his gardens.

keep us posted on the results.

All of you are welcome anytime.

Steve

I am zone 7a also and have Mandevilla's. The tops will completely die back but will re-shoot in the spring if you protect the roots by piling leaves as insulation. Give it time to re-shoot (May is not uncommon) it grows very fast and will start blooming in short order. If they are in an unprotected area I dig them up before frost and bring them in. Good luck!

UPDATE: The Mandevilla roots are coming back from the root ball that stayed out in a pot all winter, with no protection - the roots in the greenhouse have shown no signs of life yet.

Here is a picture taken just a few minutes ago:

KayJoes, mine looks just like that, after staying in the dark room with a little light down here in the basement. It goes out next week.

Mine are all just, still, dry in the box along with aall the Canna roots...
I just have NOT had the time to attend to them...Have had company here for the
last week. After tomorrow--they are all gone!!! AHHH--lovely peace and privacy!!!

I need to do some potting up with all the Madevilla roots I dug up.
They are all totally dry--still.....Need to divide them and plant them.....and see what happens?

I need to do a lot of things....just have not gotten to them yet.....

Gita

Gita, you need a roundtoit! I'm not sure where you can get one - I need one, TOO!

hehe.. me too?? ;D

IF it ever stops raining here--I may just get to that "roundtoit".....
Honest! How much rain can soil hold??? It is drenched now--and more coming
this weekend--all days! Bummer!

I need to mow my lawn for the first time--some grass id 12" high
(the newly seeded grass from last summer)--and the rest is getting pretty lush too!
They just LOVE this rain!!!!!


YES! It is going to be a royal "Crunch Time" any week now....
G.

u can send your rain this way anytime, G

Here too we are desperate for some of that wet stuff !