I’ve updated the South Florida plant shows and sale events. I’m late in posting the Apopka International Orchid Festival, as it ends this Sunday, But, Apopka is not South Florida, so I hope I am forgiven. Every weekend in April, there is a plant sale. And there’s likely a few that I’ve missed.

This time I have chosen a very common ornamental. There’s lots of planting information available on the internet. Dipladenia answers the question, “Do April showers bring May flowers?”

Fertilizer recommendations vary. So far, I’ve just used Osmocote for fruits and vegetables (14-14-14), but others suggest liquid fertilizer like a Miracle Gro bloom booster (15-30-15) twice a month after the vine becomes established. I’ll probably stick with an orchid fertilizer (20-20-20), but only in the growing season if it is doing well. I think I can provide the necessary neglect during the winter months.

It is a member of the Mandevilla genus, so articles comparing Mandevillas to Dipladenia are offensive to true biologists. Dipladenias are Mandevilla species, but the Dipladenia species or cultivars grow up stakes rather than spread on a trellis. Commercial growers are marketing this as the “Rio Dipladenia” and other names. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family, which includes the plumerias.

Happy Gardening,

Dave