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Mandevilla (Mandevilla sanderi) dropping leaves: causes and fixes

Quick answer

Leaf drop on your Mandevilla has a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is a recent change or shock.

Mandevilla (Mandevilla sanderi)
Mandevilla · Mandevilla sanderi
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Toxic to pets

First, check the soil. Push a finger 2 to 3 cm (0.8⁠–⁠1.2 in) into it and lift the pot. Dry and light means thirst. Wet and heavy means too much water or poor drainage.

Most likely cause

A recent change or shock

Pixel illustration of a houseplant just brought home, beside a cardboard box and a shopping bag, with a few green leaves on the floor

How to tell

  • It started dropping leaves soon after you bought, moved, or repotted it.

The fix

  1. 1
    Check moisture and roots before changing anything.
  2. 2
    Keep its spot and care steady and don’t fertilize while it settles.
  3. 3
    If roots were damaged, follow this plant’s repotting guidance.
More about this

Water according to moisture, only when the top 3 cm (1.2 in) of soil feel dry. Check drainage and do not water just because a calendar says it is time.

Other possible causes

Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.

Overwatering

Leaves yellow and then drop, and the soil stays wet for days after watering.

The fix

  1. 1
    Ease off watering, check drainage, and inspect for rot in the roots if it feels soft.

Underwatering

Leaves drop after the soil has been bone dry for a while.

How to tell

  • Watch for wilting leaves first.

The fix

  1. 1
    If the soil is bone dry, water thoroughly, then check it more regularly so it doesn’t dry out that far again.

Cold drafts or temperature swings

It sits in a draft, near a cold window, or next to a heater, and leaves fall after a cold snap or a sudden temperature swing.

The fix

  1. 1
    Move it somewhere with stable, draft-free temperatures.

Too little light

It quietly sheds its lower and inner leaves over weeks while new growth stays small and pale.

How to tell

  • Mandevilla wants bright light and some direct sun.

The fix

  1. 1
    Give it a brighter position, out of harsh midday sun.

All Mandevilla guides

Keep reading

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