Just cut it back a bit to about 12 inches or so and let it dry out. My Dad puts his in the basement but his basement is pretty warm don't think it gets colder than about 55 if that. 33 would be way too cold.
Name: Stormy Valley Forge Pa I Love MAM ~ So Happy Together
Holly, That was a typo. My basement gets as cold as 44 degrees. 12 inches is what I cut it back to last year. I may try that. I've got nothing to lose. I could bring it out early in the spring & put in in a cold frame to kickstart it back to life. It really needs a sunnier spot this next year. That's the only reason I can think of why it didn't bloom this year.
After I posted I was thinking Stormy's basement freezes.
I don't know if 44 would be warm enough but you are right nothing to lose. I'm going to try and head start my Dads in the GH this spring. His is doing beautifully but it only started to bloom in late Aug. I'll be getting a new one next year as mine was just polluted with scale and finally I had enough and put it out.
That's what happened with my Mandevilla. I kept treating it and it would get rid of most of it and it would start to come back but I never did get it all and finally I just said enough and set it outside.
Name: Sally central Maryland slef employed writier
Well, today I took three 4-inch sections off the top of my tropical Hibiscus with colorful foliage, used rooting hormone, potted them and put the in a plastic bag. We shall see! This thing is pretty tough though. I got it as a tip cutting from a young plant last spring, and rooted it in water, and lost track of it at times, and got it potted eventually. It has been in the bedroom by the window and getting taller all winter but too skinny to hold its head up. I'm hoping the now 18 inch tall bottom of the plant will branch out nicely.
"If you bring joy and enthusiasm to everything you do, people will think you're crazy" W. Haelfeli, New Yorker cartoon
Name: Ronnie Southeastern PA~Zone 6 I Love MAM~So Happy Together
Good luck Sally :thumbsup:
Mine could use a good pruning, they are still in the basement looking rather ragged.
It happens in a flash, but the memory of it last forever. It can not be borrowed or stolen, and it is of no earthly good until it is given away. So if in your hurry you meet someone who is too weary to smile, leave him one of yours, for no one needs a smile quite as much as he who has none to give...
Name: Sally central Maryland slef employed writier
More tropicals--Three big Brugs are waking up, two smaller ones look very iffy, but they came from cuttings of the same one cultivar so no biggie.
Side hunk of Banana tree sprout that I wrapped in paper got all rotted. still have not oncovered the big momma out in the yard.
Mandevilla did not overwinter well for me. I think it came back once not as strong and then failed. Then again I am so poor at fertilizing...
"If you bring joy and enthusiasm to everything you do, people will think you're crazy" W. Haelfeli, New Yorker cartoon
Ditto! I'm terrible with fertilizing but even worse with watering. Poor things, this has probably been my worst year ever for our houseplants, I've been really, really bad about watering this winter. I have a few survivors which will go back outside once we're past the threat of frosts but it will look pretty pathetic out there this year, I've lost so many because of my neglect, or would that be abuse? I'm thrilled though that the Port Odora EE's made it through the winter with flying colors - now I just have to make sure I don't hurt my back getting those humongous containers back into the gardens!!!
Name: Sally central Maryland slef employed writier
With today 'heat' I'll probably have to uncover the Banana and poke it. Mush or solid?
Mandevilla is supposed to be able to go dry and come back. I think its in the same family as Plumeria. edit- YUP, it is in the same family and that include some good dormant-able things like Desert Rose and Plumeria.
Speaking of--my Plumeria is coming out too, and my spray with a Spinosad -containing insect spray seems to have really put a hurt on those spider mites.
"If you bring joy and enthusiasm to everything you do, people will think you're crazy" W. Haelfeli, New Yorker cartoon
I am doing much better in general with bugs this year but I have these white things that are pretty hard to get rid of. I have been using my neen and a systemic. Most of the plants are bug free and the spider mites have been less than usual but I have a few plants with these that I just haven't been able to quite get rid of.
Name: Ronnie Southeastern PA~Zone 6 I Love MAM~So Happy Together
Looks like maybe it's Mealy bugs...touch them with a cotton swap dipped in alcohol.
It happens in a flash, but the memory of it last forever. It can not be borrowed or stolen, and it is of no earthly good until it is given away. So if in your hurry you meet someone who is too weary to smile, leave him one of yours, for no one needs a smile quite as much as he who has none to give...
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still have not oncovered the big momma out in the yard.
I'm thrilled though that the Port Odora EE's made it through the winter with flying colors - now I just have to make sure I don't hurt my back getting those humongous containers back into the gardens!!! 
