Pretty while it lasted

[Paul]

Last summer (2010) I picked up a clearanced Mandevilla at Lowes because I wanted the metal trellis it was on. (I know, I'm strange.) Had it on my balcony for much of that summer. Then when fall came I took it to school to overwinter it since I did not have the room for it in my apt. Turned out to be just as well since it wound up infested with mealies (not sure where they came from since it didn't have that issue while outside. But it recovered and spent this past summer again on my balcony. But alas, as I am currently unemployed, taking it to school is no longer an option. Nor is keeping it inside. So I will let Old Man Winter have it but in the mean time I will enjoy its 'swan song'.

[Tindomul]

I had a pretty similar story last summer. Saw it in the street at a flower shop, fell in love, grew it in my apartment for a few months. After a few weeks it stopped making flowers, then after a month and a half it was infested with thrip. Long story short, the plant is gone the thrip is still in my collection.