Mega Blooms, Minimal Fuss

Becky Lacy

The new Divina MegaFlora and Compact Mandevilla collections from Selecta One launch with all the features growers love to see in their premium tropical assortments: Bold color, vigorous growth and a consumer-appealing look that practically sells itself at retail.

With gorgeous flowers that pop against medium-green foliage, Divina brings an upscale choice to a flower category that’s already booming with shoppers. The upgrades selected during the trialing process of Divina really set this collection apart. 

Mandevilla Divina MegaFlora (Neon Pink and Red) have excellent branching that fill the pot before climbing.

Divina MegaFlora delivers oversized blooms that can stop shoppers in their tracks. It was selected for excellent early branching that fills the pot before vining and climbing, which produces an ultra-lush look with flexibility across pot sizes and programs. It’s tangle resistant and, in large mixes, is the trellised “thriller” that will claim a premium price. It launches for 2027 in Red and Neon Pink varieties.

Divina Compact is a bush-type mandevilla with stunning flowers and strong branches that require less pinches in the greenhouse. No trellis is needed, and it works well in smaller pots and baskets for high-volume production. It’s available in Red, Pink and White varieties.

Across the board, Divina is bred for both high impact and high efficiency. With the guidelines below, you can transplant and finish seamlessly to meet your customers’ demands.

Rooting for a strong start
Divina roots reliably into a recommended 30/45-mm cell size with a rooting hormone. Crops typically require 14 days with mist, six to eight average weeks in propagation. No pinch is required, but an optional early PGR treatment is recommended seven to 10 days after sticking for vigorous products. Provide sprays only for this; cover the plants and avoid run-off as much as possible. 

Media pH should be maintained at 5.6 to 6.2. Best results are achieved if media with the correct pH is used starting with propagation. Fertilizer should start with low concentrations­—after roots show—and increase with plant development to the recommended levels (150 to 200 ppm N constant feed).
In general, avoid drying out or overwatering the substrate, as this will affect plant quality and finishing time. The root system will suffer when conditions change from one extreme to the other. “Growing on the dry side“ means letting the substrate become dry (substrate color turns light brown and substrate starts to separate from the pot edge) before watering. “Keep constantly moist“ means watering the plants just before substrate becomes dry. 
Water management in rooting and finishing is half the success and the best way to prevent root-bound diseases, improve performance and control plant quality.

Finishing touches for Divina
Day temperatures: 75 to 95F (24 to 35C)
Night temperatures: 60 to 72F (16 to 22C)
During rooting, keep soil temperature measured in the liner at 70F (21C) until cuttings are well-rooted. After planting the liner, keep temperature up until roots have developed nicely. Afterward, follow cultural recommendations.
The use of “cool morning“ treatments will improve …

• Plant quality
• Flower and foliage color
• Plant habit 
• And will harden the plants 

Lower the temperature by 8 to 12F (4 to 6C) two hours before sunrise until two to three hours after sunrise. Start treatments after plants are rooted in, well-branched and cover the media (they’ll reach the pot edges). To avoid delayed flowering, keep the average day temperature under a close watch and, if necessary, increase night temperatures. Finishing of the crop depends on the average day temperature and positive or negative DIF methods, and “cool mornings” can be used to improve plant quality.

Light levels should remain at 5,000 to 7,000 f.c. to support strong flowering and growth. PGRs and pinches aren’t recommended at this stage, which helps streamline labor. Divina’s natural branching fills the pot quickly, supporting its promise of a lush, premium look with minimal greenhouse intervention.

Both Divina MegaFlora and Divina Compact are the new “modern” choice for premium mandevilla. Growers will appreciate the vibrant flower color and size, its tangle-resistant growth, and a more simplified production. Contact your preferred supplier to add this tropical option to your next program. Find more culture guidelines at selectanorthamerica.com. GT

Becky Lacy is the senior product manager for Selecta One North America. She trials, tests and evaluates plants and combos for market launch and works closely with the product development team on guidelines and support.