Got my red mandevilla vine about 1 1/2 years ago. It was fairly bushy when I brought it home, and flowering. It very quickly dropped leaves on the woody parts but put out lots of long leggy vines, which I trained onto the trellis I had put around it. In doing this I discovered a severe aphid infestation, and then whiteflies, which I treated by squishing regularly, clipping off infested growth, and finally two timed applications of neem and safer soap. The lower woody vines became so bare that I chopped off the vines to about 2/3, and in some cases 1/2. It seemed to do well for a time; it flowered and began to bush out. The blooms have dropped by now, and it experienced another severe leaf drop. I'm considering chopping it back again, but do do so will leave it nearly leafless as growth is concentrated in the branch ends, with leaf drop in the older growth. It is in a 12 inch pot in a sunny SW window of my heated sunroom.
I have found an article for you that will explain how to correctly prune this: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/mandevilla/prune-mandevilla-vines.htm
My potted mandevilla has gotten too large. Can I split it in half & re-pot each half in a separate pot?
Yes, you can split the root ball. The most common way to reproduce this plant is by new growth cuttings, but it will certainly be ok to split it. Here is an article that will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/mandevilla/mandevilla-propagation.htm
I placed the plant by my patio door which is on the south side, but there is a heat vent directly above it. Will this hurt the plant?
The only thing I would be concerned about is the dry air. This could cause some leaves to dry out, and fall off. If you can keep it directly out of the air stream then this would be best. If this is not possible, then I don't think it would kill it. It wouldn't like it as well though. Here is an article for more information on their care, and how to tell if it is a dipladania or a mandevilla: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/mandevilla/growing-a-dipladenia.htm
I would like to know the best time to prune my Mandevilla vine here in Central Florida. As I am not dealing with frosts, or a definite winter season, need a fresh start for a bushier look. Any possibility of damaging by cutting back severely to 4 inches above ground? Please advise.
You can prune them heavily. There will be no issue with this. It is best to do this after the flowers fade, and before new vegetative growth starts.
This article will give you more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/mandevilla/prune-mandevilla-vines.htm
I am bringing a Mandevilla plant indoor for the winter (I live in Montreal where we get lot's of snow) I am told that I should be treating my leaves and also my soil against bugs, ants etc. What should I use to treat the soil?
There are a number of things that you can use for this. I prefer organic in almost anything I do, but there are chemical methods as well.
I like oils such as: Rosemary, lavender, garlic, clove, and neem... All make wonderful, and safe pest controls that you can mix, spray or water into the plant without hurting it.
Here is a link to a collection of articles that will help you find other methods for controlling insects: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/
I brought my plant in from the patio with brilliant white flowers. Within a week they had turned pink. Why?
I am not sure why this would happen with your Mandevilla, but some flowers change colors when environmental conditions change. Perhaps the change in light level made the difference.
I went to my garden only to find lots of orange/black catepillars with lots of legs, eating all the foliage and flowers off my pink Mandevilla plant. It now looks dead. Is it dead, or can I cut it down to the ground and wait for it to grow back? I live in Central Florida. Thanks
I would only cut it back about half way. They can recover, but this is very stressful on the plant. You might invest in some neem oil to prevent this in the future as well.