designshark

This plant was bought in WalMart on Maui in January of 2011. It was a twig in a bag basically and I potted it up when we got back. It took several months to do anything then one day it started growing. I think last winter and early spring I under watered it cause the tips all died and after that (with much more water) it started growing sprouts from all over it which now look like branches. That was in June/July, outside. I'm watering it every two or so weeks now when the soil is good and dry, and the sprouts on the tips are still bud type leaves. I fertilize it some in the summer with some 15-30-15. I'm hoping it will flower next summer. I hoped it would flower last summer but it didn't.

I don't know if anyone can tell by the photo but I think it's doing quite well for not-so-optimal lighting and slightly cool temperature. Hopefully next spring it'll grow even bigger!

Any thoughts from seasoned plumeria growers up north?

Thanks



(credit [Bananas.org - View Profile: designshark designshark])

Abnshrek

It looks good for its location. :^)

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2woodensticks

has it ever done dormant???lost all of its leaves??they like full sun and not so much water..i keep about 40 of them..right now all are in a shed,no leaves and dormant for another month and 1/2..only evergreen plummies keep there leaves..going dormant lets them store a little energy for bloom time..this time of year should be on little water just like bananas very susceptible to rot..mine are almost dry other than a little misting every once every 3 weeks or so..even though i am in florida they still go dormant..witch gives me great blooms the next year..

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got to love em..{neotropical rattlesnake..cascabell}

2woodensticks

there is a free yahoo group i belong to..florida plumeria society,,open to all with plumeria..feel free

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got to love em..{neotropical rattlesnake..cascabell}

sidpook

Mine flowered finally this year after three seasons. Amazingly beautiful colors and scent. It bloomed for three straight months. I let it go dormant in the winter time. I put it in a darkish/cool room and drop leaves. Good luck with it.

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Mike

designshark

So you guys put it up and don't water it until spring? No water, light anything?

Last spring when I moved it outside it lost all it's leaves for several weeks then it started growing like crazy.

Chance1945

Well, I'm not Up North, but I do grow plumeria. I bring them in during the winter and never water them. I say never, but if I have a glass of water I might have a drink and pour the rest on the plumeria. Maybe once a winter. When I bring it in it drops its leaves.

You need to be careful with water during the winter because it's easy to get rot. Mine gets very low light during the cold months and I never fertilize it when it's dormant.

When mine blooms the fragrance transports me back to the Islands. Makes you want to stop and offer up a prayer.

Good luck!
Terry

Chance1945

To answer your question, I think your plumeria looks exceptionally nice, considering that you bought it in a bag at Wal-Mart. From the angle of the photograph it looks like you could take that bottom limb off and start a new plant, but that just might be the angle of the picture.

Terry

designshark

Thanks for your replies. I think I'm going to keep all branches until I see at least one flower.

Chance1945

Might be a good idea. I'd like to know when it blooms and what color it is AND your reaction to the fragrance. Hope it blooms for you next summer.

2woodensticks

yes even here in florida they go dormant..when mine first start to go to sleep i help them along,,i start cutting of leaves,,NO water at all..root rot is the #1 killer in winter..even in bloom not to wet,i let mine dry out a little inbetween..as soon as they wake up feed,feed,feed...and if old enough bloom,bloom,bloom

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got to love em..{neotropical rattlesnake..cascabell}

designshark

to 2woodensticks: Wow, sounds scary to me, I don't want to kill it! It's a momento from our wedding. So after it dries all out will the sprouting tips (small budding type leaves) dry out too? When this happened last spring the tips died, turned black and new branches started sprouting all over. It didn't look natural to me but if it is then thats what I need to do.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Planter56

There are books out there on Plumaria culture. I'd try and get one to help you along. I have a 'Granny Grape' that I grew of seed. It bloomed for the first time this year. It's only two years old, but I kept it root bound. I'm watching the leaves for signs of shedding in prep for dormancy. Even evergreen varieties will loose their leaves for a few weeks before setting out a new set. Watch the tips of the branches. If you see what may look like little flower buds, they'll start out very fast with the new leaves. Since there is no growth during the winter, no feeding at all, and keep dry. If you see some wrinkling of the trunk and branches then by all means give it some warm water, no cold. As far as the tips turning black. There are fungus's out there that will cause this. keep the water off the growing tips. and if you do water, make sure it's warm. Once the leaves fall off, just be patient and it'll start up again when ready. Some plumi's can take 5 years before they bloom. Try keeping it root bound to see if that will force blooming. Good luck.
A good book is: the handbook of plumeria culture by Richard and Mary Eggenberger