A Plumeria Thread

[palmtree]

Thanks jarred for the tip on rooting them! Although now Im concerned about if this is a virused plant. I got it from a seller in the US, but they probably got it from a different country. Should I get rid of it? I dont know of any bugs here that eat plumeria (they all seem to leave the plumerias alone), but Im still concerned that the virus will spread. So far none of my plumeria show signs of being virused (well except for the variegated one!). Hope its okay and any help is really appreciated!!! Btw, nice plumerias everyone!!

[cherokee_greg]

Originally Posted by stumpy4700

is $70 bucks with the 50% off? ouchhhhhhh

no thats before this is a big plant too plus its from the us all the others I saw like this are from out of the country. Its in a 3 gallon pot.

[Steve L]

Originally Posted by palmtree

Thanks jarred for the tip on rooting them! Although now Im concerned about if this is a virused plant. I got it from a seller in the US, but they probably got it from a different country. Should I get rid of it? I dont know of any bugs here that eat plumeria (they all seem to leave the plumerias alone), but Im still concerned that the virus will spread. So far none of my plumeria show signs of being virused (well except for the variegated one!). Hope its okay and any help is really appreciated!!! Btw, nice plumerias everyone!!

You don't need to worry about the virus as it only provides the variegation; in the case of Maya, it is in the variegated leaves; in the case of others, like Princess Victoria, it in the blooms. Maya has been around for 10 years or so. No problem.

Steve

[MediaHound]

Originally Posted by stumpy4700

Media hound I love the leaves on that one. What is its name?

Usually you can click any pic to go to the gallery to read more.

Its called Ploy Chom Pu. I got it mailed from Thailand.

[MediaHound]

And yes, its technically virused from what I understand.

[saltydad]

I had a cutting from Thailand called Mai Thai. It was supposed to be a solid purple bloom. Unfortunately, this was early in my plumeria experience, and I killed it with overwatering. Anyone ever grown this variety? Plumeria 100 Seeds/Plants/Flowers/"Mixed"/10 TypeRare! - eBay (item 370421841869 end time Aug-25-10 1859 PDT) Overlook the photoshopped color, it's still beautiful.

[palmtree]

Thanks for the help everyone with the virused plumeria. Im going to keep it for sure, but since I dont support growing virused plants, Im going to refrain from buying any more plumerias with color breaks (viruses). Im glad its not like that terrible canna virus which spreads like wildfire and kills cannas or at least weakens them severely. Plumerias sure are amazing trees!

[cherokee_greg]

Originally Posted by Steve L

You don't need to worry about the virus as it only provides the variegation; in the case of Maya, it is in the variegated leaves; in the case of others, like Princess Victoria, it in the blooms. Maya has been around for 10 years or so. No problem.

Steve

So its ok to grow these variegated plumeria , Thats good to know. Thanks

[Clare_CA]

Hey all, I wish I could spend more time on this thread, but there is too much to do. I have spent the last ten years studying and growing plumerias and have a grove myself in my back yard. At one time, I had over 450 plumerias, but I have given away or sold a lot of my collection and have only about 150 now.

Just some quick notes:

Variegation in plumerias is not caused by a virus, but variegated plumerias can have the Frangipani Mosaic Virus (FMV) just like many other plumerias can. The signs and symptoms of the virus are the color streaking in the flowers that is being shown above in Sherry's picture.

Many variegated plumerias are being produced by the process of bud grafting, which is a very efficient way to propagated plumerias and is being done extensively in Thailand. The chimeras are discovered by removing a bud from a cutting and grafting it to a root stock.

Variegated plumerias are generally slower to grow and thus slower to root. If you have leaves, then you have a rooted plumeria. Alex C, it looks like you do have at least a start of a root system. Cuttings take a least three months to form a one-gallon-sized root ball. Water when the soil looks dry unless you live somewhere humid like Florida, and then you can water less often. Generally, if you have leaves, then you have roots.

Sherry, seeds from plumerias do not come true to the parents. They have a large number of chromosomes, and so they can look like any flower. Most seedlings turn out to be white, and many can be quite inferior when they bloom and should be destroyed. I sowed 40 seeds and waited six years for many of them to bloom for the first time, and by that time the trees were quite large. Seedlings get to be massive trees because of their tap root. I leave the seed sowing and hybridizing now to the experts in Thailand because they have the growing room and only select the best of the best flowers to circulate commercially. I just don't have to room, time, or patience to sow seeds anymore.

For tips on rooting cuttings, see my article that I published in 2007: Creating A Plumeria Collection

This is a link to some FAQ's about plumerias, but some of the links need to be updated, and you have to be a subscriber to read the whole threads: Plumerias: Frequently Asked Questions About Plumerias

Many experts and horticulturists who are very knowledgeable have agreed that the best fertilizer is the slow-release granular kind with all even numbers such as 10-10-10, etc. It is Potassium, not Phosphorus, that is the best element to encourage blooming. For the best blooming, make sure that your plumerias get full sun, lot of water with good drainage, and a regular feeding program. Also, repot frequently to a bigger pot if you are growing your plumeria in a container. I have found that the more mature plumerias bloom on a regular basis, and so sometimes plumerias will skip blooming in order to put on more growth when small. If you use the slow-release granules, then you can fertilize every three months or however long the fertilizer lasts.

Here is a link to my PhotoBucket album: Pictures by Clare_CA - Photobucket I have pictures in there from previous years. I haven't had time to upload a whole lot in the last couple of years however. When I first planted my plumeria grove, I uploaded pictures to 2009. I just added some recent pictures to 2010 for this thread.

This is a link to one of my dearest friend's web site: Services He is in Thailand and has acres and acres of beautiful plumerias, cassias, palms, and more. Please read the section on plumerias diseases for more information about the Frangipani Mosaic Virus.

This is unquestionably the best place to buy plumerias: WELCOME!! Their prices are very reasonable, and they don't sell plumerias with viruses. Click on their "Thai Plumeria" link for their varieagated plumerias. If you have the choice, buy grafted plumerias instead of cuttings. Tell Luc or Carol that Clare sent you.

Clare

[Clare_CA]

Originally Posted by MediaHound

This is just pea gravel that you see, 1 layer thin above the soil mixture for aesthetics and erosion protection.

I finally had some time to read this thread and just wanted to let you know Jarred that you don't have to wait a few weeks for the end of the plumeria cutting to callous. A few days to a week is plenty of time. Also, be very careful with that pea gravel on top. Many of my fellow growers in Texas and Arizona have reported burns and desiccation right at the soil line from the rocks heating up and burning or drying the stem at the soil line. The pea gravel is also not good because it keeps the soil too moist and does not let oxygen pass freely to the root system. I personally don't like it because I can't tell when the soil looks dry, and I often water based on what I see the surface of the soil looks like. If you want the look of stone for aethetics, try Perlite instead.

[Clare_CA]

Originally Posted by saltydad

I had a cutting from Thailand called Mai Thai. It was supposed to be a solid purple bloom. Unfortunately, this was early in my plumeria experience, and I killed it with overwatering. Anyone ever grown this variety?

You have to be very careful with sellers on eBay, especially coming from Thailand. I know of two reliable sellers that have partners in Thailand and that will ship from Florida. I'll give you their information if you would like. Florida Colors Nursery also sells some different purples: Jacks Purple Jack's Purple is a very nice purple.

That color is definitely enhanced on eBay. Don't waste your money with seeds either as they won't come true to the parent.

I have several purples. They used to be rare, but now the explosion of hybridizing from Thailand has made them very accessible.

[Clare_CA]

Originally Posted by cherokee_greg

Here is some diffrent foods to feed your plumerias, I have not tried them but im going too. Nice thread too by the way,thanks
Here is the link
Fertilizing Plumeria

Just a note to everyone -- although the Plumeria101 web site has been around a long time and has some helpful information, there is advice on this web site which is not good advice according to many experienced and knowledgeable plumeria growers. For example, the bloom booster fertilizers with the high middle number was once thought to increase blooms and was pushed by the commercial industry; however, phosphorus does not leach well from the soil and can actually build up and be very bad for plants over time. A competing line of thought is that the last number, potassium, is the best element for blooming. Overall, most experts will tell you that even numbers of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are best such as 13-13-13, etc.

Additionally, the Plumeria101 site recommends the pea gravel on top, which I already explained the hazards of above to Jarred. Just FYI.

[Clare_CA]

Originally Posted by cherokee_greg

could it be this one ? there is even a 50% off on all plants here
Plumeria Maya

Don't buy plumeria from Stokes. They are way over-priced. You can find it elsewhere for much less. Florida Colors Nursery has it for $45, but I've seen it even less than that. Here is another good seller: Brad's Buds and Blooms

[Clare_CA]

Originally Posted by Steve L

That particular plumeria, Maya, is imported from Thailand which is famous for imparting viruses in their plumeria and producing some of the wildest looking variegated blooms around. In the case of Maya, the leaves became variegated. These viruses are commonly thought to be transferrable from one plant to another if the are in close proximity but to my knowledge, they have not produced any fatalities. My own Princess Victoria is a virused plumeria with beautiful, but only occasional, variegated blooms.

Steve

The variegation of the leaves on Plumeria Maya is actually a chimera and not a virus.

It is true that the Frangipani Mosaic Virus can be spread by transfer of sap manually, usually on a cutting tool. The streets of Bangkok are lined with plumerias, many of which are showing the virus. The virus seems to show itself more when the trees are stressed. The neglected trees at KoKo Crater in Hawaii also are showing the virus. That being said, there are many Thai plumeria growers and sellers who are conscientious about keeping their gardens free of the virus and not selling virused plants.

Yes, Joey Rosselli was probably one of the first to intentionally infect his seedlings with the virus once he got ahold of a virused plumeria. His Princess Victoria is actually Metaire Pink with a virus. He also has a Princess name for a Jeannie Moragne with a virus. Some people are not a fan of Joey Rosselli's plumerias since he intentionally infected his seedlings with the virus.

While many plants have viruses that they can live with, many plants end up looking sick because of them. I've had brugmansias, passifloras, abutilons, and other plants with viruses, and they have ultimately ended up in the trash. I've also had a few plumerias with viruses, and they too get destroyed. Some people really like the look of the virused flowers and have paid top dollar for them; others don't like the way the virus changes the appearance of the flower and prefer to keep their collections clean.

[Bob]

I'm currently tending 3 plants. The oldest which is over 10 years old now was grown from a cutting bought at the Denver stock show of all places! Up until last year it had been in a pot and overwintered dormant " waking it up " with water and light fertilization in February. This past winter I just didn't have any room in the house with all the bananas so took a chance and bare rooted it in the root cellar planting it directly in the ground in early May. It's had the best flowers ever. It's tucked behind a large E. Glaucum and a Yucca Rostrata so these were the best pics I could come up with without breaking out a ladder and possibly a neck


It's been flowering profusely all season, if you look close there's buds all over it.



Like Clare had mentioned the seedlings are completely variable. Here's the two "3 kings " seedlings I kept that sprouted this year...my first ever from seed. Both of them have branches at a small size and this is a first since the other only seems to branch after flowering. Not sure it comes across well in the pic but one of them has a distinctly reddish stem while the other is more green. It'll be interesting to see how they develop and what color the flowers will turn out when they finally come. I'll try to keep these actively growing indoors through the winter for at least the first year.

[cherokee_greg]

Originally Posted by Clare_CA

Just a note to everyone -- although the Plumeria101 web site has been around a long time and has some helpful information, there is advice on this web site which is not good advice according to many experienced and knowledgeable plumeria growers. For example, the bloom booster fertilizers with the high middle number was once thought to increase blooms and was pushed by the commercial industry; however, phosphorus does not leach well from the soil and can actually build up and be very bad for plants over time. A competing line of thought is that the last number, potassium, is the best element for blooming. Overall, most experts will tell you that even numbers of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are best such as 13-13-13, etc.

Additionally, the Plumeria101 site recommends the pea gravel on top, which I already explained the hazards of above to Jarred. Just FYI.

Thanks Clare im a newbie at plumeria and bananas so im still learning Im happy your getting on this thread because you sure have some nice plants. I did get a plant from brads bud and blooms he is shipping it out today in fact. Thanks again So will the banana fuel be fine for these plumerias ? Thats what I have been giving them.

[Clare_CA]

Originally Posted by cherokee_greg

Thanks Clare im a newbie at plumeria and bananas so im still learning Im happy your getting on this thread because you sure have some nice plants. I did get a plant from brads bud and blooms he is shipping it out today in fact. Thanks again So will the banana fuel be fine for these plumerias ? Thats what I have been giving them.

Hi Greg, no worries. Plumerias are easy to grow and care for. The only thing that really kills them is freezing temps and when they sit in cold wet conditions for too long. Good drainage is probably the most important thing when growing them.

Congrats on getting a plumeria from Brad. I know you will be happy with it. He gets a lot of his Thai plants from my friend Kukiat in Thailand so they are quality plants.

I don't know what the numbers are on the banana fuel, but anything you have on hand is fine. The only thing I would avoid is the bloombooster type fertilizer with the super high middle number. It's best to have a high last number if one of the numbers is going to be high. Since bananas love potassium, it probably has a high last number, and that's fine.

If you have any plumeria growing questions along the way, I'm happy to help.

[tucsonplumeriaz]

i have been fertilizing with 10-16-38. i am using that on my banana, too. i have very good root growth. i am hoping for lots of blooms next year since the plumies are the healthiest they have been in a while.

hi clare! i am finally here...

[Clare_CA]

Hi Dete! It's nice to see you here. Welcome!

[cherokee_greg]

I got this today from Brads Buds & Blooms its a anyamani thai plumeria


This one is going to open soon

There all lined up