Hi Karen, it's been very wet again here in the UK of late, lots of places flooded again, poor souls, must be horrid, some got caught twice in 2007 and again now. Not seen that much sun lately, but saying that, today we have blue skies and the sun is actually shining, but it's quite chilly and breezy. Had to protect some outdoor plants with a temporary plastic cover to keep them dry...my seed sown Echium Wildpretii for one, which hopefully may send up its 2m plus flower spike this year, fingers crossed. Meanwhile my plumies are in the house all year round. Celadine has droppped all her leaves, and the 4 seedlings have lost some. Hopefully I will get flowers on the Celadine afer having poor growth and no blooms last year, and maybe get even more growth on the seedlings this season, although they grew like mad in 2007 with several branches on 3 of them. Had only one small snowfall in Nov, been too wet otherwise. Not fared too badly I supppose so hopefully things will improve from now on and I am really looking forward to the onset of longer and warmer days. Last summer was a waste of time in the UK, the growing season was abnormally short and dismal.
Best wishes, Gill.

Hey Karen - I was just thinking the same thing.
My sad little stick with claws (planted last summer) is outside on my balcony - it has great drainage, but it's getting this rain full force.
I'm coastal, so not as cold as you, but i'm concerned about all that water (especially if there's no roots yet)
Do you think I should bring it inside?

Thanks!
N

Here in Altadena we've been getting wind as well as rain. The wind yesterday blew the tarp off my portable greenhouse, so the plumies inside are getting rained on through the leaky roof. I don't dare run my halide light to warm them. Hopefully I can get some sort of covering on them tomorrow. One night in the upper 30s shouldn't be too tragic. At least the greenhouse didn't blow away, like two years ago. It's staked down solid.

Hi N.
No roots, no watering..Just lightly damp around the edge watering..Will rot. if it has been rained on, I might pull it up and see if it has rotting on the end, soft brownish icky. If So, cut it off on a dionagal to clean white inside, put on root tone not too heavy, stick it back in to the soil, tiny water and leave it alone. mist it. Make sure its a pearlite domiant little cactus soil mix.

I have a cutting that is trying to put out roots, checked it. I add a tiny bit of water to not let it get wet, but slightly dampened. still alive in a window, light.
Karen B.

Hi Aldenamara.
The rains are un-real, winds cold temps. Around me is hail, flooded areas, winds..not cool. I have had tip damage on plants in mid 30's with the rain. It keeps the plants cold. I hope you will be ok. Hopefully tomorrow you can fix it the top..more rain forcasted through Monday.

I tried to cover plants on my patio with sheets, but winds blowing from the east, they got wet and I had to take them off. The winds and rain is awful. Pray every plumie will be ok..will see.
Karen B.

Hi,
cuttings, bring inside. I was advised to do this.
Karen B.

Hi Gil,
i read to put sheets over plants and then plastic... to keep them warm. Plastic if freezing can free the plant. But warmth first cloth then, plastic. or socks over tips and plastic can keep them warm. We are having one storm after another. lot of wet. Good luck on Celadine. Mine is being rained on in the ground. Pray will make it.
Karen B.

Good morning all. We sure are getting lots of rain here in the SFV. Last night, there was a lot of wind as well. I'm sure when I go out today, there will be lots of palm fronds all over the yard, again.

I've left my plumies outdoors in a small protected area so hopefully they are fine.

nanzey, I would do what Karen suggested, and also bring your cutting indoors and you might have a better chance of rooting it.

Stay safe and dry.

Hi Eloise,
yes, way tooo much rain, cold and wind. I am afraid my plants in the ground have froze.. feel so bad. The tops of the claws are white and looks like crystals inside the little open area where the claws are folding in...still have some leaves.. but think I read when they crystal like that, have frozen inside. think the crystal does help protect. Don't know for sure, my larger older plants. How are yours doing?

I have my cuttings inside and outside. In a window now, I did take it out of the soil last month to see if it was rooting, needed to know if to water or not..It has long nubs..other cutting too. I normally don't disturb a cutting, wanted to know if it had roots to water or not..agree with all. Another storm coming saturday thru Monday.
Karen B..

Hi Karenb - it's been cold and wet here in Riverside County. Rain I like, because it makes it easier to dig holes for my many pot ghetto roses. Cold...that I mind because I'm so protective of my plumerias. I tried to cram as many as I could into the greenhouse...especially the ones with seed pods. I had some blooming plumies in the greenhouse that I used to decorate a co-worker's cake. She also is a plumieholic. Let's hope and pray for a better growing season!

Kasie

Hi Kasie,
glad you have a greenhouse to save your plants and keep them warm, great seed pods. I was in google researching frozen plumeria. I found our chat in January 2007.."It is pouring rain, so cold afraid our plumeria will freeze." I believe you said you lost 90% of your plants..gosh, hope that was wrong. We are having rains again in January 2008, I did not realize that was the same as last year. the difference this time is it started earlier getting cold and wet. So, I will have to figure out what to do next year, with hopefully no freezing, Hope no Feb. problems.. yes pray for a better growing season.

Hi Karen, Kasie et al.,
I have my plumies outside and they seem to be fine in spite of ALL THIS RAIN! The only thing I have to be on guard about is that one of my large pots has a reservoir attached at the bottom. I need to tip over the pot every so often so the water runs out and my plumies won't get root rot. I find that with all this rain, it is not as cold right now where I live.

Kasie, the rain sure has made the ground easier to dig in. I have tons of weeds sprouting on one side of my driveway and wish I had the time to pull them now while the ground is soft.

5:40 AM Looks like the rain has stopped for now. We are going to have a glorious spring!

Hi Eloise,
I just am afraid to put my canned plumies outside, dipping at night into the 30's then up to 40's. I have about 15 or more in the house, in 5 gallon cans. May be ok outside, just don't know. Just afraid of losing them again. I do have some in the ground and some in containers on the patio, They sure look awful.

glad you are warmer, thats great. Raining now, sure poured last night. Suppose to keep going, concerned for the homes in the burned area. Some of the mountains north and NE around me are covered in snow, so pretty..but chilly winds.
Karen B.

4:18 PM, whoa, can you hear that rain coming down!!! I had to look out because all of a sudden, it sounded so strong. I should have put my new plants in a better place. I will have to go out and try to move them elsewhere -- hope I don't get swept away, lol!

Went to lunch with a friend after church and got back home going on 3:30 PM. Now with the way the rain is coming down, I'm glad I didn't go elsewhere after lunch.

Hi Eloise,
Yes, poured last night..suppose to keep coming. way too much water. Trees are going to start falling, creeks are becoming rivers, slides, enough is enough. Too much water for plumies and other tropical plants. My hibiscus are curled up,
Karen B.

The mental image of a garden sprouting socks is just hilarious! Anyone have a photo?

We are expecting more rain starting Saturday, and the soil on my potted plumeria haven't even dried up from the last rains. I haven't heard the weather report this morning whether it will be another storm or just some rain. Bet we get tons of mosquitos later, aghh, they love me!

LOL, no socks on plumies here!

Eloise- If you are worried, take a sheet of tin foil and make a skirt around your stem so water does not run into your pot. This will keep the rain out. Bill

Hi,
In the San Fernando Valley, finally in the 40's at night, no 30's. Have my potted plants on my patio covered with sheets. Ones in the ground, covered too. Its suppose to rain this weekend..hope warm night temps.

socks.. suppose to keep the tips warm..out of the rain!! maybe gloves...so funny to see this.
Karen B

Bill that's a great tip! I will do that today before the rains come again.

Karen, 30/40 degrees, it's still too cold for me, LOL!

Hi eloise,
Do you have your plants out in the open? or on a patio. I have both, some in the ground, very wet from heavy rain. Suppose to rain, maybe this weekend.
Yes, 30's and 40's..is COLD
Karen

Hi Karen,

It is raining! My pots are outside right now up against the garage wall. The overhang (roof) from the garage gives them a bit of protection. Yesterday, I put out two brugmansia pots to get some sun -- I forgot to bring them in and hope the rain didn't knock down the buds and blooms on them :-( There is always something!

Going to see The Wicked today at 1 PM; hope the rain doesn't create a problem with us getting there.

Hi Eloise,
Where is the Wicked playing? that is a broadway show? should be fantastic. I enjoy them.
Karen B.

Hi Karen,

Wicked is at the Pantages. IMO, it was good, but not fantastic. They did have several wonderful numbers, some slow and boring, but the actors were fantastic! The tickets were Christmas presents from my daughter and sil for myself, my granddaughter, my daughter and her mother in law. Us girls have a very nice time!