Mike, if you want your Plumies to flush out quicker, then you will have to increase the the basement temp or provide heating pads for the plants. Heat is what will bring them out of dormancy especially if you are providing 7 hrs of light. Also I think it would be best to wait for the plants to leaf out a bit before fertilizing and even then I would use more of an organic (more nitrogen)solution to stimulate some growth before going into the full on bloom buster type fert. Your best results will occur when you can get them into the greenhouse where natural light and heat will be able to do there magic. Hope this helps, good luck! Also minimal on the water untill they're in the grnhouse.

I can tell you what works for me: I take my Plumies out of the garage and directly to my living room near a big window. There is no supplemental heat, just ambient indoor air and some baseboard heating.

After a few weeks in the warmth, the tips become shiny and new leaves start to form. I water lightly once with a liquid fertilizer for an instant "boost". Once the leaves are a few inches long, I water deeply and keep the soil moist. My mix is very aerated.

By the time they're ready for the outdoors, leaves and inflos are well on their way and the plant needs to be acclimated. For 2 weeks I keep the plant in part shade, protected from wind, and I only water if the outdoor conditions allow it (sunny and warm).

When its time to bury the pots, I add granular fertilizer and away we go.
An inflorescence will form when a branch has reached a certain length. Based on my experience, I don't believe that extra warmth, sun or nutrition will initiate the inflo. Those things are needed to sustain the buds and for healthy growth during the summer.

When the branches are ready to split, you will get flowers. I think this usually happens when the branch is about 12-18 inches long, but it varies by variety. This assumes the plant was healthy the prior growing season.

x

Hey Mike,

I am going through the same problem right now as well!!!

My tempory greenhouse is ready for admission...but I'm fearful that it's still to cold. The day temps here in VB are jumping from mid 40's to mid 50's and inside the greenhouse the temps are 70-80. I really want to put my plumies outside in the greenhouse but I'm afriad of the nighttime temps that fall into the low 40's. If I put some christmas light on a timer and have them turn on at dusk until let's say 9 am... I'm thinking that I could possibly do that. I will experiment with this the next few days. My trees are showing signs of greening up and the claws are becoming very active. I have given them a drink with some Epsom salt several weeks ago but will wait until I'm sure that I can safely put them in the greenhouse.

Does anyone have any input as to how low the temps can get with my plumies being adjusted to the temps of my home over the winter? (Inside the temp greenhouse?)

Is it ok to let the high temps reach upward to 90? any higher? I don't want them to get to hot!!

Good luck Mike...I hope this brings back some discussion on this topic...for oursakes!!!

Think Spring!!!

Laura in VB

Hi Laura,

For me the HOTTER the better..I have let my greenhouse go up to as high as 100 this time of year..The sun is still not high enough to burn my plants, especially with no leaves yet..But it certainly speeds the process up of making them start to leaf out..

My the time they do leaf out, I am getting inflo's and the greenhouse is then kept only as high as the nineties..they love this warmth...

You know what I do to keep the temps in my greenhouse up to at least the 50's by night, when temps outside at night are still falling to the 20's? I use a space heater, sometimes two at once, and it stays toasty warm in there until the sun comes up again...If it is going to be a cloudy snowy, or rainy day, I keep them on all day.
This works wonders to me...I was able to keep my greenhouse outside till December last year, so now I know I can start it much earlier this year, and make my plumies happier much quicker..

I will tell you that even if your temps go as low as the 40's by night, and warm nicely by day in the full sun, you will still see your plumies react quite nicely, better than keeping them indoors, unless you can give them 15 hours of sun and light, which can never compare anyways to just having them out in your greenhouse as you plan..

One more IMPORTANT thing I always do to prevent problems for mine.. I SPRAY THEM WITH A GOOD INSECT SOLUTION, AND WASH ALL THE TIPS AND STEM WITH SOAPY WATER..THEN I SPRAY WITH A GOOD MOLD PREVENTOR, SUCH AS "SERENADE", then I never have a problem with black tip rot or insects as the leaves emerge..No spidermite issues for sure..Hope this helps..

I am listening to everyone here about fertilizing and taken in other ideas, and I really appreciate it everyone!

Good luck!

Let us know how it goes, karyn, please...

Mike..:-)

Hey Mike,

Can't take it anymore....I just put the last Plumie in the green house!!!

Today the temps in the GH were up to 80+ so I did plug in a lamp with a timer to turn on at 8pm then off at 8am. That should keep the night temps up enough...don't you think? I will spray next... But I keep second guessing myself so I decided to let them go!!!! My only worry is that I travel for business and I wonder about the high temps too! But you seem to think that they will be alright for now?

I really want them to have a great start...so here's to the start of the Plumie season!!! Cheers!!!!

Do you have your anything else in your greenhouse?

Laura in VB

Laura and Mike- You both can put a cover over your greenhouse at night which will hold some of the heat in. I think I would experiment with a blanket made by taping packing bubble wrap into a shape that would easily silp on and off the greenhouse if it is not a full sized greenhouse. Just a thought.

Great idea Bill!!!

Thanks!!!

Laura in VB

Lololol Laura!!

That is exactly how I felt....They are outside in my pop up greenhouse now, and yesterday, the temps in there got up to 90...By the am this morning, they were in the 50's..I hope this ok...Does anyone feel it will be ok too?

Bill, great idea as always!! Thank you very much for that!
How have you been...? I hope you are well..You know, the plumies you sent me? EVERYONE of them made it! SWEET
I do have a question though?

They are still in the plastic bottles I rooted them in last year. They are still happy, and they are not root bound..Would you transplant at this time into bigger pots? Or would you let them grow out till summer, then do so?

Thank you very much!

Mike

I cut my plastic bottles about now and transplant into appropriate sized pots and give some water and superthrive/b-1. I try to cut all the way down the side, across the bottom and up the other side. If you do not see ample roots, wait. Bill

Hey Mike,

The temps today as per Hubby were around 80+ But the low last night in the temp GH was at around 45 degrees...He thinks that I have totally lost it because I call to check on the temps...LOL The funny part is that he went out last night and put up another spot light in the GH for me!!! That's Love!!! LOL

He now says that it looks like an alien space ship has just landed in the back yard!!! Glowship!!! LOL !!!

I'll keep my fingers crossed that I have't damaged anything so when I get home then I can put a cover over the GH at night like Bill recommended even a tarp will help with heat retension...Good Luck Mike...keep me posted on your greenhouse!!

Do you have your Desert Roses with your Plumies?

Keep Warm!!!

Laura in VB

meyermike: There are several factors that need to be satisfied for this to work:
[1] correct temperature
[2] correct duration of above temperature
[3] enough light (artificial OR natural)
[4] fertilizer

You've read my post about my plumies putting out inflos. Here's how I'm doing it, you can adjust it accordingly to fit your situation.

I have a metal halide bulb going for 14 hours/day. When the light is on, the temperature surrounding the plants are anywhere from 80 to 95 depending on how close the plant is to the light. I put all the leafless cuttings at the 95 zone, the rest a little further away from the light, in the 80s zone. The majority of the cuttings show multiple small leaves within 4-6 weeks, with inflos appearing shortly thereafter. Once I see green leaves, I fertilize with something that has a high middle number. I'm using something from Lowe's, forgot the name, I think it's Superbloom. They're all thriving, and it's so nice to walk out to the garage and see them all green and lush, with flowers to boot. This is my 1st time doing this artificial light/heat thing for the plumerias, so far I'm very happy with the results. When the light is not on, the temp is about 55-65. Any more questions, ask away, good luck!

Thank you Newgen for that...I really appreciate it..

Good job on yours man..

Mike..:-)