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Question about plumeria cutting length.

13 years ago

First of all, I want to thank all the great memebers here. You guys have really helped me and I feel quite confident with rooting plumeria. I have rooted about 13 cuttings and only lost 2.

What I would really like to know is how short can a cutting be and still be easily rooted? I have a Nebel's Rainbow right now that is probobly around 16 inches tall. It's a very nice cutting but it was challenging for me at first to stupport it. The shortest I have rooted was about 10 inches, and much easier to support! I actually like shorter cuttings for this reason but a cutting is a cutting and I wont complain!

Andrew

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Comments (12)

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the_first_kms2
13 years ago
I have been lucky enough to get some broken branches not more than six inches in length to root.
tdogdad
13 years ago
Andrew. With a larger cutting in a pot you need to stake it with a bamboo stake and/or put pieces of styrofoam between the stem and the edges of the pot from several sides. This is why I always use 1.5L plastic water bottles to start large cuttings.
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I would let the cutting callus about 12 days and put it into a container(clear) of pearlite. Put holes in the container. Keep the cutting in the protected shade or it will fry. You want the bottom of the container to get some good heat so even putting it on a brick would work. Don't let it get over 90 degrees on the bottom. You should also use a rooting hormone. You will be able to see the roots through the container as the cutting roots. It will ned to be watered a few dropx 2x a week. You want a little dampnedd but not wet. Wet equals rot. Turtleman49, Were do you live?You have 1,000 plants or you lost 1,000 leaves? Mickey Mickey
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In my opinion, outdoor heat, humidity and air circulation are best this time of year for rooting plumeria where you are. If you can let it get sun all morning then shelter in the afternoon that would be optimal. In that kind of heat the occasional bit of rain shouldn't hurt it, either, as long as it's not sitting in soggy soil. Most of my cuttings get several hours of blistering sun--morning to early afternoon--and a few have sunburned stems, but that won't stop a cutting from rooting if it's meant to root. Just my opinion. You can protect the stems with cardboard tubes from paper towel or t.p. rolls, too, if you're worried about stem burn. Good luck.
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Hi Dave, yes, thanks, think I am going to do that, drill holes in the side and put the pots down in the ground, our Sana Anna Winds can just pop up, hate to see them go over and wreck them for the fall..or bring them on the patio, will see what the weather is later in the year. Can't be taking them back and forth to the patio and back to the ground area cause of weather changes, have to make a decision where they can stay..was always concerned the pot in the ground would be too hot on the plant. On putting them in the ground might there be a problem if the roots do go out of the pot and into the ground? Would hate to break off some of the good roots when removed, don't know if Plumies are like roses and have a tap root. Because I have such sandy soil, the ones in the ground dry out sooner, course depends on the heat. The ones in the cans for me, takes 2 to 3 days longer to dry for some odd reason. Good luck on your raised bed with the good soil, sounds like a good idea for your plants. Karen B
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mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
13 years ago
that water bottle idea is brilliant!! now I just need to get a bunch of cuttings :)
Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia
13 years ago
Hi Andrew...

I had rooted a small "Lavender" cutting that broke off from another branch..wasnt sure if it would take..this was about 5 inches long (last summer) but it is now about 10-12 inches long..it did well..so it just depends on the cutting...as well as the variety i guess...

The large cuttings that i received from a very nice person... :) were very top heavy as well....i used my conch shells to steady the cuttings...the blocks of styrofoam work well...I also used large rocks to stabilze them too!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the day...

Laura in VB
Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia
13 years ago
Hello Everyone...

Bill...what kind of pan do you have your cuttings on (last pic) is this a metal pan? It looks almost like a dark coated pan..which would really add to the heat of the cuttings,,especially on the driveway.

My first thought was some kind of drip pan...

I hope you all are having a great day..

Did you see any kind of wave action from the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan?

or...are you out surfing right now!!! LOL...

Thanks for any info...

Laura in VB
tdogdad
13 years ago
Laura- I use black plastic (and one metal) drip pans from pep boys to keep my pots from staining my driveway concrete. I cut drain cuts in the sides downhill so they do not hold water. They work great. And no surfing today- I leave going to the beach to see the tsunami for those wanting a Darwin Award. Bill
diggy500
13 years ago
Tdog...question???

When I go to an island down south,I sneak a few cuttings back with me...shhhh...
the gardeners down there always cut the tips off...they say it roots faster...but in your pictures,i see the tips....could you please explain.??
I know you are one of the best but i'm also thinking these guys know something aswell..
thx much
diggy
tdogdad
13 years ago
Diggy- I have never heard of cutting the tips off. I have rooted hundreds of cuttings with tips. The problem with clipped cutting that I see is the new branches will not be really symmetrical like the natural branching. With natural branching you usually get three or four branches. Clipped tips can have one to six branches often parallel with the stem and sometimes smaller. I am not concerned with rooting faster as I leave mine out for months and forget about them. I find that rushing or mother henning your plants is only stressful on you as the plant will grow when it wants. You might look into the egg method if quick rooting is a big concern. It seems to work for many. search egg rooting on this site. Bill
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diggy500
13 years ago
thank you Tdog

The next time I go to an island down south.
I'll ask the tips stay on..I was hoping this to be true..
Appreciated..

dig
barb13_gw
13 years ago
Hi tdogdad,

This is why I always use 1.5L plastic water bottles to start large cuttings.
Do you cut holes on the bottle of the plastic water bottles?

Thanks, Barb
tdogdad
13 years ago
Barb. I usually put three holes in the bottom to drain out the initial water and water from much later waterings. I use a Dremel tool with a little cone shaped cutter bit that just cuts neat little holes in a second. When I was doing fewer a long time ago, I held a #16 nail in pliers over the stove and melted holes (pliers should have padded handles or be aware it can get hot after a period of time.)Bill
barb13_gw
13 years ago
Hi Bill,

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my question. Your plants look beautiful and am always open to trying new ways to grow these beautiful plants. I have to many but always seem to find more room for a few more. Thanks again, Barb

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