Bringing plumeria out of dormancy in So Cal (North OC)

15 years ago

I'm sure this topic has been discussed to death, but in my searches of the forums I just couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. The upcoming week is supposed to be warmer, so I figured for the first time I'd try "waking up" my plumerias. Usually I just let them do their own thing and start up with foliar feeding as soon as the leaves are big enough to catch the mist. A change of employment status is limiting my funds this year, so I have to use what I already have in my arsonal, which fortunately seems to be pretty well stocked. I have: Super Thrive, Spray 'n Grow, Bill's Perfect Fertilizer (SNG line), liquid seaweed extract, alphalpha meal, ProTekt, sul-po-mag, a calcium supplement (Maxi-Cal), and two containers of Grow More Hawaiian Bud and Bloom (which would probably only cover 1/2 my plants). I also have a 2 petrified 4lbs cartons of epsom salt. I'm feeling a bit like a cook with a bunch of ingredients and no recipe. I know the SNG routine, but for the rest of the items I'm not sure what to use as a soil drench, what to use as a foliar spray, and when to go about using it. My plumerias always do great, but they're always later to bloom, which is why I'm hoping to wake them up!

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Comments (3)

tdogdad
15 years ago
I would start by putting a tablespoon or two of sulpo-mag, according by size around each plant and water in with a shot of seaweed extract and a drop of superthrive in each gallon of water. In a week to ten days water down your HB&B at about a tablespoon per 1-2 gallons and feed. When leaves come use your SNG routine but alternate with the Maxi-cal with some seaweed and superthrive and use both as a foliar feed. This will stretch out what you have. I do not uses alphalpha meal but the Protekt is used in September to harden up plants for the winter. Use a drop of superthrive in any watering and a dab of seaweed extract. This is not ideal but will get your plants going. Bill
ladyver
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks! Since the weather is cooporating this week I'm planning to get it done today. How much Sul-Po-Mag would be used for the 1 gallon pots, or are the directions on the bag pretty accurae? Is there a post or a past post that does illustrate the best fertilizing program? Or is that all located on Jack's page?

I also found 5 packs of Messenger....it's worked wonders on my roses but the jury is still out on how it works on my plumerias.

Thanks again for all of your great advice!
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Annamaria- I would bring it out now in a zone 10 and give it a couple of tablespoons of epsoms salts (or sulpo mag if you have) worked into the soil or mixed in warm water, let cool a bit and water the plant. In two weeks I would fertilize with your growmore watering the plant and the soil and repeat every 10 days until leaves get over 6 inches and then use every 7 days. You may need to add some more epsoms salts in 6 weeks. I would pick up some spray-n-grow and spray as directed on leaves in between fertilizing. This is just a simple path to get bud formation as long as your plant is not root bound in a pot. Jack at Kimis has recommended some other growmore formulas which I am trying this year but I trust his knowledge. I have had good results with the above although I am sure there are better methods, if you can find sources of the products. Bill
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tdogdad
15 years ago
I use about a large spoon (tablespoon) on a one gallon spinkled around but not next to the stem and worked into the soil. For a 5 gallon I use about two. Almost anything you have will work on plumerias but if you are buying at OCFS you can get watersoluables by growmore in 25 lb bags. Some people use 10-52-10, some use 20-20-20. Jack and I (trying it this season) are using 15-5-15 plus calcium and mag which you have to order. Bud Guillott uses 50lb bags of Best 6-20-20XB pellets which is a once every month and a half feeding. I think the plants have a wide appetite and can grow on almost anything, but the soil can be damaged by high phosphates over time and needs to have good fungi reintroduced. Jack has detailed info on the Kimis site and he always has great looking plants and does a great deal of testing. I have also used Dr.Earth #8 which comes in 50lb bags and is pricy but organic, with many micronutrients. Also your SNG program is really excellent as long as you put the cocowet in first, then the sng in 80-100 degree water and wait 15 min. if it does not turn yellow I think you add baking soda. Add the bill's perfect last and I use a pump sprayer to foliar feed but not between 10 and 4 when it is hot and the leaves do not absorb well. You can search this forum for comments on fertilizing as well as look in books but you will find Jack's arguments based on his studies. I am trying his blend this year so I do not have results yet but I am confident that Jack knows his stuff. Bill

Bringing plumeria out of dormancy in So Cal (North OC)

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tdogdad

ladyver
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Bringing plumeria out of dormancy in So Cal (North OC)

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tdogdad

ladyverOriginal Author

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ladyver
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