Did you remove all the leaves before storing? I also question that they die from dehydration as you can store cuttings for 6 months and then they start. I have left plants for months with no water but fully dormant, and then they start. I have also made a moat around the inside edge of the pot and poured water in the moat so it goes down the outside of the soil but the center remains dry with success. Otherwise, I don't know- somethimes just happy plants die, like one of my favorite Calif. Sallys after 6 years. You have the great with the heartbreak. Bill

Bill, thank you for your help.

I do have another question though, if I may?

How do you store your plumies for days on end without watering? I stired mine in my cellar with just 3 hours of light and cool conditions, and leaves still wanted to grow, therfore the dry soil mix..

Thank you so much.

Mike

Mike I don't water my stored dormant plumies at all over the winter when they are in cool conditions. I give the dormant ones in a warmer area (inside the house or greenhouse) a drink about 1x/mo. If you water a dormant plant and the soil is cold I think that promotes rot.

What is confusing me is this.

My plumeria never fully go dormant. They grow small leaves even in winter. The claws keep wanting to grow and stay green..

I actually lost one in this state from withholding water too long. At least I think I did. The soil was BONE dry, beyond bone dry, and then it shriveled beyond help. This one I forgot to water for over a month..

If they are still wnating to grow, not comepletely dormant, am I still suppose to withhold water that long while they may be actively looking for a drink even though it is stored in less than ideal conditions when the soil dries out? Should I have cut the light all together, and maybe they would of went completely dormant? Then cut the water for weeks?

Maybe that one that died from a lack of water was a freak thing..I do not know.

By the way..Hi Karyn...

I hope you are having a great spring thus far!

Mike..;-)

Some of my plumerias also kept wanting to grow in the winter. I just gave it a little water to keep it going, but I let it dry out. I would say that I gave it a little water once a week. Then I had another that had no leaves and I didnt water it at all and it did fine. Then I had another that had lost some leaves but kept ab out half and I didnt water that at all either and now it has an inflo (which im really really happy about!)

Good luck, now that summer's here (well its getting there anyway), your plumerias should be less work to keep alive!

Mike- cut off any leaves at a quarter inch from the connection and then pop off the little stem a week later. Do the same for new leaves as the plant soil dries. Leaves are what draw out the water from the stem. Don't provide light or too much heat while stored. Heaters dry out the plant too much. Light stimulates growth. Once totally dormant with no new growth, the plant does not need water and the roots are ok unless there is too much heat. Bill

Hey Mike,

I know this can be frustrating when we do everything for the plant and then it's still not enough!!!

My plants that I brought inside for the winter were prepared 2-3 weeks in advance of bringing them in for the winter. They were all placed in a room vacated by my son whom is at VT. I cut away all of the leaves and left about a half of an inch of the stem (from the leaf) then about 2 weeks later the rest of that yellow leaf stem just came or popped off with ease. I stopped watering them about the same time that I cut off all of the leaves. I gave them water about once a month ( about a cupful to each plant) The room was kept with the heat off and the door closed. I tried to keep the blinds closed most of the time as well. The room never got cold...but was somewhat heated with the rest of the house being warmed throughout the winter. They all seemed to pull through...but I was worried about putting them out in my temporary greenhouse. They are all doing well outside on my deck. My plants did try and grow some leaves during the winter, but I did cut them back when they did grow a leaf or two. It is so hard to ignore them over the winter...that's why I closed the door. I kept going in and looking at them.

Keep at it Mike... they are just trying to adjust from the winter to this crazy spring. How cold are your temps at night? Are your plants still in the greenhouse?

Let us know how the rest of your plants are doing!!!

Take care everyone!!!

Laura in VB