Hi Mulchlady.
welcome to the forum. Congrats on your purchases.

some of our experts will come in and answer your questions.
Karen b.

No, no, no. A cutting has no roots so you do not constantly water it because there is nothing to take up the water so it sits and rots the bottom of the stem. A cutting has water in the stem so it sends out roots to find more as it begins to make leaves- a process that takes 6-10 weeks depending on conditions. A rooted cutting already has roots to absorb moisture so you want to water it and let it dry down but not sit coldly in soggy soil. Misting the stem during this time is good. Ease it into direct sun giving it several hours a day and increasing over a week or two. B-1 is a solution used in rooting and in transplanting plants which encourages root growth and eases transplant shock. It is in Superthrive which has extras. I always soak a rooted plant in superthrive, seaweed extract and B-1 with water for several hours before planting (I do cuttings too) and then pour the solution into the pot after planting. I cut off a 1.5 liter plastic water bottle and put about 3 inches of the solution for soaking. I repeat the solution as watering for the first few weeks until the plant is off and running. Remember, a rooted cutting is like a plant coming out of dormancy and not like a regular cutting that is trying to root. Bill

Hi everyone.
i am new to plumeria too and was just last night at Home Depot and purchased a plumeria it has leaves so that must mean roots too? I saw a few that were limp and soft does that mean they are gonners? I hope these flower this year??
Thanks for your input debbie

The 1st cutting from Feb, I'll just let go until I see leaves. I'm really not clear about the two rooted ones. They have roots but no leaves.

If it has roots but no leaves yet, can I water it?
The one that came bare root that I potted up, should I take it out of the pot ant soak it in Superthrive and repot it?

Thanks
Mulchlady

has roots- give water in limited amounts increasing as it grows leaves.
Cuttings without roots- one water and then none until leaves come.
bare root- soak and transplant and follow the steps above. Bill

Thank you. I will un-pot the bare rooted one(it's only been potted about a week), soak in Superthrive and repot.

The one that was sent to me already potted/rooted I'll give small amounts of water. From what I've read in other posts, I can also give it some Superthrive, yes?
Mulchlady

Mulchlady,
I wouldn't un-pot the bare rooted ones. I think it would just be a set back. Instead, just add the superthrive etc. to your next watering.

Yes, you can give the others (potted), superthrive also.

Tony

Thanks Tony, and everyone who has responded. Your help has given me the information and condidence to go forward without making major errors. This is a wonderful forum and you folks are great.

It is very interesting to me how I have gone from knowing nothing about plumeria, to seeing my first plant at a flower show to the present with what I might describe as a somwhat mild obsession. I started with no plumeria, now I have three. Oh well, life is short so we might as well garden.

Mulchlady

I'd advise to leave the one potted alone too, it's already settling in to it's pot and you'd traumatize it unnecessarily taking it out to soak in SuperThrive when you can water with it. Put a saucer under the pot for a while and make sure the soil is saturated, let it drain thoroughly and don't water again til it's dry.

Plumerias multiply easily, you'll have more than three very soon. I don't know why 1 or 3 or 3 dozen aren't enough...

Suzanne

Thanks Suzanne. I enjoy new gardening experiences and look forward to watching the plumerias go through their various growth cycles. I just gave the two pots a drink with the Superthrive. They are in the greenhouse and the pots had gotten so very dry. I feel better now. I will not water again until the pots are bone dry.
I will read the forum with interest to learn from the more experienced growers.

Mulchlady

Mulchlady- you have a rooted plant so do not go bone dry as this is not good for the roots. Mist often. water every 7 days or more as claws and leaves develop. Use a few drops of superthrive in a gallon of water for all your watering as it only helps and is not a fertilizer. Bill

Thanks Bill, I will. If I see little claws developing on the cutting, an I assume that it has roots, or no?

Mulchlady

Mulchlady- you said at first you purchased rooted cuttings. These should come with roots wrapped in tissue or paper and the roots are clearly seen. If you got cuttings that came clean at the end with no roots, that is a cutting and not a rooted cutting. I am confused as to what you purchased. Bill

I just wanted to interject and mention that no matter what you received Mulchlady, the greenhouse environment may be treated a little differently when it comes to cuttings and rooted plants. Or any plants for that matter. Especially depending on your zone. You always have to take several aspects into consideration. What are you growing and what is the natural climate for it? A matter of adjustments my friend. I've been learning this as of late :) Sometimes the hard way. Not meant to spook you out of plumeria, just another avenue for you to consider.
Karen R

Sorry for the confusion. I purchased 3 plumeria. Two were rooted, one in a pot the other bare root and one cutting, no roots just a stick.

The stick is now starting to grow claws and I wondered if I should assume that if it is growing claws, that it also has roots and should not let it remain bone dry but water a little with Superstrive.

I am in zone 6 (although I consider it more a zone5/6 split) in central New Jersey. I am growing a variety of plants. Meyer Lemon(just picked my first lemon), Key Lime, several jasmine varieties, Brunfelsia, Passion Flower, Hoya and many more. It is rather small and heated for winter. I move all the plants onto a screened gagebo for the summer.

Water the rooted ones but not the one growing claws. Mist it or you can make a small trench around the pot edge and put water in that but leave the center dry until you clearly have leaves. The stem needs to stay dry and send out roots looking for water. Water down the side will put some moisture in the soil but not enough to create rot. Plumerias take patience and a bit of neglect. Bill