One easy answer is that most of us are growing these in climates unlike their natural climate. I know growers in Hawaii don't go through the same things I do in CA. Some people in Hawaii just stick a cutting in the ground and it grows. That won't happen in my climate or soil.

Another answer is that most of us are trying to maximize blooming, and want the plant to have an optimum environment to do so. In the wild, who cares if the plumeria blooms, the plant will survive anyway.

Mike

Budsie,
Honestly, Mike has very valid points, but even more honestly we do it because we love Plumeria plain and simple. It makes us feel good to nurture this most spectacular tree. I have seen Plumeria growing superbly in my area with basically no additional water and I highly doubt that they fertilize. I have heard time and time again that they thrive on neglect. I have never given my plants a chance to prove that because I worry too much. This intelligent part of my brain says "treat them as weeds", but the emotional part says love and nurture and you will be rewarded. This year, I am rewarded.

Tony

Hi Tony,
didn't have a chance to dig an area and get any of my plants in the ground..had couple bad toothaches, had them pulled today

.I am going to have to watch my young plumies, in this triple diget heat, in cans..on the ground in west sun..If seems to much, should I put then on my patio only getting east morning sun? Or leave them in the heat and watch the soil, see if needing water?
Karen

Karen,
It's totally up to you. I think they should be okay if the pots are on soil, but concrete, brick, or wood may cause root stress. By the way, burnt leaves will not kill your plants, it just doesn't look very nice. How far away from blooms are you? My pacific pearl opened it's first few flowers and the scent is out of this world!

Tony

One of my work-mates grew up in Hawaii. Said they cut them back and her sister threw cuttings don't in gully or away from house downhill, and as they were lying on their sides, they started sending out roots. They are so plentiful, they don't think much about them - just like we trim our trees and throw branches away.

Hi Tony,
all on soil, pacific pearl is blooming!!!!!!!! I am thrilled, yes smell is heavenly, so proud. Would show a picture but no options for attachments, darn it. Ok..see some leaf burn on one.. Can Cun Dreams and lemon yellow from Matthew has really long leaves, am delighted. NOthing on concrete, all doing fine. Do have cuttings on concrete, doing nothing almost 3 1/2 months in pots glad was not waiting for them to leaf.

was going to put some in the ground, the heat got here too early, afraid of transplant shock now in the heat.

shame you cannot put attachments on this forum. I am co-modeator of a craft board, there is a function you can include to allow this forum to accept attachements, would be nice if pictures could be shown.
Karen

Hello,
You don't need to baby them unless you live somewhere where it gets cold..
Most people baby them to make the flowers more fragrant and the plant more healthy which reduces the chances of diseases
and also to make the plant more hardy against bugs..

Karen,
Congrats on the blooms! Actually now is a great time to put them in the ground. I just set another one down yesterday. The warm soil stimulates root growth. I always do the first watering with a little extra superthrive.

Regarding the cuttings not doing anything after 3 1/2 months is kind of odd. What mix are they in? How much sun are they getting? Have they gotten any water at all? I have the best luck with 50/50 peat and perlite for rooting. Bottom heat is a great stimulant, but full sun is too much for unrooted cuttings. I start them in a 1 gallon pot, bury the stem 3 inches in the mix, water thoroughly and when the pot is very light, I water again. With this mix, rot doesn't occur for me because although peat holds water, it pulls the excess away from the stem.

You may want to check the bottom for rot. If the end is swollen and white, then roots are beginning to form.

Good luck,
Tony

Hi Tony,

on the cuttings all in cactus soil and peralite. Large thick cuttings, mostly from Plastic Pink, really want that, other unknown yellow white from neighbor. Most are 18" to 24" cuttings. One plastic pink has 4 thick long canes, tops have been trimmed off, darn it, neighbor took off the blooming tips, have them planted too.
some in 5 gallon, .but most in 1 gallon, have been lightly watered a few times by the sprinkler, but mostly kept on the dry side, I mist the canes, all on concrete west sun, patio shades late afternoon..nothing.. can move them to get east morning sun, then shade all afternoon.
Karen

HI Tony,
took out all my cuttings, no white bumps for roots on any of them. Took out the large 4 cane candy pink, has had absolutely no water, dry soil..had rootone put on, waited to dry..planted it. took it out, bottom inside is soft and muddy..my guess the dry soil is pulling out the wet from the cane. soo shoot. cut the bottom again...re rootone..will wait again I guess to re plant. not sure this is working for me. checked the others, same way, with no water. is that the way it suppose to be?
Karen

I'm sorry Karen. If that was Plastic Pink you were referring to, they are notorious rotters (at least in my opinion). You know, it could have been the rootone. If it's applied even the slightest bit to thick, it will burn the bottom. Did you let the cuttings callous over before applying the rootone and planting? Also, if the tops were cut off each branch, then it will take an extra long time to see leaves. They have to branch from the old leaf scars.

Also, it's important to realize that know matter how perfect everything seems, some cuttings will just rot and others can be overwatered and cold and be just fine. If they want to live, they will, but everybody loses some.

Tony

Hi Tony,
yes, sorry plastic pink, have 6 cuttings to hopefully get one!!! Cut the 4 cane heavy one again tonight, no rot..boy its heavy, bet full of water, let it dry again..yes did all the drying, no water. all my cuttings are plastic pink and one un known yellow and white. Checked the yellow white one, bottom is caloused, no bumps..ok, swift on the plastic pink, from my neighbor.

planted tonight grafted candy stripe, taking apart my hummingbird garden faces the west for plumeria. Best spot where I can control the watering and the sprinkler system..will plant what I can in the ground, next aztec gold grafted.. am going to let Michaels plants grow in the pots, are just growing so well, afraid I might kill them If I transplant them.

Karen B

Hi Karen, you can transplant a plumie quite easily.
Up here in the far north, if we want to have them in the ground, we plunge them pots( with holes in them) and all and in the fall we lift the pots and do "root pruning'. They take it quite well.

Hi Shiollie,
I may put a couple plunged...where I live is very hot. Also only have 8 or 9 plumies, am just afraid I will lose them, may want to protect some. I know they are trees, and probably very durable, as you can tell, new at this. I am going to plant a couple more..then will see what to do next. thanks,
Karen B