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New leaves forming on mid-stalk. Normal?

the_greenfinger

14 years ago

Hi Everyone,

I live in Tampa, Florida and I'm fairly new to growing plumerias. I have several plumeria plants scattered throughout the garden, but the other day I noticed that one of them is growing new leaves at the base of the already established leaves. The plant is roughly 4ft tall and is growing fast and looks perfectly healthy.

Is this normal behavior? I cant seem to find any mention of this anywhere.

Below is a picture I took with my phone. (sorry for the quality)

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Comments (9)

tropicalzone7
14 years ago
Ive actually never heard of this. Is the top still growing well. Sometimes if the top is cut off it will branch out where old leaves were. Im kind of new to pluemrias too so I cant wait to find out the answer to this question!

Good luck!
sb91710
14 years ago
looks like its branching out. cant really tell. Shouldnt take to long to tell tho.
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Fabulous now that we can see Cher in all her glory! Oh my, Maria, you took the leaf of faith, Cher looks great! I bet with the trim and repot, her elegant ballerina like figure (caudex ) will plump up a bit. She looks very elegant with her long slender look! I love that we can now see her in full :) You must be so happy to have accomplished this! I found the same with Harry when I repotted him, most roots where on the outside. Having only chopped Harry's heads off once... Here was my thinking: Cut them off in fall, allow him to sit in a low light area and water once a month at most. Let him gather strength for spring. Come March he had new sprouts starting. At first they were little bumps, then fully fledged sprouts and then by summer, he was on his way to his new stout look. I think late fall may be best as you will want to stop watering her due to her having no leaves, plus this will give her time to re-establish her roots between now and then. Harry did fine with watering him once a month in winter. I only started watering him once a few of his sprouts were about an inch long and green. If you look at the photo above of him with his heads cut off and the one before it, you will notice that his caudex is plump in the one with his heads and then it is more wrinkly in the one with the new sprouts. We do this same routine each winter. He looks dehydrated early spring from the lack of water in the winter but by spring he's re-hydrated and plumped up. Have you thought about how much you want to cut off? I look forward to the next update on Cher!
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the_greenfinger
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for your replies. It does seem to be branching but I thought new growth only occurred at the tip? I will try to upload a better picture today
the_greenfinger
Original Author
14 years ago
Here is a much better picture.
tropicalzone7
14 years ago
WOW. Imagine how full that plant will be one day! As far as I know its not normal but with all those branches you will have lots of flower opportunities in the future. Mine has only 2 branches coming out thanks to the inflorescence, but at least its flowering (which im still really excited for!)
ctstudio
14 years ago
I don't know the botanical name, but this is a different variety of the plumeria. It will have white flowers that will start blooming around now. The stalks are thinner and the leaves are more narrow, shorter and not as thick. They propogate with cuttings the same as the more common Plumeria. We had our for about 12 years, it's a good 6 feet tall. We've never seen it produce a seed pod.
the_greenfinger
Original Author
14 years ago
That sounds about right. Except I believe the flowers are suppose to be white/ yellow on this one. I wonder what the botanical name is... I've only had it a couple of months and it has grown a good 2ft in that time. Its about 4ft tall now. Thanks everyone for their input! This forum is GREAT!
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
I have one doing the same thing...

Weird ha.. But it is full and beautiful. I happened after mine broke in half. The new growth came from all over the trunk mid way and on top...
msnsanity
14 years ago
Greenfinger,

I believe you thread and mine are the same topic. One of my plumeria is doing the same thing. If anyone knows anything about this "mid stalk second leaf emergence" trait. I would like to know more about it. See my pics from the thread started last night.....I am curious to know your color after yours blooms. Is it only yellow/white that does this? Man these plumerias are addicting.......mike

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