Hi,

If I had one or two plants, I might be tempted to move them in at night and out for the day. Inside when nights are in the 40s - especially if they were blooming.

However, I have about 30 plants. So I will bring them inside in stages -- probably in early to mid-October. Mine will take down into the 40s no problem.

If I had small seedlings, I might bring them in earlier.

I too am in Northern VA and my low was 57 last night. It's definitely time to start thinking about where to move all the potted plumies. The only plumeria I brought in was the cutting I'm trying to root. It's been in soil since Aug. 17th and is actually starting to have a few claws open. I didn't want to stunt its rooting process so I brought it in and will put back outside during the day. As for the rest of the plumeria gang, I will leave them outside until overnight temps in the 40's are predicted or if it's predicted to be rainy and cool. Watering will definitely slow down this time of year too. Sometimes I wonder why I toy with all this, but when I get a bloom it's all very clear.
{{gwi:1206359}}From Garden 2009

I'm in Mont Co, MD so it's the same zone as No VA. Like Dave I have too many to try and move them back and forth. I will store mine sometime in mid Oct. Most will get their foliage snipped and stored in the garage but I might keep the ones with inflos in the greenhouse with supplemental heat and light.

So far the lowest nighttime temps have been in the low 50's. The inflos are still growing but slowly.

These are so heavy to carry in and out. How safe it is to move them by their main stem? thanks for your advice but I will leave them outside until it goes to low 50s consistently. Wonder how you move so many of your plants inside and maintain them indoors.

Karyn, I think you also have a colletion of hibiscus and they are heavy too... what a chore but once you see the blooms we all forget the pains we go through maintaining these in our zone.

Hello, I am new to this forum but I have had a Nebel's Gold now for around 4-5 years. I have had trouble this year with it. Western New York has had more than its fair share of rain and unseasonably cold days(and nights!). I am wondering if this is why only two of the branches grew well. I have noticed that two more are just starting to grow leaves, one has leaves that are about half an inch, and the other one I had to cut off, because it began to rot. I am assuming that all the rain and cold temps was the culprit. I want to know if the two that are growing well develop inflouresences can I bring it in and let them bloom and then put in dormancy after flowers fade and drop?
How do you guys store your plumeria? I have heard light doesn't matter, but last year I didn't keep it total darkness, and all the stems started to grow leaves, but then some of them aborted the new growth and stopped growing. I bought this from Stokes and they told me to encourage it to grow and that I wasn't the only person in New York who had called and said the same. I just wonder if that had anything to do with it. I have never seen the flowers open before. Last year I had buds on both stems but they dropped due to cold nites. I have never had the pleasure of smelling the sweet fragrance descibed by other people, and I feel discouraged. i am not going to give up, but I could use some good advice. thank you.
Andrew

Hey Andrew,

Welcome to the forum...Hopefully someone will help you with your questions...I would post a new thread so that others can read about your questions...When you are at the main page...where it says Plumeria Forum...look at the top of the screen...there you will see post a message...I would post something like...Questions about New York Plumies...or something like that...then write your questions...you will get better responses and answers to your questions...It sounds like your plant is trying to go dormant...let it dry out and keep it from the cool or cold temps...I will bring mine in when it gets into the low 50's maybe close to 50...I let them dry out...I cut of the leaves and bring them into my greatroom and leave them alone for the winter. I may give them a taste of water every month..but only a taste...They will rest until spring... if you have any other questions I will try and help...Good Luck :)

Laura in VB

Hey everyone!

I just noticed an inflo starting to grow on one I have been trying to grow for 3 years now....ARG..Why now? It will never get a chance to grow.It is just starting.

I have managed to pop a bloom on another, even with this lousy cool weather. I took a pic, and I will post it...It smells great! I am excited and proud of myself considering everything was working against me against for the help of my friends here..;-)

I bet that if would of been hot and sunny both June, and July, I would of had the most beautiful flowers on more than just these.. Oh well, at least we know it is possible to grow them up here, even in our area,,YEAH! Even in New York..So, yes, don't give up as I almost did!

You are right Andrew! What a cold wet summer, even at the end of summer now...No heat at all!! It has never been this cold for September! We got only two hot weeks this entire summer starting with May!

You know what I did?

I think if anyone in our area is to grow these, they really should invest in a portable greenhouse...Absolutely!
The ones with inflos are in it, and they will still get the full sun they need, along with still hot temps, all the way till the end of October! No more worries about having to bring them in early. I keep the temps up in there on cloudy cool days and cold nights by using a portable heater..
It was 90 degrees in that greenhouse today,with the doors open and no heat on, all the while it was only 65 degrees outside all day today. I think they like that.
I had another flower open for me today in there..

I got mine at Home Depot online.

Goodluck with yours, and I don't bring mine in either until nights average in the 40's... Your plants will tell you by dropping their leaves. But the ones with inflos, in the greenhouse they go...

As for storage, I store them in my basement with little lght and cool temps. I take all leafs off. I only water sightly once a month to avoid dehydration since our winters for storage are longer than the south.
They all did fine but one last year. It got so dehyrated, it shriveled and died...
Did'nt realize I was suppose to give them some water till someone pointed it out to me here..

Mike..:-)

I've been bringing mine in and out due to cold nights. I have three large plants, two have inflo's which are barely doing anything, probably too cool. Days is the 70's but nights and mornings are cold. Summer in NY was horrible this year. Cold until August. I think we only had 3 weeks of warm weather.

I'm hoping these inflo's flower, but they have everything against them. Too cold, short days. Bottom leaves are yellowing and dropping. This would be my first blooms in 5 yrs. Next few days, cool and rainy.
If I loose these inflo's, I think a long drive to Florida would be in order. Time to give up...

Jane

Jane, sorry to hear that. We've actually had a pretty good plumie year here in northern Virginia. Although many inflos developed late and those probably will only open up while in my garage where they won't attain their proper saturated color -- not to mention that inside a garage is not the most 'romantic' place to view them! I've noticed the inflos here are much slower to develop since nights have gotten into the lower 60s.

Maybe it's time for you to consider a greenhouse?? I'd have to have a greenhouse that is at least 8 feet tall and 20 ft long to accomodate my 30+ plants. Next spring I need to do some serious pruning.

Jane, DONT GIVE UP...

Please.
If I had done that last year like I was going to, I never would of had the joy of finally seeing two, yes I know, only 2 out of a couple dozen, but yes, two develope inflo's. And one flowers,even with this lousy crappy weather, here in New England, which I think was even colder than you...I will post ASAP.

It was not your plants that failed you, but the weather, and that we can't do anything about, unless of course, we decide to plant ourselves somehwere better than here, like Florida..:-)

E-mail tdogdad if you ahve to, he has great ideas to keep you motivated. He was the one that gave me some ideas to keep them warm. He won't let you stop, for sure..

Yes, as Dave and I suggested, definately try to get a small greenhouse. Find a spot with full sun, and you can extend the growing season for them. You can start them growing earlier in spring, and watch them flower later into the fall.

Hope you don't quit! You will suceed and by next year, you'll be posting pics!!

Thanks for all the encouragement! The weather did let me down this year. I moved them out earlier than usual but it turned cold and rained almost every day until August. In my 60 years, I never experienced a summer like this. We only had 2 weeks of warm weather in August.

I've been a gardner most of my life. I grow dirt plants and orchids. I've learned, over the years, there are some plants whose requirements make it almost impossible to grow. Many orchids require conditions I can't provide living in the N.East. A full fledge greenhouse would solve many problems regarding heat and humidity, but won't help with light unless supplemented. I've had portable greenhouses for my orchids and they really didn't work well. Poor air circulation which caused irregular temps and humidity. You can't use them for long without running into problems.

My Plumeria's have made good growth over these 5 years. They need a longer growing season than I can provide. They started to bud in August when the temps went up. They are getting too big for me to haul around and I don't have the space indoors to properly care for them over winter. No room in the garage. Last year I put them in a furnace room which has a window but stays too warm and dry. They did fine, suprisingly and leafed out early because of the small window. I do remove all the leaves because spider mites are a major problem with these plants. I don't want them near my orchids which also winter over indoors.

The Plumies desperately need repotting. They are approx 5ft in 3 gallon pots. I don't have the space to store them anymore. I have some family in Fla. and am seriously thinking of putting them in the car and driving down this winter and planting them in the ground. Its bittersweet because I wanted to see their flowers. They never bloomed before but are so beautiful and healthy. I have 3 large inflo's which will probably never make it. They are so close, but they are starting to drop leaves. I had to move them into an unheated sun-room and wish they had another few weeks of warm weather to carry the blooms.

Thanks again and will continue to follow the great info on this forum.

Jane

Jane, I can't seem to keep orchids growing in the house. It's too dry unfortunately ( or maybe FORTUNATELY!).

Consider yourself lucky! Dangerously addictive...

Jane

Jane....Look here!

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/plumeria/msg09112801684.html?3

Please, don't give up...You can grow plumies that stay small by nature, son't take up much room, and you will get flowers...

You can enjoy, have sucess, and find growing these plants a great pleasure! Just stick with a couple of smaller ones...;-)

Well, Mike, after seeing your photo's I'm just hoping they bloom soon. Mine are not small, but if I can get these to bloom maybe I'll know the joy which keeps you loving these plants. I've yet to see a flower. Mine are at the point of your first two photos.

Great growing, I'm so jealous!

Jane

Your not going to believe this!!

I just discovered another one of my plumies growing an inflo! It is only two years old from planting date when it was a cutting..

This tells me that we can grow flowers on plants as young as 2 years old from original cutting date...

I will post ok.

Jane, we just have to blame it on the lack of sun and heat we missed out on in May, June, and July! I bet we would of had some butes if we had had the heat like we are suppose to. Hold on to yours and let's see if next year brings us warmer temps and rewards. Also let's try getting them going a little earlier..k?

Mike