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Should I plant now or wait till next spring?

18 years ago

Hi, I got 8 plumeria cuttings from my Hawaii trip.

Should I plant them now (Sept. 9,2005) in potting soil mixed with perlite or wait till next spring?

I live in Walnut Creek, North East of San Francisco.

The weather here is around 60-70' this week. Its been unsually cloudy this year. Mostly hot in the summer 80-100'.

Ive got all my planting mediums: 2/3 perlite, 1/3 potting soil. pea gravel on top 1-2 inch layer.

I'm excited to start them in pots. so.... should I plant it now or wait till next spring?????

jim

jjrgaw@yahoo.com

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Comments (5)

mikeod
18 years ago
Jim,
I am hoping someone with more experience than I will respond, but here is my opinion. There is danger in either choice. Plumeria need heat and light to root, and it takes a while for that to happen. I would expect it will be getting cooler where you are as well as fewer hours of sunlight, so rooting now may be difficult unless you have a heat mat and grow lights to augment mother nature. However, although there are reports of cuttings being viable after months in storage, I think the chance of successful rooting drops the longer you wait to root them.

Personally, if there is any chance of giving them bottom heat and extra light, I would try rooting them now, rather than waiting.

Mike
jjrgaw
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your info.
I have decided to go ahead and pot these 8 cuttings while its still fresh using instructions from Plumeria 101 website.
Ive place them in an area with full sun all day on concrete floor.
Will keep them inside when the temperature drops towards the end of Nov.
Keeping my finger cross. Will let the world know how it goes in a few months.
many thanks!
jim
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Kitty15525
18 years ago
If it gets too cool you could always try a heat mat. The bottom heat is, in my opinion, the most crucial step in rooting cuttings.
jjrgaw
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi Kristen,
Where can I get the heat mat?
thanks,jim
calik8
18 years ago
I got my heating pads at Target for less that $10.00

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