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My First Plumeria winter in Northeast... HELP!

16 years ago

Ok, this is a big big deal to me. My husband and I married this past April and went to Hawaii on our honeymoon. Before leaving the Honolulu airport to return to New Jersey, we purchased a plumeria cutting. What started as a green stick that was 6-7 inches tall is now 12-15 inches with 7 big green leaves! This plant obviously has lots of sentimental value and I want it to survive at all cost. It sits in a pot on our apartment balcony.

Winter is approaching here in the northeast and I have read both on this forum and on many websites that I will need to winterize my plumeria. I've read that I shouldn't leave it outside below 40 degree weather. Tonight it is already going down to 43! (and its only 9/16!)

1. My plan for now is to bring it in at night and put it back outside during the day when it is in the 60's and 70's. What do you think? (and obv bring it in permanently when its too cold during the day too)

2. Should I fertilize it before permanently bringing it in for the winter? Should I go to Home Depot and ask for a high phosphate fertilizer? Or something else? How often should I fertilze it in preparation for being indoors in the winter? What if I don't fertilize it? Will it die? Will it not bloom in the spring?

3. I know not to water it at all once I bring it inside... but is there anything else I need to know?

Thank you very very much in advance!

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Comments (3)

xerophyte NYC
16 years ago
Are you able to give your plants a cool dormancy period or do you have to keep them growing at room temperature?

You will have a healthier plant and an easier time in the long run if you can let it go totally dormant and start it up again in the spring. Shuffling plants in and out of the house does not gain anything in my opinion. Keeping them growing through the winter requires sufficient resources (hint: sun!, ventilation!, humidity) for success.

Whatever you do, avoid fertilizers this time of year. You want your plants to slow down, not be stimulated with nutrients. Blooming depends on many factors, not just fertilizer. You can find all the info you'll ever need by searching this forum about "inflos" (inflorescence=flowers).
karyn1
16 years ago
I wouldn't bother taking it inside unless it gets into the 30's at night. Let it go dormant. Your plant should have gotten it's last feeding about a month before dormancy sets in. This year is obviously too late but I wouldn't worry about it. Xerophyte is right about the best thing being complete dormancy. Do you have any unheated rooms or maybe a utility closet that stays above freezing? It doesn't need light and very little water while dormant. I'd stop watering it now in preparation for dormancy. Cool moist soil can cause rot. Take it back into warmth and light sometime around Apr and give it a dose of epsom salts (diluted in water: 1 tbls to 1 gallon water) to wake it up. You can keep it outside during the day once the temps warm up and leave it out 24/7 once the nighttime temps are about 60. Start on a regular fertilizing schedule and water as needed. Until it gets really hot you won't need to water too often. Hopefully you'll have flowers next summer.
Karyn
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counselor4444
Original Author
16 years ago
We live in an apartment so my only option is to take it inside for the winter. We don't have any "Unheated" rooms.

Based on your responses I won't water or fertilize anymore and try to let it go dormant. I'll also wait to take it inside until it hits the 30's at night. (Hopefully not for another few weeks) Maybe the cool weather outside will allow it to start to go dormant?

any other thoughts or suggestions?

I really appreciate all the help.

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