Barbra, I wouldn't try the bare root storage myself until my plants were more mature, with woodier trunks and more fibrous roots. This is the method the more advanced growers told me about in Houston at the PSA sale, too, but their trees are much older than my plants.

I put my potted plumerias in the house in sunny windows, to extend their growing season, and in the garage on top of paint buckets or on shelves to keep them off the concrete floor. Haven't lost one yet, but the garage plants are whites, which tend to be a bit more forgiving than the dark colors.

I would agree with jandey,

To the extent that your plants will fit in a window, I would put relatively new plants (small) in small pots and move them indoors during cold spells in a sunny window. Reduce watering. If you keep in garage, make sure temps don't go lower than 55 for long periods. Some light in a garage is helpful. I add fluorecents on timer.

Thanks for reminding me, Dave: my garage also has big NE-facing windows. The plants sit in front of them the whole winter, unless there's an extreme streak of cold when they get moved closer to the house side of the garage. There's no supplemental heat in there, and they lose most but not all of their leaves and get only a monthly cup of water.

Hello Barbra,

I also agree with Jen and Dave.

I dont bare root any of my trees. All of my trees have the annual cutting of the leaves before i bring them inside my house to "winter over" in the back bedroon. They dry out for a couple of weeks, get sprayed down with insecticidal soap or something else to make sure i dont bring in any critters!!! They stay in a unheated room with the blinds closed for the winter. The temp usually stays around 60 degrees or slightly cooler but not much cooler than that. I also give them very little water like Jen. The larger containers maybe more per month, but the smaller containers much less. I water every three weeks or monthly.
I think the hardest part is to try and forget about them during the dormant phase. We think that they need attention, but they really need that time so "sleep" .

The door is closed and i try and not to bother them..LOL
Its hard to do but it works for me.. This year with my green house, i will keep a few smaller trees growing and see how that goes. The trees that i did keep growing last year under lights kept getting spider mites and i really didnt like that at all. Those little buggers only attacked the Plumies and left all of my C & S alone. The Desert Roses i keep in my great room and let them be as well. They do require more water than the dormant Plumies, but they do seem to drop the leaves as well for me.

Everyone has a different way to get their Plumies ready for the winter. It depends where you live and the climate that you have. I wish i could keep mine outside and place them on the southside of my house, but it gets way below freezing here and even gets into the mid 20's at times during the winter. So....inside they go!!!

Good luck with your trees..I see that you are in a zone 9!!

How nice!!!

Hope this helps with some of the ways we all prepare our trees for the end of the season.

Take Care,

Laura in VB

I really do appreciate all the great information. They are going into pots for sure. I think I will follow the Botantial gardens in Corpus Christi rule, and pot them after Thanksgiving. Thinking about getting indoor outdoor carpet to keep them off the concrete. Thanks again. Barbra

I would also keep them in pots. Mine will generally be fine in a temporary greenhouse with a foot heater (when needed).

kms2, I just wrote down your soil mixture receipe, and plan to make today. I want to be ready when my new plants come in. I have been planting my plumeria in Rockport, never thought of planting here in San Antonio where I live. I read that you also live in San Antonio. I checked and cannot find any plumeria society or groups here. I need to go to Houston or Corpus Christi to join one. Is there a secret plumeria society or group in San Antonio that I can join? I would love to join one here in San Antonio. Barbra

Lol...The San Antonio Plumeria Society is one person deep. Maybe now two. If we include Austin we can get Jandy and maybe two more. You would think there would be more of us. I'm open for it.

Thank goodness for the Plumeria Forum or I would be lost. I would love to join a plumeria society, so I could learn from the pro's. I met a couple who were members of the Corpus Plumeria Society. Corpus Plumeria Society had a plumeria sale the end of July. Maybe next year you and I can drive down and go to the plumeria sale. The visit did inspire me to order plants from Florida Colors. Send me an email, since I am unable to send one to you. Barbra