Apparently, I've done everything wrong...is it too late?

17 years ago

Around July my husband brought home plumeria cuttings that someone in the office was giving away. They were ~18" long, with leaves & flowers, in an old jar filled with water. So I'm thinking they'll root in water. Every week or two I add more water but nothing is happening. Flowers are now gone but they are still putting out leaves. A couple weeks ago, I read in Sunset Western GB that the cuttings should harden off a week and then be potted up. So I do that, in a nice ceramic pot with an organic potting mix and have been keeping them very moist, to help those roots along, don't ya know. Then I read this forum. Uh-oh.

The stems are a bit wizened toward the bottom where they meet the soil but look good at the top and nice new green leaves keep coming out. I had been keeping the pot in a filtered shade area. We live in Inland San Diego, so it has been in the mid 80's lately, with nights in the upper 50s. It sounds like plumeria start going dormant soon. Any hope for these cuttings? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Lorri

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Comments (9)

kbauman
17 years ago
Hi Lorri,
welcome to the board. Someone will come in and answer your questions. You have no roots, stems with flowers, are they callous on the end?
Karen B.
Lorri
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi, Karen.

Thanks! Well, they've been potted up for a couple weeks and I haven't messed with them to see if there are roots - afraid I'd ruin them for sure. Should I dig around?

The ends were calloused when I potted them. No flowers but the tops have lots of green leaves & new growth looks good. I've been keeping them in less sun than I think they'd otherwise like since the rather fierce sun we have here can do a job on cuttings.

Lorri
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love2gardennc
17 years ago
I sent you an email for a website that was an immense help to me, watch for it as it may go to your bulk mail box. Or email me at: love2gardennc@yahoo.com
kbauman
17 years ago
Hi Lorri,
nooo don't disturb the roots, if they have leaves let them do their thing, roots are tiny now. Get a moisture meter, check the soil. When it registers dry, give them a half dosage of superthrive and b-1 in the water, water medium, keep in sun and leave them alone until dry again, over water will rot them .goood luck, we are still warm..keep reporting in on your progress. I have one about like this.watching it too.

Karen B.
Lorri
Original Author
17 years ago
Leave it even if I used the standard potting mix?
kbauman
17 years ago
Hi,
if your plants are growing, don't take them out of the soil to check the roots. regular potting soil, will stay wetter..be careful on watering.. use a moisture meter, only water if dry..in sun for warmth..no sun can rot, ..depends on the progress of your plant.
Karen B
Lorri
Original Author
17 years ago
Ok, Karen. I've moved it into the sun and will be careful about watering. Thanks!
Janet705
17 years ago
Lorri,
Just remember for roots it's important to have bottom heat. The nite temps drop so if u're able to provide bottom heat that would be good too.
Janet
mrpearson253
17 years ago
I've had luck putting some of my cuttings' containers on the concrete, which seems to retain alot of the day's heat to give it bottom warmth, although I didn't know that was what it was originally. :) It's not as consistent as some of those heaters you can get for plants, but it works alright for what I'm doing.

Good luck,
--Mark

Apparently, I've done everything wrong...is it too late?

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Apparently, I've done everything wrong...is it too late?

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