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Hi Jane,

It sounds like you're in a pretty cold zone and plumies are tropical plants. Plumies flower in their own time - the ones you have are not defective in any way, they just aren't ready to bloom yet. These plants are definitely worth saving as the first time you see one in bloom you'll really be hooked! I think I would very carefully dig them up and repot them as they can't stand freezing temps for very long and don't tolerate frost at all. I would lightly water after you transplant using some B-1 or superthrive mixed with the water according to the instructions. After you transplant maybe you could leave them in a warm sunny location during the day (this could be inside or outside). If you place them outside during the day I would bring them in at night. Hope this helps and isn't to confusing. I'm sure others will come along with more suggestions soon.

Best wishes,
Jerri

Jane I bought my first plumeria off of QVC also. lol That was a number of years ago but I'm pretty sure it was 3 sticks, a white, a pink & a yellow. Those plants grew well but didn't bloom until the second year.

They need to come inside. I'd dig them up with as many of the roots as possible. Repot and move them to an area that won't freeze.
Karyn

Thank you, I will do that tomorrow.

Jane

Jane:

Welcome to the Forum. I hope you get the info you need. I agree with all of the above that they definitely sound like they are worth saving. They probably do need to come indoors if you are going to have any temps that are below freezing. With cold nights (low 40s) they might be OK outside, but you can expect them to go dormant. I would guess from what I have learned so far, that you might get blooms next year. Good luck.

Shane

Yes, what everyone else said. But after you move them indoors, you will find that they will eventually drop leaves. No cause for alarm. They are going dormant. After they drop leaves (I actually just cut them off), you will need to stop watering, or maybe water VERY sparingly over winter. The plants will just look like gray/green sticks for about 5 months. In April, they will begin to come to life again. Slowly increase watering after you see the new leaves begin to emerge. Put them back outside when night temps are consistently above 50ºF.

I still haven't brought them in because the containers they are in are too big. I didn't plan this when I bought them, I didn't know anything about them and thought of them as annuals. I don't know if they will survive until the weekend as tonight it will be in the low 30's as will tomorrow. The only hope for them will be to dig them out of the containers, which will cause root damage. I'm not sure what to do.
I grow orchids and my house is overflowing with them. I'm not sure whether to put the Plumerias in a dark place over winter or grow them under lights with the orchids. I fear bringing mites into the picture. I've struggled all summer with them on my orchids and think I finally have it controlled, but I'm sure the Plumerias have them. I don't want a reinfestation.
I don't know what to do with them. I should have researched them before buying them. They won't survive much longer outside.
Jane

Jane, If it is going to get to freezing tonight I would most certainly try getting them out of those big pots, carefully of course, putting them in smaller pots, and bringing them inside. If you do that, a good well draining soil is the best, mix with perlite and peat moss. If you can't do that, well then just bundle them up real warm and cozy. Welcome to the world of Plumerias! They are truly wonderful.
Lauri

Jane,

If you're really worried about mites, cut all the leaves off the plumerias with a scissors, about 1 inch from the stem. The leaf stalks (petioles) will fall of a week or two later. Then hose off the branches with strong water spray. Dig up the plants and hose off the roots. Repot in loose, new potting soil. You probably won't need to water them ... let them go dormant. You could even spray the growing tips with insecticide and/or horticultural oil once they're inside.

thanks all, I think I will try dave's suggestion about cutting off the leaves. I feel horrid leaving them out there. I noticed we had light frost overnight (sweet potatoe vines, browned), suprisingly the Plumerias looked fine.
What I don't understand, if I dig them up now, won't they suffer root damage? They got quite large over the summer, but no flowers. I would think damaging the roots would do them in.
But, I will dig them out today as there's freeze warnings tonight and tomorrow.
Thanks again,
Jane

Jane,

Yes, you'll definitely be cutting off a lot of the roots. But think of it sort of like digging and storing potatoes or cannas or dahlias. I would trim the roots back and pot them in as small a container as you can find. These plants maintain very think succulent stems, trunks and primary roots for a reason -- they store energy there while they go dormant. They will grow lots of new roots in the Spring when they come out of dormancy.