Treat it badly, keep it on the dry and very sunny, it should flower. My friend received a big frangipani branch and was supposed to plant it last spring. The thing is she is not a mad gardener and she just put it in the corner and forgot it. Well after some time she noticed this strange thing flowering where , she was sure she had not planted anything. Sure enough it was the frangipani cutting flowering its head off. This is from experience, however the experts say that if you want to make sure that the cutting will flower you should wire the branch you want to cut off. Leave it untill it swells where the wire is (about 2 months), cut it off, plant and it should flower the same season. This is advice from plumieria growers in Hawai.

Thanks Meggs, I think I can do this. Will move the pots into a sunnier position. Best to you, Grub.

My cutting flowered the first season, but not the second.

Oh. So it's not like once it flowers it does so for life. I read up last night that the red ones can only be grown up your way. The pink variants are the ones that interest me most. I'll treat it mean to keep it keen and see if that works. Thanks for your feedback.

In its first year in the ground, the Frangipani branch still has the programing from the parent tree in its cells and has already prepared for a new seasons flowering. If you let this happen it will pull energy and nutrients for flowering out of the reserves from within the cutting, as it has not got sufficient roots. This will weaken and delay its ability too develop a selfsufficient root system. This could explain no flowers in the second season that happened with Amelie above. Developing sufficient roots can take at least a season or two, but after that you will have an excellent plant.

Grub, it may flower first season, but if it was me I would knock off any flower buds as early as possible in its first year. Feed with Seasol or any other root stimulant to encourage root development. That way you will get a much better plant in a few short years.

It is a bit like us when we have go down with the dreaded lurgy. We need a bit of time and feeding up to get our energy back, so we can push that wheelbarrow.

Grub,
regarding your MIL tongue plantings.I used a backhoe to remove one that had once been a potbound specimen that the previous owners had chucked into a corner of the property.
It became a monster,just like my MIL.
I chucked out half a dozen agarves once and chuckle when I see them used as architectural plants and sell for buckets of money.
No one has offered me a frangipani cutting yet but I live in hope......

Grub, just to let you know that I grew a spectacular red frangi in Perth as well as apricot, pink, white and tricoloured. I don't see why you couldn't grow any colour you want in Sydney.

Cheers, Jules

Calthrop,
I'm with you. Agarves are back in such a big way and they cost a large fortune in an imported cermic pot at a coffee-and-cake nursery. Every thing old is new again. At my joint, modest though it is, I have them all inc. catoneaster, ochna, MILT, wisteria, huge camelias, white cedar and the piece de resistance, more fish fern than a fish market. But I kinda like it. Oh, I forgot the front hedge, purple lantana :) But in a strange way I love the Old Bag granny stuff to death. Don't mean to be harsh. Sentimentality, me thinks.

Jules,
There's something about Frang. that screams summer and fun. My parrtner is in love with them. My MIL, her mum, has a front bed with pinks combos. Shound I take a cutting when I look after their house in a few weeks? Ooooh, so tempting.

Grub, I'd take several cuttings if I were you, just to make sure the plant is balanced of course, as taking only one might make it look uneven. LOL

Cheers, Jules (swooning at the mere thought of the scent of those lovely flowers)

I would like to know when and how is the best time to strike frangipani branches.I have heard you take off a branch and let it wither then just put it into potting mix in a large pot.Is this correct and should I wait until the flowers and leaves have all gone.HLP please. Chris

g'day chris,

it si coming to the end of their growing season now when they will be dormant, so best time to take cutting for me would be late winter into spring, take the cutting ensure that the cut allows for bleeding of the latex sap, stand cut end down, someplace in good sun allow to dry out even if it shrivels a bit reckon from 2 weeks to maybe a month, this ensures that once planted you won't get any fungal issues, plant it then water it in and let it dry between water best to pot it.

i have seen fallen bits of branches just laying there and all shrivelled and dry take root. they are fairly hardy.

just a hint when a thread is so old best to start anew one for yourself if the answer is not in that old thread.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page