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Plumeria not growing leaves but producing flowers for 2 nd year

8 years ago

Hi guys, I have been gone for awhile now.

I have a 4 1/2' tree in my front yard that up until last year was doing splendidly. Last year it never produced big leaves, but yet there were blossoms on most of the branches. I even cut off the inflos hoping to redirect energy to leaves. They were kind of crusty leaf beginnings but nothing else. The new branches that developed from the inflos only grow an inch last year.

I have a Miami Rose planted right next to it. It receives the same water, soil, fertilizer etc. I have tried soapy water to kill bugs, dusting with fungicide etc. to no avail.

It is doing the same thing this year. I cut the tip off one branch and it was dripping latex! Here is a picture. Also last month I even sprayed with hydrogen peroxide. It bubbled. It almost looks like the latex is oozing out of the leaf nodes (?)

The Miami Rose is producing leaves, no problem. Any suggestions?

Jennifer

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Comments (4)

hendo13
8 years ago
Hi Labland, i wouldn't cut off the inflos. Some plumerias like to bloom early, before you get leaves, but as long as it's rooted good then I'd just let it be. You can also buy some really awesome and inexpensive fertilizer called Excaliber from Florida colors nursery. I just started trying it this year for the first time and it has done amazing things for my plumerias. I believe a 64 Oz container is only $15 and it goes a long way. You can always use Miracle Gro Bloom Booster from Lowes or Home Depot which is only $5 but I'd rather spend the extra money and buy from Florida Colors. The fertilizer called Excaliber from is a time release so you only have to use it once or twice per year.....it's amazing. Good luck on your plumeria....I'm sure it will produce plenty of leaves in the near future
Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia
8 years ago
Hi Jen!!!!

We sure have missed you!! :-)

One of my trees had the same crusty looking latex on the inflos that formed early before the leaves pushed. I though it looked like a salty buildup .. I decided to leave them and let it work itself out. Mine are in containers and it was the last tree to leaf out.. They still had the crusty inflos and some of them look like they might just continue to open and bloom. I did cut one inflo off, but decided to leave the others..

I'll wait for others that are in your area to chime in since they are planted in the ground.. I wonder if there is any root damage?

I'm sorry you are having these issues..

I'll be watching ...

Hope you and your family are well!!

Xoxo

Laura
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labland
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Laura and Hendo13. I may be ahead of myself this year, since some of my plants are at the same stage as this one. I had checked a couple of months ago and noticed its root system was disturbed, so I had packed it back down good and tight.

This is a tree I have had for at least 5 years now. Fertilized the same as all 30+ plumeria that I have.

Laura, it sounds like the one you described. I am tempted to cut all the tips, and unless things don't improve within the next month, I may do that. Since it has always been a very robust plant, and heavy bloomer, last years strange growth (or lack of) concerned ms! My other 2 plants from the same tree are doing fine! They were the second plants to broom this year, second to my Lemon Yellow (C Star calls it Lemon Yellow wish I knew if it was called by another name elsewhere...strange big leaves with ripplinv edhes...tall grower and heavy bloomer). Anyway...

I think I will continue with my usual fertilizing schedule and see if it progresses. Thanks for the reassurance.

So far this year the following plants are blooming; Guilott's Sunset, Lemon Yellow, unnamed tree discussed, small yellow blossom, unnamed as well, Hawaiian Flag, Lipstick, and my most recently opened, one of my favorites, Intense Rainbow. 8 total so far. Miami Rose is coming soon, also a favorite.

Intense Rainbow (last year's)
daogirl - SoCal Zone 9
8 years ago
Hi Jennifer!

Many of my smaller plants are still just coming out of dormancy. My in-ground Celadine dropped 2 early inflos during the cold weather that we had a few weeks ago, too. I sometimes get that crusty stuff, but haven't thought much about it. Sometimes it looks like dried latex, so I wondered if it was rain/wind damage on the new tips. I'm not experienced enough to give you advice on this problem, but it seems like maybe a root issue to me? The only thing that comes to mind in terms of the last couple of years is that we've had pretty warm and dry winters - maybe that's affecting the plant somehow. I'll be curious to see what the more experienced growers have to say about it.

Hollis

PS - I love your Intense Rainbow picture! That's at the top of my want-list.

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