Plumeria tip rot on un-rooted cutting?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Please and thank you in advance for any help/advice. I ordered this Charlotte Ebert cutting from a nursery in California. The order was placed on 02/09/16 and the cuttings arrived decently quick (less than 9 days, can't remember exact). The cuttings sat in a cool, but not cold, area of my kitchen with no bright light for 3 or 4 days while I was getting all my supplies ready. I have several concerns regarding my new cuttings & seedlings, but I'm the most worried about this one. In the top picture, looking above and slightly to the right of the drop is a small circle where I pierced it with a sewing needle to check for latex bleed. The section of the top that looks wrinkled is soft. If anyone could tell me (or better yet, help me figure out) the next step, I would really appreciate it. My questions are:

What is happening?

Is this cutting salvageable?

Is this the part (dread) where I break out the shears and start cutting until I see healthy tissue?

Can/should I even cut the tip off?

As I'm about 99% sure that there are no roots at this point, how badly will cutting the tip off (if need be) affect the rooting process?

Is that white stuff mold?!

At least two of my other cuttings (from the same nursery) have very dark/black areas on the tips also, but this is the worst one. I want to 'nip this in the bud', so to speak, as soon as possible. Again, thank you (whom ever you may be) for any tips/help/advice. -Rayann

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the_first_kms2

8 years ago

I'm not sure that is rot based just on those pictures. The flyover image looks as if the damage is relegated to the outside edges of the tip. Perhaps frost perhaps mechanical or insect damage or even black tip.

At this immediate point I would not cut the tip but wait 1-2 weeks longer to observe what happens next. I would also spray the tip with neam oil to reduce insect or fugal threat. Hopefully the plant will seal off the damaged areas and they will dry out. Then you can remove them and see how far the damage goes. Then it will push through the damage or push branches out the nearest undamaged leaf scar.

Hopefully the seller will help you out as well. Edzone recommendation is absolutely right if you are seeing this continue to spread.

Although not part of your question it does not appear that you have a heat source on the soil or container. Warm dry soil = happy cuttings that root.

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Comments (13)

edzone9
8 years ago
The rotted portion must be removed assap, otherwise it will continue on down, untill the plant is dead,

Good luck ..

Ed
Rayann thanked edzone9
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qaguy
8 years ago
Just because there's a dead tip doesn't necessarily mean the whole thing is a goner.

Here's a shot of one of my cuttings that didn't look good. I didn't cut it, just left it be with this result.

And another from a couple of years ago.
Rayann thanked qaguy
Rayann
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you edzone9, the_first_kms2 and gaguy. I'm happy to hear that all is not lost... yet. I have been trying to patiently wait for any change. I want to believe that it's looking better, but it's hard to tell if something is different when you stare at it everyday. :/

edzone9- thank you for your advice. :)

the_first_kms2- when I noticed the tip, my first thought was "No wonder this was on sale". My next thought was that it got 'frostbite' from being shipped in the belly of a cargo plane. I came here to the forums and learned enough to worry that it was black tip. You are right about the heat source too. All the cuttings and seedlings are located in the sunniest part of my apartment, which also happens to be the warmest, but no direct heat source. I read the forum enough to know that I could push my zone and grow plumeria in New Mexico, but it wasn't until after i had everything in pots that I found the threads regarding rooting in water/Gatorade bottles. It's starting to be warm enough during the day that I'm willing to take them outside for a few hours, but that's the best I can do right now.

gaguy- thank you for your pictures. Makes me feel a lot better if I eventually do have to cut the tip.
sorceresslelia
8 years ago
I'm definitely not an expert, but nothing to lose by keeping it going. I had the tip of a newly rooted cutting rot last year and after a little TLC it has come back strong. I sort of fight to the bitter end with cuttings because I've had ones that I ws sure we're dead turn around and root
Rayann thanked sorceresslelia
jedobaTX9b
8 years ago
I agree with kms2. I would wait.
Rayann thanked jedobaTX9b
Rayann
Original Author
8 years ago
Okay. It's been roughly 2 weeks and while painfully slow, there does seem to be some positive progress on this cutting. It's firm all the way to the black part now, no longer soft, and there is the most infinitesimal amount of swelling/growth at the very tip. After this weekend, I'll try to post pictures from the same angles as the original. Thank you again to everyone for your helpful advice. Almost ready to stop holding my breath on this one.

sorceresslelia- I agree that there's nothing to lose by leaving it in a pot for a while longer. I figure if there's still no measurable progress in another 2-3 weeks, then I'll hide it in a (warm, dry) corner somewhere and pretend it's not there so I don't feel sad about it. That'll probably get it to root. LOL I am unwilling to give up either. I want them to live!

jedobaTX- I'm still waiting. Either sitting on my hands so I don't mess with all my plumeria babies or twiddling my thumbs so I don't mess with all my plumeria babies. It's soo hard to leave them alone! I want to see what they are doing! LOL If I accidentally bump one or even bump the pot, I make myself go sit down.
Rayann
Original Author
8 years ago
Here are the latest pictures. I can see the smallest amount of growth, but maybe I'm fooling myself. LOL

Thank again everyone who offered advice.
PRO
the_first_kms2
8 years ago
It looks like to me the leaf scars are swelling which means it will push out new branch(es) to grow around the damage. There also may be some growth under the damage area. Glad its working through whatever happened.
Rayann thanked the_first_kms2
Rayann
Original Author
7 years ago
Quick update- it's ALIVE!! :D Thank you again to everyone that offered advice. There is definitely new growth; it's no longer my imagination or wishful thinking. It seems like it took FOR-EVVVVER for a little proof-of-life, but Charlotte lives!
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Yes, looks like the tip aborted. This is known as 'black tip', which is often self-limiting. And you are getting side shoots. So all is not lost. It just needs light and warmth (80 degrees +) at this point. You may not see any blooms for two more seasons though. That's the way it goes. Patience!
Rayann thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
moonie_57 (8 NC)
7 years ago
Congratulations! Happy to see life on your Charlotte E!
Rayann thanked moonie_57 (8 NC)
Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia
7 years ago
Wonderful news!!!

Laura
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