Shame on that person that sold you a cutting w/foliage that they just stuck in dirt (assuming they didn't tell you what they did). The accident was meant to happen so you could discover what was going on. Since you are in FL, chances are there are still enough warm days for plant to root. assuming you inserted root toned stalk in moist soil, remove all foliage, and do not water again until the first set of leaves appear (4-6 wks). This is imp: no water til then! Keep it in bright shade. Once you have leaves, water "shyly". and watch it grow. A healthy cutting as you describe will likely root easily and successfully.

ETA:. I always forget to say, make sure soil is light, easy draining.

It could have been damaged and stuck back in the dirt during its coast to coast journey.

It was shipped? Was there any info you might have overlooked when you ordered it?

Plumeria will almost always root easily here in FL. I have taken broken off branches & stuck them in the ground, kept moist & had a new tree in a short time. The deeper you insert it, the better, IMO.

Just wondering, bossyvossy, how one can not water & still keep soil moist? Pots dry out pretty fast outside here....

ETA: I did a Google search for "Jungle Jacks plumeria" & got a result for a store in San Diego, CA - is that the same one? This is what their website says on the 'Shipping' page:

"Buy Rooted, Established Plants

Jungle Jack’s varieties are shipped, fully rooted, in 1,2, and 5 gallon sized containers. One gallon sizes are generally available May-August, with larger sizes offered year-round. Sizes vary for each variety, so we don’t invoice until after an inventory check. Feel free to inquire about availability before placing your order. Larger sized growing containers are available for local customers at our Vista location.

"

If that's the case, I would be giving the co.'s customer service number a call -and the_first_kms2's suggestion may be a good guess.

I wasnt clear. I moisten soil thoroughly but not where it is drenching and stick my cutting. That moisture seems to be sufficient until cutting produces first leaves. When I've watered in between I have invariably lost cutting to rot. I'm sharing what has worked for me in Houston but not giving tip in an academic capacity. I keep in bright shade so soil doesn't lose moisture as quickly during rooting process.

Yes, when purchased we wanted a rooted cutting. The sad and sorry branch we received didn't have a single root hair just a diagonal cut that didn't look calloused. Right now I'm just trying to save the poor thing. I will buy local when I can from now on. I consoled myself this past weekend by going to Brad's and purchasing 4 new trees!

Lol. ^ trolling.

What gave it away? Angle of cut?

Not to discredit the OP...i have come across a few JJ at Lowe's or HP without roots but i understand those dont come directly from JJ.

I bought 2 JJ earlier this summer, 2 different lowes, weeks apart, and one had a couple very small roots and the other looked just barely calloused. I left both in their pots and put them in a spot where they wouldn't get tipped over by wind or rain, and both are fully rooted now. JJ has healthy plants and hopefully yours root quickly too.

I have also ordered directly from JJ's in San Diego, and you definitely get a much better plant from ordering directly from them but then you have to pay shipping. Directly from JJ's, you get a better branched plant and definitely well rooted.

But really as long as you can leave it in a hot sunny spot and water thoroughly and then let it dry out you should be fine

Thanks Wanna. Glad you're getting results. Our tree top is still firm so our fingers are crossed that it will pull thru. We have two wonderful resources near us, Brad' s and Sun Harbor so we're gonna stay local.