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plumeria branches becoming soft

7 years ago

I got a plumeria cutting 3 months ago from a plant sale. I haven't potted it up yet, it's been sitting in the shade on my patio. I was so pleased a week ago to see several blooms on one branch! Today I noticed 2 of the 3 branches are soft, not good. The 3rd one with the flowers looks like it's starting to get soft. The main branch appears ok as does one going in the other direction. What do you suggest I do with the soft branches?

I have another cutting I got a year ago from the same source and it's doing fine in it's original container. I know I need to pot it up, any suggestions other than what I find online? It hasn't flowered yet.

I was wondering about planting the healthy plumeria in the ground. We do get a few nights in the low 30's each year. The other concern about putting it in the ground is that I'd want to keep it from getting too wide and or too tall.

Thanks for your advice, I know nothing about plumerias!

Ginny

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PRO

the_first_kms2

7 years ago

to the OP...First thing would be to start rooting it as is. Its probably dehydrated as its expending energy and moisture without any possible intake.

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Comments (10)

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Got photos of it? where do you live?

You said you purchased a cutting -- was it a rooted or unrooted cutting?
ginjj
Original Author
7 years ago
I live in zone 9 in San Jose, California. It was an unrooted cutting. I'll have to figure out how to post pictures here and then I can do that. Thanks.
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Hi there! Well, Plumeria like to go dormant for the winter and they don't like to be cold or have their roots stay wet for too long - so sometimes the reduced daylight / temps mixed with staying wet too long or getting too cold can make them rot. The bst thing is to let it dry out in between waterings and to have it in a really well draining soil so it doesn't stay wet as long. If you allow them to go dormant they need little or no water during this time. Sometimes they can shrivel from not having enough water too. What is your watering schedule like? Is the soil wet to the touch right now? I'm not sure there is anything you can do at this point depending on how much it has been affected, could you post a picture by chance? Does the soft area look dark? If it is truly rot then you will have to cut it to try to save it. Maybe others can chime in on this or we can get a little more info before telling you to cut though. You could also take the plant out of the pot and examine the roots to see if they are brown and if so prune those off.
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Remember that at the nursery where you bought it they're used to getting watered every day. Try drenching it and see if it gets better the next day. Then pull back on the watering to get it used to less frequency. I drench and then let dry out over several days.
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Hi Mike, I bought a plumeria from Florida in March of this yr 2019. it come in, in very good condition. It had leaves on one branch and it has 3 little branches on the main branch it also had a good root system. I planted it the leaves fell off but a new bunch of leaves have come back on that same branch but it has taken them a very long time and they are small about 3 inches long and narrow. All other branches have signs of forming leaves but not developed yet. The trunk it looking very dry not shriveled but some cracks in the trunk. The branches have no new green growth. I carefully dug around it and the root system has not grown it looks same as when I planted it no new roots have grown at all. There is no root rot but it seems to be struggling. I live in Henderson, NV the weatherman has said this has been an unusually cooler June than normal. We have had some over 100 degree days. I have the plumeria on my back patio it gets a lot of sun but some shade during the day. What needs to be done now? Thank you for any information you can give me on this. setfree7
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Stop watering it until your springtime and only keep the cloth on the soil when it’s cold. The sunburn area looks moderate and squishy is no good. If you have a ‘rot line’ where the damaged tissue meets healthy tissue, lightly mark it with a pencil or pen to see if the damage is progressing and check it every few days. In my experience, sunburn can kill all the way through the stem, or the plant walls off the damage and can recover. Either way, watering yours if you’re in the northern hemisphere right now is not advised. If it’s damaged through, we need to cut and root. Pics and locale would help. Thanks -s
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PRO
the_first_kms2
7 years ago
If I understood correctly it's not potted...just sitting there without any soil?
ginjj
Original Author
7 years ago
Sitting on a table not in soil. I've read they can be potted up once they are sealed over on the bottom but I got busy and ignored it and it did ok until the last few days.
kumira43
7 years ago
I'm having the same issue with cuttings I took from my trees in S Florida in May, before moving to No. VA. I have them sitting dry in a warm room, and some have bloomed, all are developing leaves, but the stems are now shriveling. Should I put them in water? Or get them planted ASAP ? And should I make new end cuts?
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
7 years ago
Could be the cutting was harvested when the 'branches' were not matured enough. You might try misting the cutting. How long has it been since the cutting was taken?
kumira43
7 years ago
I cut these in May before I moved. Should I re-trim the ends & use root hormone?
PRO
the_first_kms2
7 years ago
I would not recut them. I would use root hormone and bottom warmth and all the other recommended techniques.
ginjj thanked the_first_kms2
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
7 years ago
Well, cuttings don't last forever. Don't be too upset if it doesn't make it. But sometimes they surprise you!
ginjj thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

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