Keep us updated! I'm also approaching my first winter with plumerias!

So happy to meet a fellow Oregonian!!! Can you tell me a little about your set-up for winter lighting? best wishes!

Nancy

Nancy, is that a lot more cab you are going to need going forward? Sounds good to me! No worries needed for winter. I winter around 50 potted plumies every winter in my garage in north TX zone 8b with halogen shop lights that I use only when temps really get below freezing outside. Do you plan to keep yours actively growing with the HO light or let it go dormant for a period? Best of luck. Plumies are indeed addictive!

Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!! Definitely going to need to stockpile the cab for when the first round of spider mites hits. That's a lot of plumerias you have there! Yes Kevin, going to try to keep mine green through the winter, but one has already begun to say goodnight so we'll see. Think I'm spending at least an hour a day pouring over MPG, Florida Colors and JJ trying to rein in impulses to spend more money there. Husband has been patient but gives me the look with every delivery. Have my eye on Camra at MPG. Best wishes to you.

My first winter, too! I only have 5 plants from OSH. Both my cuttings didn't make it :( I do have a Siam Lavender seedling growing....hope it comes out purple in a couple years!

I have a 4x32w T8 fluorescent fixture....already had it, just had to buy bulbs. Already went way over budget with the plumie addiction :) Hoping to keep a couple active over the winter, but I have no idea.

Hope yours work out!

Leenarz,

Thank you for replying- nice hearing from a fellow Oregonian. Loved to hear about and seeing your setup. Your plumerias look robust- mine are weaklings by comparison although they are almost all cuttings 3 months or less. How did you get the plumeria bug after jasmines?

Here's what it looks like today in my backyard. Gray, rainy, big waves.

Are you going to put yours outside in the summer? And what mixture of soil do you use? A nice gentleman here has been encouraging me to do a greenhouse, and considering it if I can get my kids to surprise me with what I have on my Amazon wish list. It'll just be maybe April/May till October as think our big winds would knock it down quickly in the winter. Would love to know what your summer plan is. Worry a lot about spider mites- I Neem oil mine every 2 weeks.

Love to catch up with you now and then. Please keep in touch when you are able. Best plumeria wishes,

Nancy

Hi Nancy!

Your set up is amazing! I dont quite have that much space, or I haven't made room for that yet. Haha. Also I don't yet have a strong track record of handling seedlings and cuttings of any plant...

I got my plumerias at the end of July from Jungle Jacks! I purchased the one gal plants, I'm not sure how old they are though. I posted pictures somewhere on the forum the day after they arrived. The soil and pot is what they arrived in, I probably won't repot until next summer. The soil seems to be very porous and lightweight, it drains very fast. They arrived with a lot of leaves. I left them outside the first day I got them, first in a dappled shade area for a week or two and then the hottest and brightest spot I could find in the backyard. Even on those 90+ degree days, they seemed to be loving it. They actually got spider mites while they were still outside! At first I thought I could rinse them off with water, haha. Now that they're inside I'm still spraying them with Neem oil every week. I hope I can survive this winter!

In general, I have an interest in trying to propagate warmer climate plants indoors (turmeric, avocado, pineapple..) just to see if I could do it. I think I was perusing gardenweb way too much in search of the perfect jasmine sambac and optimal care (the scent is so lovely), and stumbled on all these gorgeous photos of plumerias! I've seen giant plumeria trees in Thailand and Hawaii, but never thought that I'd be able to possibly grow them here! I did my research, and told myself I'd only get one so I won't be too disappointed if I kill it. As you already know, I ended up with two. It's so tempting, even though they likely won't bloom for a few years.

I would love a greenhouse for the summer! Even the slightest gusts can knock mine down since the soil is so lightweight. I believe I read that Jungle Jacks keeps all their plumerias in a humid greenhouse in Southern California. If I can survive the winter, you'll probably see a post from me of a DIY greenhouse tent this summer! :D