I suspect what you're talking about is a long neck. Does your plant look similar to a palm tree? If so, depending on how long the neck is there are a couple things that can be done. If the neck is fairly short you can remove the lower part of the root ball, and then scrape the neck with the back of a knife until it is green. Put the plant back in the pot and cover the scraped neck with your AV potting mix. The neck will grow roots. Should the neck be too long for this you can remove all but about 9 leaves, cut off the root ball completely, scrape the neck, and plant that. This is of course not without risk because you are leaving the plant without any roots at all. The neck should regrow new roots, and I have personally done both methods. The second method should be used as a last resort though.

re-reading, especially Karen & Bill (not that I don't appreciate everyone else--the bottle method really sounds interesting): I've gotten a little more courage reading Bill's final entry and understand much more clearly: essentially, plant what I have, 4" deep, in mostly perlite, water once, give heat & light. But Bill, Karen, anyone, do you think I'd actually be okay, cutting off a branch and make two cuttings? My 1st experience trying to grow a p. was with a Hawaiian Yellow (or was it Gold?). It was a disaster. I was told to try water rooting. Never rooting a Plumeria before, I do what I'm told. --usually when I water-root, anthing, I see roots within a few days or at the most a couple of weeks. And I keep clean water in the container. But this cutting sat & sat and did nothing. After a couple of months, there still was nothing. Since it didn't root, I was advised to take it out of the water; cut off the bottom to check for rot (the color inside was a beautiful white, so ok); soak it in hydrogen peroxide for a couple of hours, let dry overnight, dip the cut into a very dilute solution of bleach/water for good measure, then into rooting hormone and pot up in a sterile mix, setting the base 4" deep, watering once. I did all that. Poured a cup of water + superthrive around the stem, sat the container on a heating pad, and gave plenty of fluorescent light: both going 24/7. Within a few days, it leafed out. Since it couldn't have put out roots in a couple of days, I began misting the leaves on a daily basis, with tepid, tap-water. However, within two weeks the cutting went mushy. I checked; and, the entire inside was black. I suppose, even though I thought everything was sterile and the Hydrogen peroxide killed all germs, the cutting was attacked by some kind of fungus or mold, that must be in my house. If I divide this cutting, how do I keep the demise from happening to each of the new cuttings? (I do have some agricultural sulfur; also a copper, fungicide--as well as bleach and H2O4.) How long do I wait, for the wounds to heal before potting either cutting? Now, for my really, dumb (non-knowing about Plumeria neewbie) question: When growing flowers, usually the center is pinched out, so it will make more branches and more flowers. Making two cuttings out of this one, seems to be doing the opposite: fewer branches, fewer flowers. Thus, a branched plumeria will have more flowers and be more sought after. Why, then, is a single stemmed plumeria, preferable to one that is branched? Bob

Dave, thank you SO much for posting that link, it's very useful! I now realize that I am being paranoid and inpatient. :) It appears to be early still! I just hope to pick as many as possible before frosts hit considering how long they take to ripen. Bummer. Thanks again!

Hi I have a similar question! I went to a friends house and they were throwing a large Dracaena into the garbage. They had uprooted and left it outside in the front yard (and it was a hot day.) I immediately put it in a vase of water and took it home. Let it soak for 24 hours and replanted it today in a mix of cactus and potting soil, and watered. The stem is green underneath all the way to the soul, however the roots did seem dried out (I also think they probably were not gentle when they unpotted it.) Since the leaves have started turning brown and wilting. I pulled some dead ones off. Looks worse than when I found it. Not sure how long it was outside as the person who did it was not there. Could have been a day, pr a few days but since leaves had not totally wilted I am hoping it was for under a few days. As you can see the top looks like it is going to fall off. Just wanted to know if it has a chance? If there is anything I can do? Watering? And also if deck is best or inside for recovery (it is hot but not in direct sun out there.) Thanks! Any tips are appreciated!