Thank you for your response, Karen! The problem has somewhat solved itself: I bumped into the tree a few days ago and the offending branch snapped off at the dry spot! When it was snapped off I could see that the dryness/deadness had penetrated half of the branch, leaving the other half still healthy. Since it had snapped off, I did what a local friend suggested: I cut away all the damaged area from both the removed branch and the main trunk, and am letting the branch callous over so I can root it. I would have opreferred to keep the branch on the tree, but if I can save the tree and root the cutting I will. I am still stumped as to what happened. I searched the web and could not find any mention of something like this. I am hoping it does not happen again, but if it does I am hoping it will happen while my camera is in town :) Thanks again :)

I am no expert, but I would not cut off the tops because they will produce leaves to feed the plant thus making it grow including the trunk. Also if you cut the tops off you will lose flowering for a while. I think I would just let it grow as is for a season. It looks like it is staked so that is good and I would leave it that way. Later you could cut off a segment of the one long skinny stem (the one that is by itself on the left side of the photo) and that will cause that stem to put out more branches, thus balancing the plumeria. It seems to be putting out green growing tips and looks ok to me otherwise than the stem being a little thin. I think it will probably catch up with good care and full sun. ~SJN

I think what happened was your plumeria ran out of space to grow the proper amount of roots to sustain it's size. The under the soil roots may no longer be viable. They may have rotted. The best thing to do is to plant the plumeria in an extremely large container (in fresh soil), or even better into the ground. Bury the stem above the fresh new roots. You will have a much happier and healthier Plumie! Good luck, Tony

Angel325 thank you for the advice. Unfortunately, i couldn't save my plumeria. i kept cutting all rotten stems/branches off until one piece is left, but when i looked at it, it's brown inside instead of milky white. I don't know if i can still grow this plumeria with these brown looking martial inside or it's already dead. Where may i order another plumeria? It's sad b/c i was planting for my mom so i can give to her as a gift. the upload picture is the same plumeria i am planting for my mom. Any help to get the same flower...