Plumeria stem bending – can it be straightened?

2 years ago

I bought a plumeria in March 2020, it arrived as a bare straight stick about 50cm high. It grew leaves and even flowered that season after a few months. It did slightly start to bend, I presume towards the light. I was advised to keep it warm so kept it in the bedroom near a window, where I could be sure the temperature would be at least 16 C. I’m in London, UK and the inside temperature can drop below this overnight in winter. This season the growth tip split three ways and each new growth tip has grown leaves and are now about 15cm long. The bend in the main stem is now much more pronounced. I’ve placed the plumeria so that the light falls on the convex side of the bend hoping that it will again grow towards the light and straighten itself. However, now the top is much heavier that it was. I’ve read a bit about supporting plumeria, but I don’t want to risk weakening it. Any advice much appreciated.

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Comments (3)

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the_first_kms2
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Yes you can use a stake and slowly straighten the trunk. I typically use a bamboo stake, steel rebar,, or electrical conduit and then over several weeks progressively tighten to the desired position. Be careful about exerting too much pressure with twine or string.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
2 years ago
A stake definitely detracts from the plant's eye appeal by competing with the plant for your eye, and sometimes straight trunks are boring. Also, the swaying of a tree or woody plant in the breeze stimulates production of lignin - a natural polymer which makes branches and stems stiff/ woody. Staking it limits the natural strengthening it would otherwise get.

If what you're looking for is having the center of the foliage mass directly above the center of the pot, that can be easily achieved by repositioning the plant in the pot. For a preview of how that would look, hold the pot in both hands, reposition the pot so the foliage mass is directly above the pot and turn the plant so you can view the composition from all sides.

By repositioning the plant you can eliminate need for the stake and will be able to use the plant's phototropic response (tendency to lean toward the light) to create additional soft curves.

A little off topic, but these before and after images of Suthin's initial work of what will be a long sequence highlights his intent to reposition the tree in a pot at the same angle shown in the after image.

The position of the pot shows what an ambitious and lengthy process he's planning. By contrast, what you'd need to do would take only minutes.

Al
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If it were me, I *think* I'd plant them with the short side of the "L" pointing up. Since you are only talking about 2" of the trunk being horizontal, I think this would become almost unnoticeable in the long run even if they didn't straighten up on their own. If they are just the size of a pencil, you might be able to encourage them to straighten up by tying them up. It's hard to judge well without being there and seeing them. If they don't shape up for you, you could always cut them back and let them resprout in late winter/very early spring later on. It doesn't make Forest Farm look very good to ship out stuff like this and then not pay at least return shipping. It seems they kind of want to stick you with costs even though it's not your fault. You might consider posting a review on Garden Watchdog. Forest Farm has a pretty good record so far, but if they are going to pull this kind of stuff, it wouldn't hurt to let people know about it. Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Watchdog
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Karyn, One method I have read but not tried is to use a piece of angle iron and tie it to the stem so the stem fits into the angle. As you described, tighten the stem against the iron with plant ties to pull it toward an upright position. Do this very gradually to avoid damaging the stem. Adjust the ties about weekly. Once the plant is straight, keep the ties on for a few weeks-month and then release the plant. I think it would be prudent to use something to prevent the iron from damaging the bark, perhaps a silicone pad. Mike
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Birddog, is the bottom where you want to straighten it woody yet? If so, it might be hard to move it. If not, let the tree dry out for about a week, that way it'll be more limber. A well-watered tree is more likely to break on you. Like Mike said, do it a little at a time. I'd use a sturdy pipe like conduit that's cut to about the same height as the tree and strap it at three or four points with plant velcro or tape, something you can adjust as the season goes on. It may take this summer and next to make a permanent change.
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A note about rigid staking like you first described, duct taping the trunk to a pipe. Over time this will actually cause the tree to bend in the opposite direction you want. The reason for this is that plants have a mechanism that triggers them to grow longer cells on the side of their stems (or trunk, in this case,) that is facing away from the light. It's why houseplants grow toward windows, and why plants get long and spindly in too much shade. By blocking the light with a stake flush with the trunk, you cause the cells on the staked side to grow longer, thereby bending your trunk over farther when the stake is removed. It's much better to create a triangle of supports around the trunk at a distance, and then support the trunk with loose, padded loops, giving it room to sway a bit with the wind. Over time it will develop a strong trunk this way.
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stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
2 years ago
Oh,its easy to stake them up. Stems are actually rubbery.

Plumeria stem bending – can it be straightened?

Comments (3)

the_first_kms2

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

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stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area

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