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Plumeria Care |
Rooting Plumeria from Cuttings:
Take your cutting and dip the flat cut end in water (DO NOT RE-CUT). Then, dip it in rooting hormone and set it aside to allow hormone to dry on & stick.
Select an appropriate sized container. I prefer a 2-gallon with good drainage (black plastic works great).
Mix ¼ premium potting soil to ¾ perlite (or just pick up a bag of cactus mix at any garden center). Then fill the pot, and pack it in tightly on all sides.
Pre-moistening the media is recommended. Use Approximately 2 cups.
Insert your cutting approximately 3 inches deep.
Pack the mix all around the cutting. Fill the last of the container with more mix or sand for stability if needed (pea gravel can cause severe stem burn in high temperatures).
Place your plumeria in light shade for the first week. Then place permanently in full sun. If it is not warm outdoors, bring your potted cutting inside and place it somewhere warm.
ROOTING PROCESS: Water is not needed much, because there aren't enough or any roots to absorb it yet. Drowning your cutting often, can ultimately cause stem rot. Two cups of water once a week is plenty until it has grown 4 large leaves. Then, water can be doubled to two cups twice a week until it's grown a crown of leaves. Most plumeria cuttings root nicely within approximately 90 days. From there after, you can water it every other day or so, while temperatures are warm. I probe the soil with my finger when I want to get a better idea of the moisture level in the container.
Helpful Tip: Bottom heat is an effective root stimulator. You can place your container on concrete during warm weather months to speed up rooting process. If you want to root a cutting in the middle of a harsh winter, you can use an electric heating pad indoors.
Keep In Mind: Plumeria often flower before they're rooted. It is highly recommended that the inflorescence be removed (use a pruner or sharp knife). This will allow the cutting to focus all energy on producing roots. Pre-mature blooming will stress a rooting plant, and could even kill it. Remember: leaves are a sign of roots, not flowers. Also a plumeria plant's first bloom may not always immediately resemble the exact mother flowers. New plants require time to establish a full and thriving root system to perform at their best. Also, don't forget plumeria will go into dormancy during the cold months. They loose their leaves, and usually stop blooming. Every spring they re-grow beautiful foliage.
Encourage Blooming & Growth: Fertilize once a month with a water soluble bloom booster formula. This applies to rooted plants, only while temperatures are warm. Do not feed during winter dormancy. As your plant starts to out grow it's container, you can transplant it with fresh potting mix into a bigger pot. This encourages it to grow and bloom more consistantly. My favorite transplanting mix for a plumeria with a well established root system is, equal parts: potting soil, perlite, and compost.
Planting Rooted Plumeria:
Carefully unwrap your plant. Select an appropriate sized container, and prepare a 50/50 perlite and potting soil mixture (or just pick up some cactus mix). The objective is to achieve excellent drainage. Fill the pot half way, and place your plant in the container. Then, continue filling the container with more mix, leaving only one to two inches to the top free (try not to bury your plumeria too deep). Firmly pack the soil on all sides. Use more mix or sand if you want more stability. Water thoroughly and place your plant in light shade for the first week before exposing it to full sun. This will allow the plant adjust with less stress.
These instructions may sound detailed, but they're really simple and plumeria is easy to care for. If you're a first-timer, don't be intimidated. Try it with confidence! Just follow the steps above and you'll be thrilled with your results. Let plumeria fill your home and garden with their heavenly, permeating scent and romantic spirit of Aloha. MUCH MAHALO for visiting TropicNature.net!
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