Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Any day now..., 1 by Clare_CA

Clare_CA wrote:
Kathleen, it doesn't matter if the inflo's come up during the winter. As soon as the weather changes, the flowers will too. Over here during May Gray and June Gloom, the plumeria flowers are small and pale and lacking the red color, but by the time the heat of the summer kicks in in July, August, and September, the flowers are bigger, and the colors are more intense and rich. Inflo's can stay on a really long time. I have some inflo's that are over a year old now. They are so old that the new growth that grew around them are blooming now too. Inflo's can bloom during the spring, summer, and fall and then stop for the winter and then start again in the spring.

Trent, you are cleared to put them outside then! LOL! Wow, you want to be very careful, but, yes, I would straighten it. Slide a bamboo stake or plastic stake right up against the plumeria and tie tightly at the base with a plastic stretchy tie. Then tie the top part, pulling the plumeria back toward the stake until it is straight and tie. Plumerias are remarkably stretchy but don't force it too far if you feel like it will break. It just depends upon how bent it really is. If it is in the shape of a "U," you may have to straighten it in steps by tying the top tie tighter every few weeks. In about a month, you can remove the stake and ties, and the plumie will stay straight. Here's an older picture of mine showing some cuttings which were straightened by this method.

This message was edited Apr 4, 2008 6:20 PM