Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Received a cutting, 1 by Clare_CA

Clare_CA wrote:
Kim, that isn't quite true about dormancy. My plumerias stay outside all winter and don't go dormant until the temperatures start dropping below 40 at night. Growth will start to slow in the 40's, and the plumerias will start to lose their leaves at temps below 40. I've read many articles about dormancy, and I've never seen what you say is "proven." Dormancy has little to do with what the daytime temps are. I have many plumerias that don't go dormant some winters when the nights stay in the 40's, even if the daytime temperatures are consistently in the 60's.

Dawn, I have to disagree with Kim about rooting your cutting and letting the soil go dry. The soil medium should be warm and moist at all times and not allowed to go completely dry. Your new roots will dry up quickly if they are on a hot surface without moisture, and they should be placed on a hot surface to root.

I have rooted many centercuts, and they do take a little longer to show that they are rooting because they have to sprout branches from the nodes, but you will see them swell and produce leaves almost as quickly as a single tip branch. Here is a link to my article if you are interested: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/45/ I would plant your cutting in a one-gallon container of well-draining soil and place on the warmest spot in the yard if your last frost date has passed and your nights are above 50.

While center cuts may appear ugly at first, they eventually grow in such a way that the center cut is hidden and healed over and not as noticeable. If you don't like the look of it, you can eventually take a tip cutting from it and make a new tree.