Can Plumerias be grown in LV, NV?

Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9b)

I know the big box stores sell them. Purchased one and immediately upon bringing it home, the flowers started dropping and the leaves got crispy. That was last July, shortly after moving here from San Diego.

This past March, when my folks came to visit, I asked them to bring three potted plumerias I'd left behind in their care. They were still dormant from the winter, and I kept them inside till chance of frost was past.

Now they have new growth, one even has an inflorescence. The problem is that right after the first flower opened, we had two days at 109˚. Our regular daytime humidity is single digit.

I guess they can be grown, but can they look nice? With such a beautiful flower it's sad to see them fall before opening. Is anyone else growing the in such low humidity? If so, how do you compensate for the lack of moisture.

Thanks, David

Thumbnail by daves_not_here
Tucson, AZ

hi david - i grow them in tucson, arizona. i do not compensate for lack of humidity. i just keep them hydrated and under some shade cloth. i do have a couple in full sun that are doing well though. i grow all of mine in fabric pots to keep the roots cooler than the plastic pots.

here's a pic from 5/31/11.

Thumbnail by tucsonplumeriaz
Tucson, AZ

this week.

Thumbnail by tucsonplumeriaz
Tucson, AZ

and another.

Thumbnail by tucsonplumeriaz
Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9b)

I gathered from your name and reading your posts that you don't let the desert climate restrict what you grow. I have a big fig tree that provides dappled sun, and currently I'm using an easy up shade canopy while landscaping. Over the past couple days though a couple leaves were burnt from morning sun.

How often do you water? And what is a fabric pot? Would a burlap bag work? And is it ok to transplant this time of year? In the past I've used potting mix mixed with palm/cactus mix for planting. Is that ok here, or could it use a slower draining soil? Lots of questions I know. Your plumerias look great! I figured you had a shade/green house or some elaborate misting system. Way to go!

Thanks again, david

Chicken tacos anyone!!!?

Thumbnail by daves_not_here
Tucson, AZ

dave are you there? =) i just had to do that.

some plants require water every day and others every 2-3 days. it depends the size of the pot. check out this thread http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1145387/ on the fabric pots.

this would be a good time to transplant. i would try to keep as much of the root ball intact as possible. i usually just shave away some of the outer root ball before moving to a new pot. this was done to get rid of roots that had wrapped around the pot when i used plastic ones.

i still use a mix that drains well even though we are hot and dry here. it does have some good water retention, too.

i do not mist. i tried that once with an automatic system. the plants get covered in mineral deposits because our water is hard. i just let the plants enjoy the desert heat and lack of humidity. i spray them now and then to wash off dust but that is the only reason for that.

thanks for the compliments.

btw, what plumeria do you have?

Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9b)

This is Dave!

I have know idea what they are. I have two of three cuttings my parents brought back from Hawaii, one was lost. I didn't know to look for a name at the time . But knowing my parents, they wouldn't have payed the prices named cuttings would demand. All they told me was that one was pink (the one with current inflo), one was yellow, and one was white. The one that rotted was the white one. About two years ago I bought a white one from HD (not named). All three have pointed leaves, but thats all I know to tell.

I started misting the day after our 109˚ spike. Now I'm seeing the deposits on my Monstera. Thats a shame because the mist makes things bearable outside.

How about the burlap bag or is that too "olde tyme" and out dated technology? There is a hydroponics store fairly close. I only need three, so the saving of buying online might not outweigh freight costs.

David

Tucson, AZ

i would not use burlap. i have placed several orders of dirt bags from here. http://www.hydroponics.net/c/612

Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9b)

Sounds good. Reinforced seams and handles, will be useful when moving. I'll check a for a local source before ordering.

When more flowers open, I'll post a pic.

Thanks

Tucson, AZ

okay. stay cool and hydrated. it is going to be a hot week here in tucson. i will be dowsing the plumeria tonight when i get home!

Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9a)

Dave and Derick, I have two plumeria that are doing fine. They are in my courtyard and get no sun. They get watered everyday by automatic irrigation. I purchased them early 2010 and I over wintered them per instructions from Derick. I will take a photo tomorrow.

Dave, I have lived in Las Vegas since 1960 and you are welcome to visit our home to see my plants. I always push the envelope with zones. I am in the Summerlin area. My husband and myself are both retired. D mail me if you want and I will give you my phone number.

That is an adorable chicken.

Photo is one of my new cannas this week.

Thumbnail by WormsLovSharon
Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9b)

Thanks Sharon, I'll do that! Looking at the DG member page, we are the only two active DGers (with location listed) in LV.

I'm noticing now all the damage my misters have caused. They are great for working near, but all the plants have a film of water deposits (and probably some dust too). Could this burn them the way salt build up in soil can burn? Are hard water deposits the same kind of salt that burns plants?

David

Tucson, AZ

glad to see you chime in the discussion sharon. that is a nice canna!

yeah david, it doesn't take long to start seeing the deposits. you should try an inline filter. you might want to try two. it is mostly calcium deposits.

Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9b)

Just found them. HD has them for 10 bucks. Aero and orbit both make em. Thanks for the tip.

Santa Ana, CA(Zone 10b)

Thanks for the tip! My orchids will be needing misters soon, and I'm not set up for misters from rain barrels. Of course, the rain barrels won't last the summer either.

Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9a)

Dave, you have a D Mail.

I got up at 6am and hit the front landscape. The weather was beautiful and I got lot done. I escaped inside at 10:30. I was wearing down by then. I still have a mess in the courtyard but you cannot see that from the street.

Shoulder giving me fits today. It is burning and that means the "Nerve" is not happy. I do not take pain pills and the two extra strength Tylenol did not work. But with all the agony going on in the world, I am not going to complain about a little ache and pain. AND, I am not going to stop gardening. Maybe when I get old. And when I am 95, if some TSA agent wants to check my diaper, I am going to take it off and throw it at him.

The first photo is my $27 Plumeria i purchased from HD last year. Was very small. Derick said never buy Plumeria from HD again. Following Derick's instructions, they spent the winter in my deceased mother's bedroom with many windows and no heat and were watered once a month. Scared me to death but look at them now.

The substance on the leaves is dust and dirt. I did not realize they were that dusty until I moved them into the sun to take their photo. They are still in the original HD pot but have been deep soaked in super thrive and Dr. B's potion. Dr. B's is a local concoction from a local nursery.

Funny story. About 5 years ago I used to have this tree service come in the spring and spray feed all my trees and landscape. About 3 years ago they pulled up in the driveway with their sprayer and started filling the tank with my water. Very large tank. About 50 times bigger than a large garbage container. during this time they took their lunch. For some strange reason, I was in the driveway when I saw one of the workers pouring Dr. B's potion into the container. And then they spent the next hour spraying everything in the landscape. When they left, the tank was still half full. Then they went across the street and used my water and the Dr. B's potion to spray the neighbors. The light went on and now we buy the potion, put in our EZ Flow self irrigation fertilizer system, which cost $250, and saved all that money. And my neighbors still think I am a genius. Just a quirk I went outside when they were pouring their secret potion into the tank. Of course, I am a littler ol lady and they figured I did not have a clue. I watched and they added nothing else.

Sorry for the long dialogue.

Thumbnail by WormsLovSharon
Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9a)

Second photo is my $19 HD Plumeria. Two stems. I know that is not the right lingo but maybe you can teach me next time around.

Thumbnail by WormsLovSharon
Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9a)

Close up of plumeria number 1..

Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9a)

Sorry i forgot photo.

Thumbnail by WormsLovSharon
Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9a)

#2 plumeria close up.

Thumbnail by WormsLovSharon

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