I just inherited a plumeria plant from a friend. It has been growing in her house for ~ four years but has never flowered. The poor thing looks awful. It's quite leggy, about 3' tall with just four leaves on top. I put it in my greenhouse - and now two of its four leaves have begun to yellow. What to do now? Can I cut it way back? Could the cuttings be rooted? I've never had a plumeria before, so any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Pat (in Pennsylvania)
need help with plumeria, please
Pat, plumerias drop their leaves in wintertime so just remove the leaves as they yellow. New ones will grow back in spring. You can prune the cuttings and root them, but spring is a better time to do that. The warm temperatures help the rooting process. If it is leggy, it probably wasn't getting enough sun. It should be in full sun during the spring and summer. It needs to be protected from frost damage in the winter. Here are some good links to read:
http://www.plumeria101.com/ and especially http://www.plumeria101.com/cuttings101.html and http://www.plumeria101.com/general.html
Here is a forum all about plumerias: http://www.mauiplumeriagardens.com/forums/index.php?
Also read about fertilizing at the link above because plumerias need to be fed in order to bloom well.
It's also normal for plumerias to only have leaves at the end of the stems.
Oh, yes, Susie is quite right. they should grow leaves from the tips this spring.
Is that blooming now Clare? Wow, it's very healthy looking.
Thanks so much, Clare and Calalily, for your great advice, helpful websites and absolutely beautiful pictures. And you're right, my friend's house is shaded, so her indoor plants get very little direct sun. But it seems now that the plumeria has a chance..........
Pat
Hi Susie! I replied to you earlier, but I see my post has disappeared. Dave's got real slow so perhaps it didn't register. Anyway, no, that picture was taken a while ago, but I had blooms on my plumerias pretty much through November. This picture was taken last August.
Pat, good luck with your plumeria and don't forget to post pictures this summer when it blooms!
