What is the best fertilizer to use on these guys, and how often should you fertilize them. I only have one I got it rooted, I bought it last summer but have never seen it bloom. Should it bloom this year?
Best Fertilizer
Try browsing around this site. I've learned a great deal from it.
http://www.plumeria101.com/
mns, Mark is right that that is a great site to look through for information. You should see yours bloom this year. I usually start with Miracle Grow, but I bought some Bloombooster this year. I add some slow release fertilizer to the soil when I repot, and then I usually use the sprayer kind about once every couple of weeks. I have brugs too, and they are heavy feeders so everything gets fertilized all at the same time at my place.
I'm sure glad we have this new forum because I learned something already. I didn't realize that they were heavy feeders. That's probably why mine hasn't grown very much. I have brugs too and I knew they were heavy feeders so I've started feeding them. I'll do what you're doing Clare and fertilize both at the same time.
I took mine out in the yard today and sprayed it with Methoxychlor. I hope it'll be all right. The leaves weren't looking too good so I decided it would be best to just give it a really good spraying to try to get rid of any and all the bugs. It's been plagued by spider mites and mealybugs.
Nightowl, that sounds like a good plan. You can remove all or most of the leaves if you wish and spray what is left. The leaves should grow back quickly.
This was just posted by Jack (Kimi's Plumeria) over at Maui Plumeria Forum. I thought it would be helpful to repost it here:
"...some basics to think about:
Fertilizing plants is important to have healthy plant growth as is having a sensible diet for yourself for you to continue healthy. Generally, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK) along with micronutrients need to be added regularly. The percentages of these nutrients are labeled on fertilizer packages, containers or bottles.
Nitrogen (N) aids in strong leaf and stem growth and promotes dark green leaf color. Too much nitrogen causes soft foliage and delays flowering, while not enough nitrogen causes stunted growth and leaf yellowing.
Phosphorus (P) is [U]needed for root development [/U]and also helps the plants to flower. Not enough phosphorus causes stunted plant growth.
Potassium (K) improves hardiness of the plant. It also helps in seed production and improves the size and quality of the flowers. Not enough potassium causes reduced flower size.
There are different fertilizing methods liquid, water soluble, granular and time release granular. I recommend liquid or a water-soluble because you have complete control over the amount released (by the labeled NPK). If you use a granular or time-release the break down depends on the amount of water used or by how hot it is, therefore if it rains or it is hot the amount of feed could be to strong for the plant or vise-versa not enough for the plant. This can burn the roots killing your plants or they will just sit there and not grow. Use a complete liquid or water-soluble fertilizer as frequent watering leaches out soil nutrients quickly and you'll need to fertilize regularly. This makes the case for continuous feeding program. Which means, every time you water, use a reduced amount of liquid or water-soluble fertilizer."
thanks so much for the information, I'll be checking to see what my ratios are.
Wow thanks guys :)
Sure, MG. To be honest, I just use whatever I have handy, and usually, that is Miracle Grow. I did buy some Bloombooster this year, which I'll break out and use probably in May.
Thank you Camarillo, I have had mine for years and they have never bloom. I will go fertilize right now. I will let you know. Joan
I hope you get lots of flowers, Joan. The fertilizer should help tremendously. Also be sure that they are getting at least six hours of full sun. Some trees will bloom easily in part shade, but I would put yours in full sun for the best possible chance of having flowers. Supplements such as Superthive, Epsom Salt, and Spray 'N Grow are added helpers to getting blooms.
When I first started growing plumerias; I only fertilized them like once a month with Miracle Gro. I couldn't figure out why I had no blooms! Finally one day when I was at a local nursery, I overheard a gentleman who worked there telling a lady what she needed to help her plumerias grow and bloom. I heard him tell her she needed something like Super Bloom liquid fertilizer to force it to bloom. I was astounded!!! All this time I was barely feeding them any fertilizer and the wrong type at that!!!
So, I think we've all been there before!
Goodluck all,
Randy