This is the first bloom on our plumerias in the front yard. Any idea what cultivar it is? Also : has anyone successfully forced fruit on their plumerias? I'd lke to try this ar but i'm a little wary as i've heard it has little to no amateur success. Thanks guys!
Hi Naien, congrats on your first bloom. I have no idea on the cultivar, but it looks like a nice pink. It is very difficult to hand pollinate a flower with the pollen from a different species, and it is usually done by bees. See this link: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-31.pdf
Hi naien. Welcome to Dave's Garden.
Are there nurseries that sell plumerias in your area? If there are, try to visit them when the plumerias are in bloom (or shortly afterwards) and you'll probably be able to purchase a plumeria with a seedpod attached. Florida Colors Nursery http://www.floridacolors.com is in my neighborhood and there are seedpods on plants ranging from the one gallon container size to the mature trees in the ground.
Plumerias aren't true to seed because they are a cross between different cultivars or hybrids. I bought a Maui Beauty (grafted plant ) from Florida Colors a few years ago and some months later I discovered a seedpod on it. The plants growing from these seeds are properly identified as Maui Beauty seedlings.
I understand everthing about hybridization and how seedlings aren't true. i'm just interested in growing them, i like the grab-bag aspect of it. good idea about the nursery, though, i'll try that.
Speaking of your first bloom, my 4 cuttings are leafing out. 2 have good size leaves already and the other 2 are just starting to grow their leaves. What are the chances of getting any blooms this year?? How old is your plummie that just gave out if first bloom? I would love to have at least ONE flower this year..it would be so exciting!!!!!
CaCajun, if your plumerias are out in full sun and getting the fertilizer that they need, the chances are very good that you could get blooms this year. I have some flowers now, but many of my plumerias are just starting to get inflo's. Some won't get inflo's until later in the summer. Last year, my Duke got an inflo in September, and I had flowers on it well into November. The picture below was my Thanksgiving dinner centerpiece. Inflo's can happen any time in the spring, summer, and fall, which is why it is important to start feeding plumerias all through the growing and flowering season. When people in colder zones get a late inflo, they usually bring the plumeria into their house and put it by a window, and they get plumeria flowers indoors for Christmas!
Plumerias which are started by cuttings flower when very young and do not need a degree of maturity to bloom like other trees often do. Plumerias which are started by seed take 2-3 years or longer to get their first bloom. Most plumerias being sold today are cuttings taken from flowering trees.
Yeah!!! Thanks for the good news. Would you remind me again what type of fertilizer you use and how often? thanks.
I alternate between a balanced fertilizer and Schultz's Bloombuilder or MiracleGro's Bloom Booster, which is 10-52-10. (I really just use whatever is on hand, whenever I remember!) I also use supplements on occasion like Superthrive, Fish Emulsion, and Spray 'N Grow with Bill's Perfect Fertilizer. I fertilize once every couple of weeks, but some people fertilize once a week, and some people fertilize once a month. You just have to see what works best for you. For cuttings that are rooting or just starting to root, I would first use a fertilizer high in nitrogen for root development, and once they are fully rooted, switch to a fertilizer with a high middle number (phosphate). See this link: http://www.plumeria101.com/fertilizer.html
my plumerias are at least 6 years old and they were bloomless for the last 2 until i started taking care of them. a little bone meal in the planter made them shoot out inflos within the month.
