I finally decided to get some plumerias: red, white and a rainbow. I stuck the rainbow one in the ground out back and it has already branched and developed very lovely leaves. It only took about 4 to 6 weeks. I just didnt remember when I stuck it. The other two I put in a huge pot, each their own, and they seem to be going mushy on me.
They are also outside, but on the driveway. The one in the ground is doing wonderful, but the other two are not quite so happy. What have I done wrong? They all get the same rain, the pots are draining well, they are all in full sun, I ignore them as best I could ( a watched stick doesn't grow!).
Help!!! Thank you in advance for your wonderful advice.
A little help with my plumeria's
Hey there! What is your watering schedule on the potted plumerias?
Hi Ana, the "huge pot" part is probably the problem along with the rain. The one in the ground is probably getting super good drainage which is why it has done well. Cuttings should be rooted in one-gallon containers or smaller, and they should not receive any water until they have leaves showing.
Of course, if it was a huge cutting -- like baseball bat size -- it can be rooted in a larger container, like a two- or three-gallon container. I am assuming here that these are average sized cuttings that you are talking about. See this link for more information about rooting cuttings: http://www.plumeria101.com/cuttings101.html
I think you got pretty lucky with the one in the ground. Just remember that it will need to be protected from temperatures in the 40's and below this winter. Perhaps you can build a little greenhouse around it. It probably has just a start of roots, and that makes it vulnerable to winter temperatures.
It just occurred to me that you never said these were cuttings. If these already had roots, they should be planted in a container just barely larger than the rootball. If they were rooted and were planted in huge pots, then the overpotting and unused soil may be causing root rot. Potting soil which remains unused by the roots stays perpetually wet and eventually can create a bad drainage situation in the container, which is the kiss of death for plumerias. This is why it is always good to re-pot up by only one size. Plumerias should go from a one-gallon to a two- or three-gallon to a five-gallon to a seven-gallon to a ten-gallon, etc.
Thank you all. I guess i better take them out and put them in a much much smaller pot. I have saved a few from other plants. They are cuttings, about 15 inches long or so. Here in Central Florida, my "ground" is almost pure sand.
As for watering schedule, the afternoon rains took care of that for me!
Thanks, I will put them in small pots and hope they make it!
Just an update.... I finally repotted them in 1 gallon containers and one is definitely coming along. The tip is starting to grow and I have full confidence that it will make it.
As for the other one, it doesnt look too good. It is a bit wrinkly but still more on the firm side and not quite mushy. So, I noticed on another post somewhere to cut the bottom until you see all white and start again. Sounds like a good plan???
For the third one in the ground, it is branching in 2 and looks fabulous. I cant wait until flower spikes start!
That's good news! Yes, if the bottom is soft and mushy and rotten, cut to clean white wood and let it heal over for a few days before planting again. If the bottom is already healed over and still hard, I would not recut it. I would only recut if you have a rotting bottom. Congrats on a job well done!
Dont forget to sterilize the cutting utensil in Alcohol and or fungicide between cuts or the pathogens will be transferred tot he new wood and rot will resume with a vengence.
Dip the utensil and then wipe it off with a clean towel after each cut. ;)
Thanks so much for the advice. Now I cannot wait to get home to *play*! Boy, I need to find a job that I can do from home.....
Great advice, Michael:-) Ana, I'm working on that too!
Another good tip is Dont make any cuttings smaller than 12 inches.
They stored energy in a smaller cutting isnt always enough to root quickly.
Im told, the larger the cutting the better its chances of rooting. ;)
When I take my study break this afternoon, I will attempt surgery on my remaining cutting and hope for the best. With all the advice I was able to pick up here, I am sure it is going to work! Thank you all and I will keep you posted with my progress... Ana
Ana,
Definitely cut off the mushy part until you see all white healthy tissue.
Let the end callus over a few days or so. To tell you the truth, I have great luck just setting the cutting up again a bush or wall and letting the cut end come in contact with the ground. You can also put an inch of sand/soil around the base but I have found it is not necessary.
The first time I did this, is was accidental. I was carrying a cutting and stopped to do something that required 2 hands so I leaned the cutting against the side of the house and forgot to go back to get it.
It's a far side of the house that I don't go visit often so when I had to go by, l saw the cutting and it was still green so I went to pick it up and it had rooted on the spot. LOL. I have been rooting them that way ever since and have yet to have one rot no matter how much i water around it as long as it is not in a low area where the water would collect.
Jan...
That's an interesting method for rooting plumerias, Jan! Are the roots coming from the bottom end or the bottom sides? Is this area in shade?
Funny how you discovered that rooting method
I have a plantthat is a cutting from my larger celadine tree
It is hand shaped and had a long 24 inch stalk before the hand part.
The entire stalk slowly rotted away as I tried to root it all winter in potting soil.
Come spring there was only 1 inch of stalk left and out of my frustration I put it in a pot where it was barely touching the soil.
I looked 1 week later and there was a root nub LOL!!
It is now a huge healthy bush lol!!