I have been using the Superthrive for about a month and it looks like my cuttings have awakened. I've never had one that looked quite like this on the tip, with the multiple crown-shaped points. It looks like I am making progress. Does this mean that I have roots? I've recently been told by a dealer in FL that it will be hard to get even a graft to bloom in my zone, so I am hoping to do what it takes to make these successful at some point.
This message was edited Jun 15, 2006 2:23 PM
Andi,
Yeah for you!!!!!!!!! I think you've got an inflo there...at least that's what mine looked like in the beginning!!! I'm so excited for you (if I'm right) LOL
Inflo? Does that mean I have a chance at blossoms? And this from a new cutting?
Andi,
That's what it looks like to me...remember I'm a newbie here so lets wait to hear from the others.
Chantell is right! Congrats on your inflo, which is short for inforescense, i.e., flower stalk. The dealer who told you that is mistaken! There are many growers of plumerias around the country who are in much colder zones than you are who get plumerias grafts, cuttings, and plants to bloom each summer. With proper light, nutrition, and growing conditions, anyone can get a plumeria to bloom. It looks like you are proving that dealer wrong! Your plumeria has no leaves so it does not have roots yet, but it is probably in the process of forming them. Try to not move the cutting around too much so that it can root. Put it outside on a hot surface in full sun and mist frequently. Keep the soil moist but not wet. If this plumeria cutting has been inside or in shade, then put your cutting in part sun for a week before moving it into full sun. Setting the pot on a warm surface will help accelerate the rooting process. When you see leaves starting, then you have roots starting as well.
I have it on my concrete porch. It looks like it has some leaves starting on the sides of the crown-shaped part. I am so happy.And this was a cheap prepackaged generic cutting.
I may have over-watered, but will stop now. One of my other cuttings keeps leaning against the side of the pot, but I will stop correcting it.
This message was edited Jun 16, 2006 4:04 PM
This message was edited Jun 17, 2006 12:45 PM
Andi,
Clare put a sticky on the forum here http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/599185/ I believe she goes over the "how to's" on staking the cuttings. I postion my Duke Plumeria so that it's leaning away from the sun...believe it or not...it's started straightening it's own self out!! :)
Keep in mind also that as it is blooming it probably wont root until the blooms are done.
The 2 processes seem to counteract one another.
I have cutitngs with inflos that took forever to root.
If you want to see the flowers great.
If you want roots now, remove the inflo.
Either way is fine, just remember the roots take a looooong time when theres an inflo on the cutting.
Congrats!!
No. I definitely want to see it blossom. Anything I can do in this circumstance re water. With most plants I give plenty of water. Should I let it dry out between waterings given the inflo or keep it watered as if it had leaves?
If it has no leaves water will mean rot.
Spray it with a fine mist in the morning and evening.
Spray the plant not the soil. ;^)
It looks like small leaves are starting, but I will lay off the water. Thanks.
Id wait till you see 3 full sets and about 1/2 size minimum.
Then water her!! ;^)
Good reminders Michael...forgot about the leaves = roots thing. Yeah...out of 5...I've got 4 that have leaves...yipee!! Course the one that doesn't have leaves has an inflo...inflos staying I want to know what kind of white it is. The one little bloom that opened smelled....heavenly...ahhh!
I reccomend rooting in a clear cup, in perlite or sand, so you can see the roots forming.
Then there is nooo guess work! ;^)
Leaves dont always mean roots
Inflos mean rooting is on hold
roots mean roots
its easier to do it so you can observe than to pull or uproot it potentially tearing the tender new roots off.
Michael, I think some cultivars are better at rooting and flowering at the same time than others. It probably just depends upon how much energy is stored in the cutting. I have five Singapore cuttings all rooting and sending up inflo's at the same time. These are ones that I gang rooted and set on top of potting soil. They all sent out roots at the same time of inflo's and leaves. I think it is a pretty safe bet that, if leaves are being pushed out, roots are too -- at least that has been my experience.
Your experience is as good as gold.
My formula is a no fail formula, assuming on the safe side of risk.
These plants rot so easily sometimes it can be quite upsetting.
I just lost a japanese lantern that proved to be quite healthy last year giving me a load of flowers.
It just sat doing nothing as all my other babies including 2 Scott Pratts all leafed up.
I knew root rot was taking place rrrrrrr... Im cleaning house of all tempermental plumies.
I want the ones that want to live here with me.
Ill not replace any that rot anymore.
Ill also be air rooting my expensive ones and selling the tops.
I want to recoup some of the dough ive put intot his hobby.
I shall remain a seed fan forever, they all seem to want to live.
The only seedlings ive lost were ones I tried repeated grafts on.
They dont like it too much LOL!!
OH BTW!!! I have 2 completely successful grafts now an Irma Bryant and a Pink Pansy
I have 4 other Pink Pansies started a Miami rose 2 Just peachies and somethingelse....
I forget lol!!
The 2 I am claiming success on have pushed nice full heads of new leaves YAAAAY!!
Ill get it yet by gum!!
Ya Ya I know.... pictures please lol!!
heres my peach leaf seedling
Heres 1 more
Congrats, Michael, on your successful grafts! Yay! I hear you. I know how hard it can be for some of you cold climate growers. It is a challenge to grow tropical things in areas which aren't tropical, and some cultivars can be so fussy! Heat seems to make a world of difference. I'm so sorry about your Japenese Lantern. I've heard that the reds can be the fussiest. I'm sure you heard that too. You did good though with your Scott Pratts because I heard that cultivar can be a fussy one as well.
I know exactly what you are saying about the expenses adding up. I'm in the same boat as you are. I will not replace ones that I lose either, and I'm not buying any more this year and probably not next year either. I'm content with what I have and don't have any desire to shell out more money for the next big thing. I've spent a fortune as it is over the past few years not only on plumeria cultivars but on fertilizer, supplements, insecticide, miticide, pots, soil, perlite, etc. This is not an inexpensive hobby. I am blessed to have a dear friend that I trade with, and that is my only source of new plumies from this point on. I recently lost my Leela that I paid a fortune for. She started to leaf out in the spring then promptly rotted. Bye, bye, Leela.
I also agree with you about seedlings. They have a wonderful strong root system and are great growers.
I've grafted a bunch of plumies myself lately. I had some tips of cuttings that I wanted to save, and I didn't have any more root stock so I used my "Claw" plumie which has something like ten or twelve tips. I think I grafted eight varieties onto her branches, and she has three of her own. That probably wasn't the greatest idea to do that all at once, but if some take, I will be delighted.
Ah Clare - you're gonna have a variety plumie like Michael was talking about doing with a Desert Rose...I think. Please post pics!!
Wow. Clash of the Titans. I have definitively got both leaves and inflos on the same cutting, and both seem to be developing. However , I do notice that the other cuttings of the same vintage have larger leaves. I will hold off on water, since our humidity level is high.
This message was edited Jun 20, 2006 10:19 PM
Thanks, Chantell! We'll see if any of them take. Some were in bad shape and may not take to grafting. I'll definitely post a picture soon. Right now, you can't see much because a plastic bag is covered the whole thing in order to keep the humidity in so that the scions stay hydrated. I'll know in about a month if some took.
Andidandi, if you have leaves, go ahead and water. The plumie needs lots of water if you have got some intense heat going where you are. My rule of thumb is water when the soil looks dry. If it looks moist, skip watering and check it the next day. Good drainage is important.
LOL at Clash of the Titans. Michael and I adore each other and agree on everything. We are only differing here because of our different environments. What he says is right for his environment and others like his. Sometimes, it is hard to help people because we don't know what their environment is like. So much depends on existing climate and conditions. Good advice is one area can be bad advice in another area. It is up to the grower to know their environment and know how to read the signs of their plants, and it is good to get different opinions and find out what works for different growers under a variety of conditions. That is the great thing about Dave's.
No clash at all
Well said Clare! ;^)
Youre a good pal.
I have many Leela Seedlings that would happily replace your lost mamma.
If you desire ill send ya one when they thicken a lil more. ;^)
Lemme know Buddy.
Thanks, Michael! You're a good pal too, and I have great respect for you. That is so very generous of you to offer your Leela seedling to me:-) As it happens, I have five Leela seedlings (ha!) so replacing her won't be necessary, but I thank you sincerely.
And of course I was kidding (in a spirit of admiration and awe) about the clash!
It was a joke! It was a joke!
yes we understand. ;^)
Of course:-)
Thanks for the advice. Here is how the blooms turned out on this new cutting. I can't describe it very well but it has a classic "floral" scent, rather than a sweet scent. The new cutting bloomed and the veterans show no sign of flowers.
This message was edited Jul 18, 2006 2:43 AM
Yeah Andi!!! Great job!!!!
It looks like a lovely Celadine or Celadine hybrid. Congrats!
What a pretty yellow! That worked out well for you!
