Hi,
I was given this cutting today and don't really know how to plant it. I was reading up on it at the plumeria101.com site but the problem is, this cutting is rotted quite a ways up the stem. In the picture you can see where the dark rotted part is, and there is only about an inch of the top that is hard. I am assuming I should cut off the flowers, they are spent anyway, but then what?
Thanks,
Donna
Donna, if that dark part is rotted cutting -- and it looks like it is -- then I'm afraid there is no way to root it. You won't be able to root an inch-long cutting. You could graft the top inch to another plumeria if you have the root stock to graft to. I say enjoy the flowers while the last and then toss the whole thing. The good news is that it is a common yellow, and you can replace it for about $2 over at Aloha Palms.
well shoot, guess it's a goner then. :~( Thanks for the tip on aloha palms, I will go there now and do a little shopping. That ought to lessen the sadness...LOLOL
AND... Dont reuse the cup!
If you have cut it already, be sure to sterilize your tool before using it again or the pathogen will travel to every cut you make.
Good Luck!!
The cup is in the trash, I whacked off the icky parts (flowers too) and stuck the stub in some potting soil with pea gravel on top. I have put it out of sight and expect it to turn black and fall off. I find things have the best chance when I take that attitude with them. LOL I just used a kitchen knife to cut it and that is already cleaned.
I am probably going to get some from Aloha Palms that Clare mentioned. Was on the phone with mom last night, we were looking at the pretty pictures there, and as soon as we find out if our cousin that lives in Hawaii has any in his backyard that he can whack off for us, we will order.
I sure appreciate your input. :~)
Donna
'Cleaned' may not be enough if you reuse the same knife to cut plumies again.
Wipe it with a cloth soaked in bleach or alcohol.
Then youre good to go!! ;^)
Best to you.
eeewwww, not worried about cutting more plumies with it, but now I don't wanna cut my STEAK with it! LOL Gonna get that out of the dishwasher and boil it. GROSS! Had no idea those cooties had such staying power.
I imagine a dishwasher has sterilizing qualities if your hot water temperatures are set correctly.
Good luck!!
Cant hurt to be diligent lol!!
Hi Donna, Michael is right that your water in your dishwasher is probably set to a temp of 160, which is hot enough for sterilizing so have no fear. When a plumeria is rotting, you cut to what you think is good wood, but sometimes there is a speck of brown or a brown circle inside, and you have to make another cut and another until you get to clean white wood. It is between those cuts that sterilizing your cutting tools becomes important, and that is what Michael is referring to, I'm sure. If you cut into rot, the bacteria could be transferred on the knife to the good area of the stem. A cutting that is rotting needs to have all traces of the rot removed, and that is why we suggest cutting to clean white wood. A cutting with any brown spots or a brown circle will rot for sure. I think the smallest cutting that has been rooted that I've heard of has been around three or four inches.
I ordered some plumeria cuttings just for fun from Aloha Palms a few months ago. Out of the 15 that I ordered, about 10 are rooted already and have inflo's -- not bad for $2 per cutting.
ok, I will remember for future reference to clean in between cuttings. I went ahead and boiled the knife, I usually don't use kitchen utensils for plants and really should not have this time except my garden knife was hiding... my tools hide ALOT. lol
Wow, that is great on the cuttings & I was sure surprised to see them for $1.99! And their choices suit my needs, not looking for named ones, just want them for their fragrance. I figure I will get several and grow them until they bloom and then I can find homes for the ones that don't do much for me and keep the ones that do.
Donna, some of my oldest and best bloomers are yellows and whites from Aloha Tropicals. Ed Packer owns the small home nursery, and from what I understand, he has been in and out of the hospital with health issues so you may need to be patient for your cuttings to arrive. I just order from him and then forget about them, and they get here when they get here. It is not unusual for them to take about a month to arrive from the time that you order. However, yellows and whites generally root quickly, especially in the heat of summer, and they are the ones with the best fragrance. Out of the five Singapores that I ordered, all five have inflo's on them. I'm delighted! Let us know how it goes:-)
Is heat an issue for the cuttings? If I order now it will probably be August before they get here, will it be too hot for them? And thanks for the info on time frame.
This message was edited Jun 16, 2006 1:32 PM
Donna, I think, if you order now, they would get to you no later than mid-July, the perfect time to root cuttings. Cuttings need bottom heat to root. Your cuttings would be fully rooted by mid-October if not sooner, and then you would bring them inside or put them somewhere for the winter to protect them from freezing temps. During the winter, I keep my cuttings which are rooting on a heat pad since outdoor heat isn't usually available. Cuttings root best with a soil temperature of 80 degrees and higher.
ok, if we don't hear anything from our cousin this weekend, I will just go ahead and order. Thanks! :~)
Hey Clare, just wanted to let you know that I ordered from Aloha Palms last night and shortly after got an email from Ed that he had been ill and would not be able to fill my order, that it was cancelled. I sure hope he is ok! Poor guy!
Oh, my. Thanks for letting me know, Donna. I sure hope he is okay too. Poor guy is right. If I am not mistaken, he has suffered a couple of heart attacks in the recent past.
You're welcome. If it's his heart, he's really gonna need to take it easy. :~( Probably not an easy task for the self employed.
