Hi Ya'll. I recently (late August) began collecting and growing plumerias. It's of course become a passion and my collection has grown quite extensively. I joined this forum and learned so much about caring/growing of my plumerias; learned who the great growers were and my plants were puchased from them. Also, learned a great deal about which cultivars were best for my garden. This is a great forum and my first post...With cold weather approaching, I'm concerned about winter storage of my young plants. The smaller ones I'll bring into my home and place in a window seat; the larger ones will find a home in my garage. I purchased a heating mat and would like to know if they can be placed directly onto the mat while still potted. I guess those kept in the garage will go dormant---can they be watered? Should they be watered while inside my home? Also, have a question about flowering. I received a couple of plants (purchased on eBay) with inflos and blooms however as they completed their blooming process, the flowers were much smaller. I don't know why and thought perhaps I was not fertilizing, watering, etc correctly. I live in New Orleans and have lots of tropicals that do well in my garden. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank ya'll. Rosa
Plumeria questions
Hi Rosa
Welcome to the forum. I live just outside of Baton Rouge. Sorry I can't answer any of your questions other than I know they don't like it below 50 degrees. I bring mine inside and hold back on the water until I set it back outside in the spring. I may not water but 1 or 2 times a month.
Jeri
Hi Rosa,
Welcome to the Plumeria Forum and welcome to Dave's also. You can definitely place the ones that will still be growing and blooming on a heat mat, but you'll need to water them more frequently as the heat will cause the soil to dry out fairly quickly, and you don't want your roots to fry. The ones that will go dormant won't need water, but you can water them once or twice if you think that they need it as Jeri said.
We have a great FAQ Sticky Thread here at the very top of the Plumie Forum threads so be sure to check that out. There are a few great links to articles about overwintering and links to threads by some of the members about overwintering.
As for blooms, there are several reasons why the flower size can change. The onset of cold weather is one reason and lack of energy is another. For example, when a cutting is rooting and flowering at the same time, it will often have much smaller flowers than it otherwise would. As a tree gets bigger and more mature, the flowers often get bigger as well. Again, be sure to check out the FAQ Sticky Thread for information about care and flowering, and welcome again.
Jeri & Clare, thanks for the welcome and info. Jeri, we have several friends who evacuated to the BR area and are not returning.
Clare, read the Sticky, lots of great information--thanks so much. Since this is my first winter for plumerias, am a little concerned about the proper care for them. Our weather currently flucuates from high 40's to high 70's, should I just bring them in now until spring or leave them out a little longer during the day to receive some sunlight? Can I remove the leaves or let nature take its course? Should they be watered/fertilized/treated prior to storage? How do/should I remove an inflo that has completed its bloom? Also, lost an inflo entirely on another plant--just fell off--don't know why. I know, lots of questions. Thank ya'll. Rosa
Rosa
We had 20 people from Marrero, Plaq. parish & Metairie staying with us for our usual 3 day hurricane party. When the levees breeched we all realized they weren't going home any time soon. Thank God all of their homes were secure and after 6 weeks they were allowed back home. After the hurricane my nephew, his wife and 2 children lost their mobile home in Walker, La. to a tree and 1 nephew in Mandeville lost his apartment.
So of course they all came to stay.
Then after the storm a girl from San Antonia was sent here for work and no place to stay so all I had left by then was the couch in the livingroom. That's where our new Texas daughter stayed for a month.
We moved mobile homes for 30 years and had retired in 2003 but my husband bought a truck and started moving FEMA trailers and we had over 200 people that had no place to stay so they brought their travel trailers and lived in my back field for 6 months. These were the heros in my book. They had homes and jobs elsewhere and came to help.
We are still delivering Fema trailers out if you can believe that over a year later. We also have started to deactivate some.
Jeri
Rosa, you should find out what your first expected frost date is and bring them in before that. Also, watch your local weather for frost warnings. They shouldn't be allowed to experience temps much below 40. Some people leave them out too long and suffer damage so it is risky to leave them out longer than the expected frost date. I believe Paula in Texas said that her dig up day is around Thanksgiving. When you dig them up or bring them in just depends upon the predicted weather in your area. It is a good idea to use a insectide on the leaves and stems prior to storage, but you shouldn't water or fertilize prior to storage. Leave the inflo alone that has finished as it will probably fall off on its own, but there is always a chance that it will stay on and bloom some more in the spring. I've had that happen. You can remove the leaves if you wish or let them fall off naturally. Some people prefer to let them fall off naturally as this method eliminates messy sap flow. Removing them now or letting them fall off naturally is a personal preference. Inflo's will fall off sometimes when the plant does not have enough energy stored to bloom, and cold weather can contribute to this.
Jeri, what a tremendous thing you and your husband did! That is wonderful!
Jeri, It's been unbelievable here. My husband's family is from Churchpoint so we evacuated to Lafayette for what we thought would be 3 days. My son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandbabies initially went to Houston and then came to Lafayette to be with us and there we remained for over a month. Our home fortunately survived the floods however we had major wind damage and still have contractors in and out of our house. Our home has also for the past year been a refuge for our friends as they return periodically to evaluate current conditions of their properties/neighborhoods. A few will return next year; others will not; their homes will undergo demolition while others have chosen to just relocate and not return period. It's been truly unbelievable. Hence, I've thrown myself into my yard, my gardens and love every minute of it. Today, I brought my smaller plants indoors. The larger ones are in the garage and as it gets colder will set up the heating mat. Will however get them off the concrete floor in the garage.
Jeri, you've had a busy year too and I know your generosity and hospitality is appreciated by all. Take care. . Rosa
Rosa, it looks like we posted at around the same time. I hope you saw the answers to your questions above your latest post.
Clare, many thanks again. Weather here goes up and down; it was in the 40's last night and is reaching somewhere in the mid 60's now...so I'm going to shut down for now I think. The smaller ones are in windows ... maybe they can remain green. I want so badly to get thru the winter because my plan is and has been to give a plant to my friends who are returning next year so they can have a little beauty for their yard after what they've been thru. I have over 20 plants and even broke a tip accidentally while moving one; will try to root it. (bold, huh) Now, one more question, what type of insecticide should I use?? Thanks so much again for educating me.
Rosa, I use Safer's Insecticidal Soap, Safer's 3-in-1, and Neem Oil. Any good horticultural oil will work well also.
Your lucky Rosa some of the people from NO went to the same area that Rita hit a month later. My husband took the 1st building back into Cameron parish. We had to get a GPS to find our locations because there are no landmarks, no street signs, nothing. We set up 5 fire stations below NO, the gas co., the water co., etc. There is little left.
Jeri
Jeri, I'm sending you a D-mail. Rosa
Clare, thanks so much for your time and advice. I'm spraying and then bringing in those that my home can accommodate. A couple of the plumerias have begun to lose their leaves naturally. I do still move some out into the sunshine; it's been beautiful during the day here. At night, in they go. And of course, I consistently talk daily to all my plants. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they make it thru the winter. Again, thank you.
My pleasure, Rosa. I'm getting a yellow leaf here and there too, and it's been beautiful during the day here too, but it is starting to get a lot colder at night. I'm sure that yours will have no problem making it through the winter with the care that you are giving them. Keep up the good work!
Clare & Jeri, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. I once again thank ya'll for the warm welcome and advice offered. I'll keep ya'll posted. Jeri, happy grandparents day too. Have a busy week ahead. Rosa
Thanks, Rosa! Same to you! Thanks for the appreciation! ;-D
Rosa
I hope you and yours have a safe & fattening Thanksgivinging and will remember everybody at DG in our prayers.
Jeri