I bought these seeds on a whim. But now I'm looking around and seeing some people refer to them as a tree. What size will they be in a pot in the house? What kind of lights can I get to put on them that would look nice in the normal part of the house? I have found all sorts of lights for the grow room I've set up. But it's in the basement. I would want something that looks nicer in the living room or kitchen.
How many inches do they usually grow in a months time? I had 7 seeds. 6 have come up and one seed rotted.
Suzi
I bought some plumeria seeds.. Is it a plant or a tree?
Hi Suzi, plumerias are tropical trees, but they can be kept in containers for a few years, and you can root prune after several years to extend their container life. It sounds like you need a dwarf one, but your seedlings will probably grow much bigger than dwarf size. Your plumerias need to be outside in full sun to do well after your last frost date has passed, and then you can bring them inside before your first frost date in the fall. I think that people who keep them inside for the winter -- like GordonHawk in New York -- use high-density metal halide lighting, but you'll need to check his threads to see for sure. If you look in the FAQ's under winter storage or overwintering, you will find lots of information there. Remember that seedlings can take 3-5 years to bloom for the first time, given ideal conditions so patience is needed! Seedlings can grow several feet a year. They can reach 30 feet when fully mature. Here is a picture of a tree attached.
Wow! Thanks for the pictures. It looks like I'll have to really work at keeping the plants alive LOL! I certainly don't have 30 feet tall celings in the house. I have 9 feet tall ceilings. I do however have a dirt floor in my plant room. Maybe someday I'll dig a really deep hole and plant the tree in there inside it's container to keep it from getting too big.... Or, maybe I'll donate it to one of those indoor public green house places...what are they called? I'm tired and the word is escaping me.
Suzi
Suzi, it will take a long time to reach 30 feet. You could keep it for many years before it got too big to manage. I know people in cold climates that keep theirs in 25-gallon containers, and they lay them on their side in the garage during the winter with supplemental heat and light, and then they root prune and re-plant in fresh soil each year while trimming the tops. Plunging a tree in its container will enable it to grow big faster as the roots will grow out the drainage holes and into the ground. There are other ways to keep a plumeria tree small like root pruning and down-size grafting. Here is a picture of Scott in Kansas City, Kansas. He root prunes and stores his in the garage every winter.
Cool, Thanks! What wonderful ideas. I am really going to need to get the rest of my basement cleaned out so that I can expand my operation. My husband has already said he will move his kilns out of my space once I'm ready. But right now it seems like it will be awhile before I can buy more equipment for my room. I have maxed out several cards and barely have any room left on others. I have to say though, this is the most fun I've had in a long, long time.
Suzi