I think my Plumeria is dead!!!

Hello folks,
I moved to my new home this winter and there is a large Plumeria planted outside in full sun. It's totally leafless and I thought this was ok for this time of year, but I just saw in this forum that other Plumerias in so Cal are already leafing out and even blooming! Is my Plumeria dead????
Oh, actually, there is ONE leaf....it looks pretty dead...
Please help!

In my yard some plumeria are in full leaf, some in full bloom, and some are still completely dormant.
Prick a branch - if sap flows it's not dead. If no sap flows, give it a few weeks....

I would have to see pictures of it in order to be sure. But it sounds like it may still be dormant. Does it have soft black tips, or is it soft and black at the base? If not, again without seeing it, most likely it is alive but just slow to come out of dormancy this spring.
Davie
Was replying at the same time Hetty did, we had close to the same idea.

This message was edited Mar 27, 2008 2:39 PM

Thanks guys! I'll take a picture as soon as I get home from work... I think there is sap coming out of the edge of the branches...I'll check!

Guys, here is a picture of the Plumeria...is it dead???

Here is a closeup...

Looks perfectly healthy to me! Not only that but it's definitely waking up, as is evident from the shiny tip.....
Not long now :-)

ahhh *sigh*! I'm so glad! Shows you what a beginner I am! lol!
When do I know it's time to start fertilizing? Also: how much water does it like and do the water needs vary from dormant to growing season?
Thanks again for the good news! : )

NO WATER when dormant and moderate water throughout the growing season; make sure it's in a well-draining mix.
Fertilize once you have a few sets of leaves, then you know it has fully woken up.

Definitely just dormant with a shiny tip as Hetty said. Most of mine are still dormant too. I water a couple of times a week because the soil is so dry here, and we are having lots of wind where I live. The people in Florida have lots of humidity so they don't have to water when their plants are dormant, but in my opinion only, the people in drier areas that have little to no humidity should still water their dormant plumerias once in a while, especially if they are outside in the hot sun and drying winds.

Plumerias love water during the growing season and lots of it, provided the soil is well-draining and the plumeria is in full sun. If you get the hot Santa Ana drying winds like I do, you should always water well during them or else you will see some dried leaves. It is easy for plumerias to become dehydrated in such winds. I also water while my plumies are dormant because my peaty soil will become so dry and so hard that rewetting the mix is difficult to do, but I am comfortable with my mix that it drains well. You just don't want you plumeria to sit in a puddle of water for a long period of time. Again, different regions have different practices so you need to assess what your region is like.

When you see leaves coming in, then you can fertilize until fall.

This message was edited Mar 28, 2008 1:47 PM

I am in the same zone as Clare, so I think I also have to water... My plumeria is in the ground though. It's terrible clay soil, so I guess I have to ammend it around the plant!
Is it a good idea to give the leaves a good hose "shower" during dry spells? (I also get those santa anna winds which I hate!)

EEK clay soil.....
Even if you amend that, it will still not drain once the water reaches the clay level. So be very careful with your plumeria in clay!
I am willing to concede that different areas have different requirements; however, Florida is dry in the winter months and I still don't water....

Really? OK then! Yes, my soil is terrible! I'm always having to ammend...I'm not watering too much...up until now I didn't even know if I was watering a dead plant in vain! lol!

Yes, I spray the leaves too. It's a good idea also because it helps to keep the mite population down. I'm noticing a lot of webbing on my inflo's coming in and on the branch tips. The mites are here, I'm afraid.

Two things...I agree with Clare if you live in a drier/windy climate you should water your dormant plants every now and then, especially if they are in well draining soil. I have seen a few of mine get a little wrinkled in the winter from lack of water.
I planted two plumeria at my mother's house in the ground, her soil is clay. One has been in the clay since last Mothers Day, it has already put out new leves and an inflo after enduring a very cold winter in the clay. She says she only waters it when the soil is just about dry and not a day before. She even put a little water on it over the winter. With the right amount of water, or lack of, a plumeria can thrive in clay soil.
Davie