Someone gave me a nice cutting and said just pot it up, water it once so the soil is moist then just leave it in full sun. Problem is I get a fair amount of rain in the spring and I'm afraid the cutting may get to much water. Should I try and protect it from rain, as in pull it in the porch when it looks like rain or will it be fine just leaving it on my back deck in the rain?
Rooting question
The rain won't be bad for your cutting, providing it is warm during the day and night where you live -- i.e., nights are above 50. You actually should keep the soil moist while it is rooting. I water my cuttings daily that are in full sun in the summer. Cold/wet, however, is not a good combination for cuttings so I guess the answer all depends upon what your daytime and nighttime temps are. If your temps are still cold at night, I would put it out in full sun during the day and bring it in at night. If the daytime temps are cool too, I would root it inside on a heating pad until it warms up.
We're hitting 60's at night and the temp isn't going under 50 till next winter. Days are 70's to 80 now and they should stay that way until it gets hot.
From what I've read plumeria don't like water all that much so I just don't want it to rot. I have about 100 tree and perennial seeds growing at the moment so I'll just say I know how to do that but I have no experience with plumerias.
core, do you have perlite in the potting mixture?
Core, whereever you read that plumerias don't like water has mislead you. Plumerias don't like to sit in soil that stays wet, but plenty of water is a good thing provided you have well-draining soil. Once it gets really hot, it will be important to at least mist the cuttings while they are rooting. The soil should be moist and never completely dry. The roots will dry up and fry without water, and your plumie cutting could become desiccated without water. If you have a lot of humidity where you live, that could cut down on your need to water. The cuttings should be in one-gallon containers and placed on the hottest surface possible to help the rooting process and ward off rot. Ideal soil temperature for rooting is 80 degrees or higher. Here is my article that may help: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/45/ I have been rooting cuttings since early March outside even though it hasn't been warm at all. They are placed on the warmest surface outside, and I water when the soil looks dry.
hey core nice to "see" a fellow south carolinian on here!
(not to imply that the un-south carolinians are any less nice to "see")
This message was edited Apr 6, 2008 3:59 PM
Yes on the perlite. It's a fast draining mix. I'll just treat the plumeria like I do my seeds. If they get to wet the seedlings damp off so I know how not to over water. I'm just going to leave the pot outside, it should get enough heat and sun. From what I'm gettng off you guys I would say I won't worry about the rain keeping the plumeria to wet.
Diehard, I have a few more experimental plants this year. LOL. I also have some solid sub tropicals growing. I'm interested to see how the coral tree does. Erythrina crista-galli. I think it may end up being a tree not a bush but only time will tell.
tell me how the coral tree does. i was considering one, but i opted for its native relative, the eastern coral bean, erythrina herbacea
