Hi, I hope that today finds you all in a wonderful Gardeners state of mind .
I will be getting my very first Plumeria soon,(bought from the Marketplace) and I was hoping that everyone would be willing to share any well kept secrets and tips on growing it and keeping it happy.
I have tried to start one from a cutting I got from Jeremy, I failed to keep it alive, Please don't hate me for that mistake, I did read all the great advice on the sticky, and still I managed to fail. So I went straight to the Marketplace to find one that was already rooted.
Although I am not new to Daves(currently a Coleus addict) I am very new to Plumerias, I will except any and all advice and tips, Even if you tell me that I am not fit to raise a plumeria I will hang my head in shame and head right back to the Coleus Forum......
Thank you for taking the time to read the post. Pheadra
VERY First Rooted Plumeria!
welcome! I killed my 1st plumie too - there is alot of great advice and people on this forum..that have helped me keep 2 alive now ;)
goodluck!
Welcome Pheadra! Good for you for getting another. I think we've all had cuttings rot on us and fully rooted plants die on us so don't feel badly about that. Your post is downright adorable^_^ I'm sure you'll do much better with the rooted one that is coming.
There's actually no well-kept secrets here;-) Here are some tips for you:
1. Good drainage is essential -- that means big drainage holes and potting soil that doesn't hold water.
2. Lots of water provided drainage is good and the weather is warm
3. Full sun
4. No nighttime temps below 50 for a newly rooted cutting
5. Good drainage is essential -- listed twice for emphasis! Forget about catch trays, decorative pots with one drainage hole, pea gravel at the bottom, and other things that impede drainage!
6. A balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 13-13-13 once in slow-release granules
7. Bring inside for the fall and winter in your zone.
For everyone who has ever killed their plumies or rotted their sticks: these I call 'plumeria lessons'
You don't expect to waterski perfectly the first time you try, do you? Everyone has to fall off a few times before they can master it. And even then, you still fall off sometimes.
LOL
Phaedra, Clare gives excellent advice. You'lll be fine.
Thank you for the welcome and the wonderful advice, We do have a greenhouse that is heated with propane, Will the Fumes effect the the Plumeria, I learned recently that it will kill the orchids.
Ok let me check.
1.Way big ole pot with lots of drainage holes. Check
2.Full sun, got lots of that .check
3.Protect from old man winter..check and check..
4. lots of drainage, no adding water crystals. check
5. Dinner,Plumerias like a rounded meal. Check
6. protect from chilly weather, bring it inside the house durning winter just to be safe ..check
Pheadra, love your checklist! The only thing that caught my attention was "way big ole pot." You actually want a pot only slightly bigger than the root ball. Too big of a pot, even with lots of drainage holes, will have soil that is unused by the roots, and that soil will stay wet and impede drainage. Just look at your rootball when you get it and decide if it should go into a one-gallon or a five-gallon pot. If it is a big root ball, you can pot it up in a five-gallon size. Check with the person sending you the rooted plant if you have any doubt.
A greenhouse is wonderful in the wintertime, and your plumeria will thrive there. You may need to open it up in the daytime briefly if temps exceed 120 or so. I don't think propane will bother your plumeria, but air circulation needs to be good (fans, etc.) for the overall health of the plumeria.
Clara, Thank you I will be sure to put it in the right size pot.
as for the air circulation and venting, I thnk we are ok there, we open the side doors during the day in winter so things should be great.
Dutchlady, I have fallen more times than I can count, on all new projects. But Being a mass murderer of Plumerias could very well have my Coleus growing obession revoked by the Coleus Chatters...Not to mention I would hate to be kicked out of the Plumeria Forum, I only just got here...LOL
this photo was taken standing in the middle of the GH. I have enough room left to make Plumerias
a full blown, serious case of "I gotta have" Just one more Please.!!!
That's a nice one!