How long from cutting to bloom?

Hi Guys,

I got my first and only Plumeria about 25 years ago and absolutely LOVED it. When I moved it was too large to take with; I gave it to a friend with a large sunroom since I had no place for it. I had it about 10 years.

Having more room now, I bought a couple of cuttings off of ebay last winter. They rooted quickly and have been potted up several times. They are now in 10 inch pots and growing gangbusters, roots coming out the bottom. I'm anxiously awaiting flowers. Will I have to wait till next year? Do first year cuttings ever produce flowers?

Roxanne


Jade Dragon Plumeria

Hi Roxanne, I would definitely transplant the ones with roots coming out the bottom to a bigger pot. Sometimes, just-rooted cuttings spend the first year putting on growth, and then they bloom in the second year, provided their needs are met with ample food, water, sun, and growing space. It is possible, however, for a rooted cutting to flower right away, especially if the cutting was taken from a flowering tree.

Thanks Clare_CA !!!

I guess I'll just be patient then...... lol ...... like that's even possible where flowers are concerned. It's just been about 15 years since I've smelled that heavenly fragrance ........ since I moved from south Tx. DH has promised a greenhouse by next spring, so I'm starting my collection again. Gotta make sure he builds it big enough! LOL

Oh, I wouldn't wait! Fifteen years is way too long! LOL! I would call up Carol at Florida Colors Nursery and ask her to send you a grafted 'Celadine' or a 'Singapore' that has an inflorescense on it and that is about to bloom: http://www.floridacolors.com/

I bought a cutting this year that bloomed. I didn't expect it and it was a pleasant surprise!

Clare_CA - Should I dig out the birth certificate of that first born son?!?! How much is something like that gonna set me back?

LiliMerci - Wow! What luck! Do you know the person you got it from?.....I mean....can you ask them if their plant was getting ready to start blooming when they took the cutting?

I bought 2 from the same ebay seller in Jan/Feb. I imagine they were cut last fall. Both were very well aged. LOL When they came they were all shriveled up. So I plopped them in a bucket of water for a week till they plumped up. They rooted really fast once planted. I look every day for that miniature broccoli but so far......nuttin'.

Their prices are listed on their web site, but both are $20 each.

I didn't really see where the grafted ones were listed. Are they all grafted? I was thinking you meant one like you've got with 3 different ones on the same plant. They are just too cool.

Are there specific Plumies you use for that....the base I mean...ones that have a really vigorous root system but not special blooms? Then you graft on the others to make it spectacular?

I'm new to this whole concept just trying to get it straight in my head. Kinda like a Hybrid tea rose is grafted onto a different root system. Right?

I will check and see who the seller is and Dmail you. He does sell a lot of Plumeria cuttings, so I imagine he won't remember AND I bought way back in Jan/Feb. I believe this was the best time to buy cuttings for rooting.

Oh, no. Those are multi-grafted trees. A grafted plumeria from Florida Colors means that the cultivar is grafted onto root stock so that you receive plumeria with roots and so you don't have to worry about rooting it. If you look at their price list, they list the cost for both a cutting and a graft. The graft is usually about $3 more than the cutting price. They also list the price for a cutting and a graft on the individual cultivar. Some cultivars are only sold as grafted plants as they may have proved difficult to root. It will specify.

Yes, there is grafting with roses and fruit trees and all sorts of plants and trees. For root stock, I use seedlings and any multi-branched tree that I have on hand to have a tree of many colors. I have quite a few now. Yes, seedlings that prove to have inferior flowers can serve as good root stock for multi-grafted trees.

Any cutting that starts to bloom was more than likely taken from a flowering tree. It is possible for an inflo to form soon after rooting. It really depends on many factors including the energy of the tree.

Oh.......DUH! You've got to click on the pictures to find the prices. Boy, sometimes I just amaze myself. LOL

What is a fruit salad type? Is there a specific reason you recommended 'Singapore' and 'Celadine'? How about 'Gold Coast Cotton Candy' do you know that one? how does it grow?

Thanks for all your help.....since my space is limited right now it's great to be able to talk to someone who knows all about them and has a bunch of different ones.

Rox

The fruit salad type is just a term to group ones that have a similar multi-color look to them. Oftentimes, there is a lot of orange in them.

'Singapore' and 'Celadine' have that classic frangipani fragrance and are probably the ones that you remember smelling from 15 years ago. They are common in the sense that they are popular and easy to find. You could also go with 'Dwarf Singapore White,' which sounds like it would be perfect for you given your limited space.

'Gold Coast Cotton Candy' is a tall grower from what I remember about it, and it doesn't have a strong perfume that I'm aware of, but it is a pretty pink and yellow flower. You should feel free to call Florida Colors Nursery and talk to Carol and pick her brain about different cultivars because she can help you with a selection.

Thanks Clare, Yeah, that classic frangipani scent is what I'm longing for. LOL The one I had was a NOID and it was pure Yellow. I'll give her a call next week....too much going on this weekend.

Rox