I bought two plumies last year and both are doing good as far as leaves growing and plant looks healthy but no flowers....I have fertilized it with Color Star plumeria food too. So discouraging. I've been waiting all summer for the beautiful delicate fragranced blooms.
How do I encourage flowers?
Sometimes plumerias can skip a year of blooming even if you do everything right. I'm not familiar with Color Star plumeria food, but as long as it is 10-10-10 or something similar to those numbers, then it should be good. Read on the bag how long it lasts if it is granular. You may have to fertilize a couple more times before you see blooms.
Also make sure that your plumie gets at least six hours of full sun and lots of water. Sometimes maturity is all it takes. Most of the ones that I've had the longest flower reliably every year, but newer ones still getting established sometimes favor growth over blooms in the early stages.
Clare, all season I've been using Miracle Grow then I decided to throw a little 10-10-10 on everything in my yard about 10 days ago since I knew we were going to have rain for a couple of days. Funny that it seems to have helped a little more than MG. How often can or should I give some things a shot of 10-10-10?? Don't want to burn up anything.
Thanks, Sweetie!
Barbara
Hi Barbara, I sprinked the 10-10-10 granules everywhere too, and I think I saw a boost in new inflo's as well. Both of my friends with Ph.D's in horticulture tell me that it is the last number, potassium, that helps the most with blooms and not phosphorus like so many people think. Check your bottle to see how long the granules are supposed to keep feeding. I think you can feed a little more frequently than it says (during the growing season), especially if it is very hot where you live and if you water frequently. I don't think you have to worry about fertilize burn. However, you do want to stop fertilizing about a month before you bring your plants inside for the winter so, since you fertilized 10 days ago, I would save the rest of your 10-10-10 for next spring.
Thanks, Clare.
It gets to be this time of the year and I tend to think we've got plenty of time left in the growing season (wrong!). Then I walk outside on a pretty morning like this and I become aware that the sun has shifted position and it's not as hot. Suddenly, I realize that the growing time is really going to draw to a close. I always get a little sad about it as it means winter will be coming before we know it. Fortunately, we will have really nice weather for the next couple of months -- except for our time out if we get Hurricane Hanna at the end of the week. But I'll probably have to bring everything in by the first part of November. The plumies probably have to come in a little sooner once the night temps drop.
Yes, I'll wait on applying any more 10-10-10 till next year, but I think next year I'll let up on the MG a little and use the 10-10-10 a few times as it's also cheaper that way!
Yes, I feel the same way when fall comes. It's always a little sad when the sun shifts. We should have really nice weather for a couple of months yet too. It really doesn't get cold here until November or December. My plumies start dropping their leaves when nighttime temps get into the low 40's at night. They start to go dormant in the high to mid-30's.
I hope the Hurricane misses you!