Plumeria

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Name: Plumeria or frangipani
Scientific Name: Plumeria
Family: Apocynaceae

Soil: Prefers a mix of regular potting soil with perlite.
Sun: It loves sun. Sunlight and higher temperature help it so leave its dormant stage and start budding and flowering. During winter time, after it enters the dormant stage, one can cut back sunlight and watering.
Water: Remember to keep the soil moist, but at the same time try to avoid over watering the plant.
Fertilizer: I use Miracle Grown Bloom Booster to help it develop flowers during its growing season.
Care: More care is needed during its growing season, during the winter dormancy, very little care is needed. It needs to be watered as little as once a month.
Tips:  Avoid letting the plant sit in water, as this can led to root rot. Cold temperatures can kill the plant. So taking the plant indoors during winter is a must.

Description:

Among many other flowers, plumeria reminds most me of Hawaii. These handsome trees with large green leaves can be found in abundance on every Hawaiian island, and their colorful and fragrant flowers are also the favorite for making leis. Young women also wear them in their hair. The pretty flower offers not only a sweet fragrance, but also sends clear messages to men: married (or otherwise attached) women wear it on their left side while unmarried women wear it on their right.

Though grown in tropical areas, plumeria trees have been found growing among cactus in South American. There are over a hundred species, with flowers from from pure white to gold, purple, red, and a range of mixed colors. Some are hardier than the others, though the increase of temperature range is believed to be result from the increase in red and purple pigments.

As a diehard plumeria fan, I was surprised to find one of it in my local nursery on one end of the greenhouse. It didn¡¯t have any tags and I was unable to find any similar plants around. It was a little over three feet tall. It had been left in a five inch pot for a little too long and the whole thing has grown into a broomstick shape with just one branch sticking up. Some of the bottom leaves have turned yellow. With the exception of the newly budding leaves on the top, it looked as if were ready to enter the dormant stage. Knowing what plumerias look alike, even without their flowers, I took it home.

The first thing I did was to repot it in a twelve inch pot. Because the plant is so top heavy, I had to mixed Miracle Grown Potting soil with some sand and some red decorative volcanic rocks from my garden. This also helps enhance water drainage. I also put some perlite on the top of the pot to help retain moisture.

So far, one of the young leaves just opened up. I am hoping that it will flower soon. Since flowering is necessary for branching to take place. I like my little broomstick but I would prefer that it more closely resembled a small tree.

The plant is very easy to propogate through cuttings. Here is an example. The first picture was taken in Dec 05 and the second one was taken in June 06.


 

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