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Avatar for deharper
Jun 2, 2019 8:44 PM CST
Thread OP
Vancouver, WA
I bought a plumeria cutting in Maui after my wedding. I brought it back and stuck it in a ziplock baggie with some potting soil in my shower for a couple months. It wasn't in the stream, just off to the side getting the moisture and humidity. Then I stuck the baggie with the plumeria in my bathroom window.
It started growing a leaf. I took this as a good sign and potted it with the potting soil and root powder in a small pot. I then found a larger pot and repotted it in March, because the other pot was small and i was afraid it wasn't deep enough and would fall over. This larger pot didnt have a drainage hole so I found some river rocks and lined the bottom to allow drainage. From then on it was doing great, I kept it by sunny windows and watered weekly. Outside it was mid 70s for a couple weeks.
However now its may, and my leaves have stopped growing. The one half-opened leaf has been like that for about 2-3weeks. I thought maybe it was the change in weather, we had a couple weeks where it was in 60s, but house was kept at 69-70F. I misted in the mornings and evenings. I tried moving it to catch as much sunlight as I could. I went to a local nursery and they said it might be focusing on root development instead, given the size of my pot? They suggested a fertilizer. I put 1tbsp and scratched it into the surface, watered it. It's been 2 weeks since then. No change. I did notice a smell, but I can't tell if its mold or if it's just the fertilizer. The stem has been wrinkly, slightly soft. But when pricked (I've checked multiple times) it bleeds white so I don't think its rotting. I've kept an eye out for spider mites. At one point I thought I may have had some, after seeing a tiny web. I sprayed it with the stronger setting of my spray bottle and wiped the leaves with a wet cotton round. I've watched really closely since, but I don't think there's anything. Basically, it just seems frozen, not growing, not dying. It seems like there's some tiny leaves started, but I'm not sure if they are growing or not. There were 2 small leaves that turned black on the outside and I pulled them off. I thought about repotting into a different pot with different soil, but I'm worried it might shock the plant since it's only been 2 months since I last repotted it. I really want it to survive, because it was from my wedding. Any suggestions?

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Jun 3, 2019 4:00 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
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First of all, a local grower suggests fertilizer when they probably know as much about plumeria as you do, which I assume is nothing is a mistake.
Second, adding pebbles to the bottom of a pot that has not got a drainage hole is NEVER a good idea. A Drainage hole actually removes water from the soil and gets it OUT of the pot. Your pebbles are NOT draining any water.
Plumeria are not difficult to start from a cutting, you just need patience. It does not happen overnight. Just keep it in a 6" clay pot, with drainage holes 😃👍, and you can use conventional potting soil. I use Miracle Grow because it performs well for me.
Once your cutting shows substantial growth from the top and you have several leaves and maybe a branch or two, you can just move it into an 8" clay pot. Just move the whole thing, soil and all, and then fill in with additional soil.
Give it as much natural sunlight as you can! Consider outdoors for the summer. If you can't, how about a plant light!
Now for fertilizer, just a little water soluble plant food maybe twice per year. It is my feeling that with good light, keeping it evenly moist, not too dry, not too wet, and your plumeria will perk up.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
Last edited by BigBill Jun 3, 2019 4:03 AM Icon for preview
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Jun 3, 2019 8:55 AM CST
Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
Bookworm Charter ATP Member Region: California Hummingbirder Orchids Plant Identifier
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With the exception of the potting soil, I agree with Bill. Think about where Plumeria thrive in nature. Mostly volcanic islands that have lots of pumice and not so much soil. Plumerias need very good drainage, so start with a good potting soil (not moisture control) and add about 1/3 pumice or perlite to it. Do this before the plant rots completely. They do not like wet feet!
Avatar for deharper
Jun 3, 2019 9:31 AM CST
Thread OP
Vancouver, WA
@bigbill and @ctcarol. Thanks! Going to home depot right now. I currently have it in a 9"pot. Should I downgrade to a smaller one? Sorry, I'm a complete newbie, and just finding my way to plants. Very excited to learn. I'm all ears!
Last edited by deharper Jun 3, 2019 9:31 AM Icon for preview
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Jun 3, 2019 9:40 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Welcome
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Jun 3, 2019 1:23 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
As long as you don't have leaves yet, you need not water the stick. Roots will form through the heat from the bottom, so you might put it in a sunny spot on your driveway and then, as a wise woman once told me 'go bother something else for a while'.
It might be helpful to know where you are. We want your wedding plumeria to survive!
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Jun 3, 2019 2:12 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
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Plumeria and Patience...your best tandem to have while waiting for it to leaf properly. nodding
Avatar for deharper
Jun 3, 2019 2:56 PM CST
Thread OP
Vancouver, WA
@Dutchlady1 I live in Pacific northwest. Washington state. So I've not planned to take it outside yet. Lately it's been mid 60s to mid 70s. It looks like it may drop down in next couple day, but will pickup after. I ended up repotting into a 6", with perlite. Sighing! no roots. But it did not look as though it was rotting. Did the pin prick test near the end, it bled white. Hurray! so I might be able to save it. I gave it an initial watering to get the soil and small bit of fertilizer going. I wont touch it till it grows leaves. Thank You!
Last edited by deharper Jun 3, 2019 2:58 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 3, 2019 5:53 PM CST
Name: Glenn Graham
Memphis (Zone 7b)
Adeniums Region: Tennessee Plumerias Orchids Houseplants Growing under artificial light
Dog Lover Butterflies Birds Amaryllis Tropicals
@deharper _WHY did you water& fertilize it? We All told you not to & it has NO ROOTS !
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Jun 4, 2019 9:12 AM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Hello deharper, that is rather unfortunate you watered and fertilized it. Nothing to do for now except to observe if it affects it. With Plumerias, you cannot rush the cuttings. It will wait it out till if feels the growing condition is what it needs.

Since you are in the Pacific Northwest, if it were mine, I would bring it out in a protected area where it will feel the temperature change and get as much bright light it can get. But please, do not water again, it will hasten its demise if you keep watering when it is not ready.

It is a tropical succulent. If it is in full leaf and already actively growing, it can take frequent watering as long as grown in a grittier media. But if it is still not fully awake, you are risking rotting at the base and also black rot at the growing tips of your cutting. I would not even dare mist the cutting in you area since you will have already better humidity levels there, but air around is still too cool than what it likes. What it needs now is more light and more warmth, to encourage leaf/root formation. Fertilizing too early will also just cause undue fertilizer burn.

So again...more patience...and observe how it goes, hands off, no watering, no fertilizers yet. Good luck on your cutting.
Avatar for jab1219
Nov 9, 2021 10:52 AM CST
NEW MEXICO
Does anyone know what this thing is that is growing on my bride bouquet? It looks nothing like the other flower buds so I can't figure out what it is.
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Nov 9, 2021 11:04 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
It looks like a seed pod.
Welcome to the NGA site. In the future your questions are likely to be noticed by making your own thread or question. By adding your inquiries to two year old threads could easily cause them to be completely overlooked!!
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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