The grocery store I go to has 3 beautiful white plumeria trees alongside the escalator that goes into the store. I always love riding up and smelling the blooms and admiring how well shaped and healthy the trees are. Yesterday they had just pruned them and I thought it was kind of interesting. They cut the top way down but mainly in the center of the tree, leaving the leaves on the sides and flattening the top. It made sense to me, it would allow the sun into the center of the tree and is probably why they are always so full and not leggy.

I thought you guys might be interested so I leaned over the balcony at the top and took a couple pictures.

Thank you for sharing, this is very interesting, I should try this on my leggy plumerias.

I had a 3 feet tall last year that I cut up into 3 pieces and rooted all 3 last year, the problem is, I don't think I will see the bloom this year.

What I like about this pruning process, is it leaves some of the Branches from last years growth untouched, which could result to blooms this year. Also pruning probably encourages more branching giving it a fuller look. Hmmmm I will definitely try this on one of my no ID plummies or seedlings.

That is a good illustration on how to trim a larger tree.

It also occurred to me that they had done this at a good time of the year. Our rainy season has just started and the main bloom on the trees is over. From now on, there will always be blooms on these trees but they won't be covered as they were in May and early June. The trees start putting out a lot more branches in the rains, less blooms. These trees don't go dormant in the winter, they have fewer leaves and blooms and they look a bit scraggly. I have noticed that these particular trees look better in the winter than ones I see in people's yards. It appears there is someone who knows their stuff taking care of them.

That is great!!

Thanks, Jonna. This info will come in handy, later. Right now I'd be content with blooms, probably wont have to worry about pruning for a while, yet ;)

I am moving all of my plumies into a green house I am building, it will have metal halide lights in it that I will set on a timer to hopefully keep my plants full of leaves. I am wanting to trim a few of my plants back, as they are over 8 foot tall in pot. When is the best time to prune? should I wait until spring? I have made the green house more than tall enough. Also, how do I store the cuttings over winter if I trim them this fall.

Sorry if this is confusing...

Lucas, definitely wait until spring to prune if you can. Your cuttings will have a much better chance of rooting in spring.

Lucas, most of them will still drop a lot of their leaves. Down here, the hours of sunlight don't vary much and it doesn't get cold but still most plumeria drop leaves in the winter. It depends on the type I think, some drop all of them every winter and some just get really bare but keep a few leaves. The more singapore the plumeria has the more it will keep all of its leaves and even bloom a little in the winter.