Hi Everyone !! I'm new to growing Plumeria ..I probably have gone overboard and started 50 cuttings they are all taking off and I have several with many leaves..I have not watered them except for their initial planting and a couple small rain showers as I was unable to get them all under the eaves of the house in time...Should I begin a schedule now..

Once you have leaves you will have roots; you can start watering.

Thank you !! I guess my next question should be when do I start fertilizing and what fertilizer would be best to use ? I appreciate all of the information I can get...We just moved to Sunny Florida in December from Michigan..I'm used to growing Peonies...

Welcome to sunny Florida!! Where in Florida if I may ask?

Once your growing season starts you can fertilize. I prefer to use a timed release fertilizer (apply it once and you're done!). Excalibur IX is especially formulated for Plumeria and I have seen a marked improvement since I started using it. Florida Colors Nursery in Homestead sells it. And yes, they ship!

@Dutchlady1 I see that there are 2 types of Excalibur fertilizers. I'm assuming a 6 or 9 month type. Which would be best for my zone 9b? Thanks.

I use 6 month type simply because I don't need any (active) fertilizer in the fall and winter months. Of course that becomes a mute point if plants are dormant without any watering during fall/winter.

Mary at this point you're ok to use the 6 month. I use the 9 month but apply in early March.

Thank you all so much !! Yes I'm just about right on the border of Hudson and New Port Richey in Pasco County I believe that is zone 9a...I've noticed many people use different fertilizers...Is high Phosphorous fertilizer only used during blooming? Has anyone ever tried Dyna Gro foliage pro? I definitely want to know what works well here for everyone...

Don't use a high Phosphorous - they are designed for annuals. You need to create a strong tree which will be achieved with a balanced fertilizer.

I am going to go ahead and order some Excalibur lx ..Thank you so much..I noticed your from Naples...I have family in Naples it is a beautiful area ..Here is a photo of what have going on...Excuse the lawn !! We need rain in a big way.....

Are you using river gravel as a dressing or perhaps to weigh the pots down, @Moe? You have a lot of plants. Are they all seedlings, all named, or a mix?

Hi drdawg !! These are a mix of cuttings I started sometime in March...I am not sure as to the names ...I have just inquired from the gentleman I purchased them from for the names...Yes I believe down here in Florida that is what the consider Pea stone..Being from Michigan the Pea stone there is very different...Anyway I did a lot of surfing on the net to get my information and saw many people top dress with this..Something about helping with the heat dispersing...I'm new to this ballgame I think when I do it again I will use larger pots instead of 1 gallon...I will probably keep the nice ones and sell the rest...

That stone dressing is not what is known as pea gravel. Pea gravel is far smaller in diameter. I don't know anything about it being a heat disperser, but it does look nice. In my hands, Plumeria, do better the higher the ambient temperature.

I should have asked before, but are all these now rooted plants? When I root cuttings, and I might have a bundle of a dozen or more in a 5 gal. bucket, they first go into 1 gal. pots. After a month or so, if they continue to root/grow normally, most will need up-potting, which will then be into 3-5 gal. pots. Plumeria are vigorous growers.

I use the same stone in my pots. I don't know about the heat dissipation, but I do know that it keeps the squirrels from digging in my pots

I agree on the Pea stone !! The Pea stone I've always been familiar with is exactly that ( the size of a pea and grey in color). Strange thing is the bag said Pea stone on it....The cuttings I put straight into one gallon pots after treating them with a rooting hormone....I'm not sure if they are rooted but I am assuming so...Me being a newby I guess I should ask can I dig down to find out?? Also should I upgrade to 3 gal pots....I'm also wondering can I plant the pots in the ground for the winter so as I am able to dig them up for sale next yr? Thank you !!

Moe, do me a favor and go to your "Profile" and update your public profile, giving your location. It can be city/state (best) or simply your USDA zone. That way we all know how to answer questions. I know you are in "sunny" Florida, but conditions from Key West to the Georgia border are several zones different. Growing conditions are everything.

I root mine so differently than you, I can't even begin to answer your question. Mine are all rooted in 100% extra coarse perlite. That makes it easy to tug on mine when I think it is rooted. I also "gang-bundle" a dozen or more per bucket. Mine won't see a pot or potting soil until they have already rooted. That's just the way I do it and am sure many people do exactly the same as what you have done. They will be able to give you good answers to your questions.

I up-pot to 3-5 gal. pots when the roots have pretty well filled the 1 gal. pot. The only way I can tell is to invert the potted plant, holding on to the stem, hit the side of the pot in a few places to loosen the soil, and then allow the plant/root-ball to fall out of that pot. I then can easily see whether it needs re-potting or not. If it doesn't, I just slip the pot back over the root-ball, and it is good to go.

Generally if you see leaves growing, that means the plant has rooted.

Moe, sinking the pots into the ground for the winter is a great idea. It's even a good idea for the summer, too if you're not keeping your plumeria on a patio for decoration. It insulates the roots from both heat and cold, and will also help retain a little moisture for the plant. Considering how many plants you have, I would think you're going to want to do this, just to save yourself some work. Sink them and then mulch over and around them too. Again helps insulate against heat and cold and moisture loss.

I do this with all sorts of slightly tender plants, and my begonias are all sunk into the ground under my big oak trees because they don't compete well at all with the tree roots. I sink the pot all the way to the rim, then mulch over the rim and the soil in the pot so you can't tell there's a pot there. When they start to look like they're declining, I just pull the pot up again, and re-pot.

I appreciate the info !! Thank you Hetty , Elaine and Ken...Elaine I like the idea this weekend I will begin the process of submerging the pots...I have 4 plants with what I believe you call an influx ( looks more like a brain to me)....I'm anxious for flowers....I will also most likely need help with identification of the plants in the future...All I know is there are pinks,whites and yellows and a variety of each.We have a new pool being put in I cannot wait to get some of these around the pool area...

Sounds like it will be a little bit of paradise, Moe. Btw, that's "inflo" which is short for inflorescence or the beginnings of flower buds.