Greetings to Plumeria Experts,

I'm totally perplexed. Hope you experts can help me. I gave someone a branch of a Plumeria called "Moragne #600" in late 2009 from a plant growing in ground. Lucky I did because we had back to back devestating freezes the winters of 2009-10 and 10-11. Mine killed to the roots the first winter and then killed completely after the second when tree rats (squirrels) chewed off the stem returning from the roots.

I had salvaged one small cutting which rooted and now in ground doing well. The donated large branch got cut into smaller pieces and potted. The gardener recently told me it had not flowered, ever, and gave me one of the potted plants. Its main trunk is about 1-1/2" in diameter with 3 branchlets - about 2' tall. The "trunk" was planted 5" below the soil line.

Just decided to take a look at it and repot it if necessary. What a surprise…it has not one single root, nor any sign of a root coming! It is still alive and just starting to put out leaves. Is it normal for plants that are stored pot-less and dormant over winter to have no roots? If so, when do they get them?

Now what can I do? The base of the plant is not squishy or rotted. Do I cut off some of the base, allow it to callus and attempt re-rooting, or should I cut off the smaller branchlets and try rooting those? Do I just stick it back in well-drained soil and hope it gets some roots PDQ? Or is it too late (already in mid- to upper 80s here) to do something with it?

Obviously I'm not a Plumeria grower as this is my one and only. Like having a single child I'm rather attached to it even though the form is Dr. Seuss-like – branches willy-nilly going every which way.

I'd really appreciate any help on the best way to keep this one going.

Monica

At this warmer time of year your cutting will be wanting to root. I would not cut the bottom, but put it in a perlite-soil mix in a warm place and leave it alone until you see leaves develop.

A picture would help!

Thanks, Heddy, for your fast reply. Here are pix of cutting. Leaves already developing, but nothing else. It was potted up already - but I don't know how long ago.

Complete Cutting


Leaves Forming:


Angleed Shot of Base


Straight On Shot of Base

With Hettty

as long as the bottom is NOT soft or rotting do as Hetty said its ready if the leafs are starting it sould be good and ready to root NOT TO WET!! looks like it was almost to wet.

Hetty is the one that will be able to tell

mike

Mike, I think you're spot on. When I upended the container, only the top half spilled out. The whole bottom of the container was sodden - with a bunch of earthworms no less.

Base wasn't rotting, so I think I caught it in time if excess water was the culprit.

I just repotted into different potting soil w/ lots of perlite, set it up on a old mesh garden cart with a sisal rope thru a bottom hole that will wick away lingering water.

Thanks for your help. Hope Hetty agrees.
Monica

Yes I would have liked to have seen the bottom with all the crud washed off but I think you're ok. Keep an eye on it and NO WATERING AT ALL until it is growing real leaves.

Thanks Hetty. Will follow your advice and put it in the garage during rains until it gets its normal sized leaves.