Mike,

Please explain how the grafting works...are you getting two different plants, or just one....I don't understand I suppose. I'm so green, I'm chartreuse!!

I'm not Mike but I'll explain the grafting.
The cutting goes to Florida Colors Nursery to be grafted on to an existing plant with a well-developed root system. After about 4-6 weeks your plant is ready to travel.
You are getting one plant. The stem will look something like this. After a year or two nobody will ever see the difference with a rooted plant, but you started out with a far superior root system!

Lisa,

There are a few types of plumeria that are difficult to root OR you want to bypass the rooting process and possible loss due to rot. so what is done A grafter has established plants ( can be any type that are 1-4 yo) they receive a cutting, They look at the size (diameter) and find a matching established plant. This we call root stock. Grafts are in several different ways. The grafter cuts the root stock and then matches a cut on the stem that needs to Be grafted. they wrap this cut and secure for 4-6 weeks till it heals when it does heal you have a established rooted plant. failure of this process By a good master grafter is very unlikely mabe loose 1-2%
rooting process takes at least same time and you have a rooted plant but these roots are still very fragile it takes 6 months to 1 year to gain a great strong root system.

so might be more info then you wanted

when you receive a grafted plant the shock it goes threw is so much less then a newly rooted cutting. EVERYTHING that grows above the graft point will be identical to the plant it was cut off of. IF there is growth below the graft point it will be the variety of the root stock. very very rare for there to be growth below a good graft. if it does happen you could leave it grow and you would have a multi trunk tree and most likely 2 different flowers but again for a simple single graft we are talking about this would not be likely to happen.

grafting is done on so many different types of plants from roses to citrus, adeniums , some reasons are like roses it gives a better root stock for stronger rose. citrus (orange) a good eating orange like navel is hard to get a good heathery tree with its own tree roots they graft to sour orange roots they are much better at rooting and withstanding disease.

Some dont like grafted plants due to different reasons. I have never had a problem from a grafted plumeria if don't by a master grafter I will only use one for myself or my costumers and that is Luc from Florida color Nursery in homestead Florida. I am trying to learn but i offer the grafting threw FCN they charge 5.00 per graft and that is what i charge you. I do have to send the cutting to them and they send back so there is a little extra shipping But i try to get several cutting to graft at one time and on the return the same so it is a lot cheaper in shipping per plant,

again if to much info sorry but i tend to explain in detail and add extra info to boot!!
mike

I just knew Hetty would be posting she is the best at answering a lot of these questions and i trust her word i know she has had Luc graft for her for several Years and dosnt have a problem This is why I like to send to FCN Luc has a great history going back several years with out problems.

Thanks Hetty For info and Picture

the Thailand grafted plumeria will look like a V not a slant but both are great and strong.

mike

I have trees that are 8 ft tall that were grafted by Luc years ago.
I threw two plumeria plants away this past weekend that were doing poorly. Both of them were rooted cuttings (not grafted) and neither of them had a strong root system.
With my experience with the grafted plants over the past 8 years or so, I almost never root anything anymore. For the $ 5 you get a plant that is at least a year ahead of a rooted cutting.
As you can tell, I am a big fan of grafting.

That makes perfect sense...Thanks to you both for answering.

Hey Mike, I appreciate the more detailed information!! I have always wondered about grafting.

So when I got my Plumeria sticks, many moons ago, I really had a low chance they would grow, or even bloom, then, is kinda what your saying? I know the lady I bought from, said they were to be three different varieties, and they ended up being the same. When I asked her about them, she was insistent that I couldn't possibly have blooms already, I had only just got the plants earlier that year. But I did, all three bloomed, and did very well for many years.

The plants that I have ordered, how will they come?

There is always a chance for blooms the first year with rooted (or grafted) cuttings. Bummer with them all being the same...but at least you found out soon!

cajuncutie said:That makes perfect sense...Thanks to you both for answering.

Hey Mike, I appreciate the more detailed information!! I have always wondered about grafting.

So when I got my Plumeria sticks, many moons ago, I really had a low chance they would grow, or even bloom, then, is kinda what your saying? I know the lady I bought from, said they were to be three different varieties, and they ended up being the same. When I asked her about them, she was insistent that I couldn't possibly have blooms already, I had only just got the plants earlier that year. But I did, all three bloomed, and did very well for many years.

The plants that I have ordered, how will they come?

No i dont think Hetty or i where implying that you have very little chance in rooting or blooming if you get cuttings. I just think you are ahead of the game if they are grafted. The way i figure is a cutting will use energy stored in the tissue to create roots. If while rooting it forms an info (bloom) that uses a lot of energy and they cutting will be delayed in rooting and i think that is where a lot of us go wrong. we are looking for instant satisfaction. We will not cut those blooms off and let the cutting resume its rooting. If you under pot and you have to transplant to quick you can incur the fragile roots BUT if you over pot you have a great chance if the soil get wet there is nothing to use that moisture and it will promote rotting.

A lot of people have great results in rooting cuttings. there are so many different things that affect the root system of any plant, give something to much nitrogen and the foliage grows faster then the root system. if your soil is not loose the roots struggle to form big spreading root ball. if you live like my sister the water table is so high they roots of her oak trees don't grow more then 2 feet deep. they blow over in the wind.

a lot of people selling cuttings that dont know or dont care claim things and figure the possibility of bloom is lower for the first 1-2 years and by then you either kill it or dont contact that person especially an eBay seller.

the plumeria i have for sale some are grafted and some are rooted cuttings.

the orange blossom special and the Gardenia are rooted cuttings they both have at least 6-8 leaves or more wich is a great indication of good roots ....but as i said before these are delicate roots not over one yr old!!
the other royal Hawaii i have grafted by FCN you will get. If i didnt think the plant was not rooted good i would let you know and keep it longer for you to let it root more. i have 5 like that right now others have spoke for them but i was not sure the roots where good to mail. i like to sell cuttings--full rooted---or grafted that way you have a better chance of survival. I rely on happy people to come back and buy more. so our success is important to me!!

Well said Mike!

So I was lured here...I don't know whether to feel good or bad that the ones I wanted are gone.

I was going to settle for the Scott Pratt cutting, but after reading that cuttings aren't as good as grafted plants, I'm a little concerned. Especially if that one doesn't root well.

But please put me down for an 'Aztec Gold' multi-tip - $15

Monica, Mike can have your Scott Pratt grafted for you!

All right! Thanks Hetty.

So now my order is:

1 'Scott Pratt' cutting - Mike will have grafted ($5) = $20.00
1 'Aztec Gold' Multi-Tip $15.00
Total $35.00

Thanks Hetty

Monica Thanks for your order It will take some time to have the cutting grafted in the best interest in saving you the most money it would be in your best interest to let me keep and care for your Aztec Gold(free of charge ) until i get the plant back from FCN then i can ship all together. Is this ok with you?
ill put you on spread sheet and let me know. Will be adding other cuttings soon that all are due here in a few days.



PLEASE LOOK ABOVE THERE IS A GAME WE ARE PLAYING AND YOU CAN WIN A GREAT PRIZE!!!

final hint
This is not the largest order i have ever placed(800 plumeria several years ago) It will be total of 5-6 boxes and none hold more then 50 plumeria in each. i have special ordered 12 cuttings for people. so you know it has to be more then 62 and less then 800......they are coming from 4 different people/venders.

VOTE NOW boxes are all due here before Friday!!!!

Mike, shipping them together is fine with me.

I'll PayPal you tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks.

Ok, I'll guess 250!

My guess 312.

BOX #1 has arrived make your guess or be left out !!!

2 more boxes here and will close this game soon.

game #2

how many of the plumeira are already sold of these shipments???

same rules apply

Guess Guess Guess!!!!!

50% is sold is my guess...

65% sold is my guess.