I live in Tucson AZ, and have been following a Plumeria grower in Phoenix AZ (gets up to 10 degrees hotter than Tucson) who has been growing multiple varieties of gorgeous Plumeria in total full sun; this person advises growing in movable pots due to our winter freezes and very alkaline soil. I have recently repotted & moved my 2 year old Plumeria outside. (Started from 12" cutting my daughter brought me from Hawaii.)
It was doing great inside under skylight but never flowered. It now gets full sun for most of the daylight hours with shade in the hottest afternoon hours. It has only been a few days & it's leaves are quite sun burned. I was advised by a gardener friend to pull off all of the lower leaves, to encourage root growth.
Can anyone advise me if this is in fact a good idea?
(Photo was taken the day after repotting to outside)

If it has been growing in part shade, it needs to be introduced to sun slowly before getting it in full sun. Not sure if removing leaves will encourage root growth but I always prune the leaves of my plumeria because they get rust here with our summer rains.

For now, introduce your plumeria slowly to full sun, so that it can recover from being sunburned.

And by the way @Ywoodunot at the plumeria column! Why would you not

Hello Gigi Plumeria, appreciate the feedback!

You should also drop a handful of Epson salt in your soil. It will help with preventing sunburn. Absolutely should be acclimated to full sunlight. Can't just go from inside to scorching heat.

tucson is brutal on plumerias, its best if u have them under a mister and mist a few x per day due to the dry climate and preferabbly want to have them under some netting, at least if you are facing south you need shade, my 7 yr old took a beating last year bc i moved it and didnt do this, itll get suburned myne has been outside in both phx and tucson all its life. its that 4:30-6p sun thats the worst, postitive is itll dry out the area of the plant where it hit, and prout roots letting u clone it easier.