Hi all,

I've been trolling this forum for quite some time and always found it interesting. I live in southern Indiana and have a dozen or so plumeria ranging from 3 to 6' tall in pots. Getting blooms now that its getting colder and have to worry about the evening temps, but such is life.

My question is: for the past several years, I bring the plants in and have them on my kitchen cabinets where there is a good sized window (sort of a sky light, but bigger and facing south) so they get sunlight for several hours a day. They never go completely dormant. Would it be better to leave them potted and take them to the basement, leave them in the window to poke along during the winter before sending them outside in Spring or de-container them and let them dry out?

The taller/multi-headed ones will need to be trimmed back sometime too.

Thanks,
Paul

Paul! I always admire people who manage to get plumeria to bloom in not exactly tropical climates (where in Indiana by the way?).

I think you want to make sure to enjoy your blooms as long as possible! So that kitchen window sounds good for now. Once the bloom cycle is done I would take them to the basement and let them go dormant. There is a case for spraying them prior to putting them away to make sure you are not storing them with a bunch of bugs attached but I guess you probably do that before taking them inside. Then get them back outside as soon as your night temperatures are reliably over 50 degrees.

I am sure others have suggestions for you as well. I'm lucky that mine can stay outdoors year round....

I am in a little 'burg half way between Louisville, KY and Cincinnati, OH on the Ohio River. Winter temps can get to below 0, but generally stay above 20. I love tropical plants, but much prefer colder temps to hot ones. I plan to retire to Wisconsin when the time comes. I might need a green house then.

As to the bugs, I don't spray them so the spiders can take care of the other bugs in the house. Spiders are such useful little critters.

Do I cut prior to them going dormant, after they're asleep or just before Springtime?

Paul

If you're going to take cuttings, take them in the spring for best rooting success.

And you just disproved my belief that 'nobody ever goes north to retire'

Paul's already north, so he's not exactly moving north to retire......

From southern Indiana to Wisconsin is north in my book

But its southern Wisconsin, so I'm sure that it'll be fine y'all. And retirement to the northern climes is contingent upon the War Department's consent. She's, excuse the bad joke, warming up to the idea.

I would chose Naples.