Squishy at base and shriveled up....so the question is...I am overwatering or underwatering? I checked the dirt and it appears to be pretty dry so I went ahead and gave it some water. Need more sunlight? Will post pictures later. Thanks.

Thank you!!

Thea, if this were my plant, I would immediately remove it from its pot and check the root ball. Your plant may have no roots at all. The base of your plant, and its tips, should be firm, never "squishy". You'll have to post what you find if/when you examine that root ball. Is this plant leafed out or does it only have small, terminal leaves?

When it comes to sun, plumeria are sun-lovers, though during the extreme of summer here (mid-July), I might have to lightly shade a few plants that have a bit more sensitive leaves. The combination of good roots, lots of healthy, large green leaves, sun, and air movement, allows plumeria to transpire well. Thus, these plants are able to pretty quickly use whatever water they get. Be sure your plants are in well-draining soil with good drain holes, and don't allow them to sit in water-filled saucers. They don't like "wet-feet".

Just the stalks feeling squishy (pictured above) Both of the plants are leafed out.

@Ken- I had to do another double take to check the tips and base this morning. I had to make sure before I repot and check the root ball. I guess I was wrong the tips & base ...they are pretty sturdy and still firm. No wet feet here if not more dry feet because I was too afraid to water to much to avoid rotting or if I had to bring them into the garage last minute. Part shade and some sunlight right now. Should I be worried about 1-2 yellow leaves? I'm so sorry- being so paranoid- the plants were given to me by a good friend. (They have to survived haha) Here's a better picture- the 3 tips cutting.

I am not the expert here, Thea, but it is certainly much better news that the stems are firm, and not squishy. The wrinkled stems are very possibly due to dehydration rather than too much water. I still would un-pot the plant..........carefully and gently. If you see plenty of roots, just slip it back into the pot. If the root-ball looks really dense with roots, re-pot it into a pot 4" greater in diameter. Keep the stem at the same level as before. Begin to water more frequently. When the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry, water. Because you are in a better climate for tropical plants than I (at least when it comes to warm weather), my plants probably go dormant long before yours. Even so, I still haven't yet begun letting my soil go completely dry. I can't. All my plants are still outside. We had several days of unusually cold weather but now it is back almost summertime weather. I plan on leaving my plants out for at least another week, perhaps two. It just depends on Mother Nature. Every single tropical plant I have has to come indoors for the fall and winter months.

Lots of my plants are losing leaves and naturally, lots of leaves are yellowing. It is dormant time for them.

Hi Thea, I agree with Ken, you can check the root ball. The only time before I saw my Plumie getting that dried out stem, when there were no roots formed, and the leaves were not formed either but it did manage to bloom.

But your plant has good formed leaves, so it is also possible it is very thirsty. Being thirsty, the plant is conserving available moisture so it is dropping the older, lower leaves early. Maybe up to this last week of October, you can still water it thoroughly till you see water gushing out the other end. But don't do it daily, our temps at night are starting to cool down. Eventually you have to scale back watering and just let the plant naturally go dormant. In our area, once we start getting temps below 50F, it is too cold for the Plumies. It is different in SoCal, their low temps are more stable there, but here in NorCal, just have to protect them when temps start going down.
I think we still have this last week of October to safely keep them outside. By November, have to bring them in and let them go dormant. It is a temperature game now, we may still have nice 70's during the day but daytime is much shorter and overnights cooler.

drdawg said:
Lots of my plants are losing leaves and naturally, lots of leaves are yellowing. It is dormant time for them.

We have been getting in to mid to lower 40s at my house. With days from 60 - 80. My leaves are still green and no dropping. Still outside. Wondering when Little Darling (my only NOID Plumeria) will decide to start shutting down. I still have most all my tropicals outside. One of my Brugs has > 20 buds with 10 - 16 blooms. Last year I left it out til after first frost - covered with a frost blanket.