Smart move Stewart and Cindy....better be safe than sorry. You don't want the risk of contaminating your expensive collection. I would do the same if it were mine.

Stewart, why do you suspect FMV? Plumeria are well-known for splash-petals because their color genes are weak and often unstable. I have done quite a bit or research on this, have been in contact with several PhD's in Hawaii who specialize in plumeria (one is even a plant geneticist), and they say that viruses are rare and when present, will almost always be seen in leaf defects. Do the leaves of this plant look deformed or diseased?

Ken,

I guess it is a better safe than sorry.

I have also read about the leaves (in this cause I see no issues) . They also say that it could be the heat that causes the issue. I have read anywhere from people destroying the plant because of the splash while others keep them because they love the difference. I have read where it can spread and I have read that it only can spread if you take a cutting from it, and then a cutting from another without cleaning your utensils.

I have the one plant separated and plan on watching it for any other issues. My hope is that it will still be blooming as it gets cooler (in Houston I have about 1 month) and see what the blooms look like at that time.

I've been so dang busy I haven't been able to keep up with y'all lately...I can understand you keeping it separated...The plant looks healthy I wonder if the color splash will fade out with next yrs blooms..

I have spent so much time with this, simply because I had a single Slaughter Pink with splash flowers, I feel pretty well versed on it. Of course, I am having to depend on folks that have dealt with plumeria over their entire horticultural career, and how much more knowledgeable would I want than a plant geneticist. Anyway, all these PhD's have so far been in agreement. This is splash petals I am dealing with and the splash phenomenon is due to some sort of stress. The most likely stress is severe heat and not keeping the root-ball moist enough to counteract the effects of rapid transpiration. I was given quite a bit of information on viruses as well and these guys said that virus transfer is very difficult and is only possible when virus-tainted sap (what I call latex) is directly transferred to another plant, such as using a contaminated lopper to cut another plant. I was told that even then, virus transfer is not common. Perhaps in other families of plants, but apparently not with plumeria. Again, they said that if I am not seeing leaf-deformity, it would be very unlikely that I have any sort of virus issue.

We seem too often to think the worse when we see the least bit of problem with our plants. Because plumeria leaves are so doggone large, everything we see on them is magnified (at least in our minds-eye). I get enquires all the time, wanting to know what's going on with fiddle leaf ficus plants. Again, the huge leaves magnify things that would not even be noticeable on small-leaved plants. I see photos posted all over the place showing some spots or discoloration on leaves, and more often than not, the "diagnoses" almost always seems to indicate bad stuff: bacterial, fugal, and/or virus. I will bet you 10 to 1, that I will see some other of my plants showing splash flowers this summer. There doesn't seem to be any end to our heat, and if heat is the primary initiator.........well.

I am certainly no expert here and don't pretend to be. I am simply relying on folks way smarter, certainly more educated in this sort of stuff, and who have spent decades researching plant genetics.

Update from my July 24 post.
Not sure what the white stuff is. Think its ok though......
Anxiously waiting........

congratulations on your inflo!

Looks fine to me. Enjoy the coming-out-show.

Tim to me watching the inflo progress through its growth stages was more impressive than the first leaves on my plants..Then all of the sudden " Boom" the flowers appear...Have fun !!

Thank you Jeff... Cant wait......

I was hoping someone would say what that white stuff was. I was about to post a question and some pictures in the ask a question forum about the same white stuf on my plumerias.

I see all sorts of odd stuff on plumeria tips/stalks, and just think nothing of it. I don't have a clue what it is. My plants appear in the best of health.

Heath..Ken is correct. Whatever the stuff was, its harmless. Here is an updated pic from yesterday. Its about ready to open. Not sure what type it is though. I purchased the stick as a 'Mystery' , so anxious to see this bloom and maybe the folks on this forum can help me identify.

It looks like you'll have a pink or perhaps a (more) white, with a pink band on the underside of your petals, Tim.

You think so? I have no idea. Ive never seen a Plumeria bloom and what i'm watching (slowly) is all new to me. The weather here in the northeast is hot and humid right now, but things tend to change quickly so this looks like the only one that is going to bloom this year. The other 7 look great (many big green leaves) but nothing that looks like inflow.

congrats Tim! Very few people can get plumerias to bloom in NY.

Geez, how long does it take? getting impatient......

It should have opened by now. I have a similar no ID pink that sulked when I kept trimming all branches every year so I haven't seen the bloom for a couple years now. It is on the same stage a couple days ago. It is open now but it is 9 feet tall, I will need a ladder to get a pix of the blooms.

One of my plumies had an attack of mealy bugs earlier in the Spring. Looked kind of like that white stuff. It was also visited by a Ladybug that was very hungry!