I am little lost when it comes to growing Plumeria and need some direction. I have had a couple of Plumeria in the garden for over 15 years. There have been times that they have been killed back from a freeze but always rebounded. I have even cut them back to control the height, but then I do not get flowers in these years. I have not cut them back for a few years now and the plants are over 15' tall and I do not get to see the flowers. In the last couple of years I have to go up on top of my roof to see them in flower. How would the experts handle this?

A view at eye level...


rooftop photo of flowers...

There are two ways to address this - and guess what? You can do both......

Cut the stump off at about 18". This will regrow (just like your frozen-back stumps did). Then you can plant the tops - I would go with a piece not shorter than 2 ft.
My concern is - why are they getting so lanky? I suspect they are reaching for the light... Plumeria want to be in full sun.... If you can't give them that location, you may need to be happy with the status quo.

I think Hetty is dead-on. It looks like your plumera are under a canopy of trees, and though it looks like you live in tropical plant paradise , plumeria need their sun. Heck, I take cuttings with inflo. frequently, and root them. I know, I know, cut those inflos. off. I never do. They will root regardless and just keep on blooming.

If you get flowers I think you are doing a great job! They are a tree after all and a healthy plumeria if allowed will get tall. You might consider planting a dwarf plumeria for something to look at eye level. But yes, they do crave that full sun exposure.

I have this one growing in four locations in the garden all receiving about 6-7 hours of direct sun. If I was to plant it totally out in the open sun the frosts and freezes that visit every few years would take it out.

Okey, dokey. Compromise is often necessary.

By the way, Scott, my plumeria, which would then all be dormant, will take freezes in stride. The brief, light freezes (which is all you would ever have in Tampa) are not the problem. It is when the temperatures don't rise above freezing for a full day or more. That's what takes them out. At least that's been my experience, growing plumeria in a temperate zone for 25 years.

Scott you live in my area, you might want to do what I've been doing. if you want to take cuttings, just be sure to let the cuttings callous for 2 weeks before planting. We are getting a lot of rain now so if you plan to root anything around this time, stick the cuttings in pots with half perlite half potting soil and "Do Not Water" at all until the first four sets of leaves are out. I keep mine in a covered lanai this time of the year, it gets morning sun but no rain.

You can keep the "well rooted" cuttings in pots set them in full sun spring to fall (you'll be rewarded with more blooms) but before the first frost keep them in covered lanai. I have south facing lanai and they stay there all winter with little or no water at all while dormant. since they are in a covered lanai I don't need to cover them at all winter time.

Beautiful blooms, reminds me of my Hausten White plumeria.



The mother plant will Branch out and if you trim it to 3 feet tall, next spring, you will have multiple branches from where you cut it and more possibility of blooms at eye level