Growing Plumerias

Although there are general do’s and dont’s with plumeria, I recommend that growers continually try to experiment with what they do with their own trees to work out what best suits them and their conditions. No two climate zones are alike therefore what works really well in one may not work so well or as good in another. For this reason growers need to adjust the methods they use.  In Australia I lived and grew plumeria in 4 different areas/micro climates before moving to Thailand – in each case I had to adjust what I did to get the best results possible.

From the mix used to raise seeds/seedlings, potting mixes, fertilizers, taking cuttings, doing grafts and general plant work, all these had to be changed as I moved. The various micro climates mean adjusting the mixes to either drain more quickly or to hold some moisture back, having to remove inflo’s by certain months or face serious rot problems over winter, most areas are basically similar but each has different needs.  A grower needs to be aware of the local climates, when they have different temperatures, highs and lows, when the rain generally falls, if they have frosts, when the plants start to wake up, when they start to flower, what months best suit cutting/grafting, all these things need to be a part of the growers knowledge so they can keep their plants growing to the best of their abilities.

A diary comes in very handy, I mark in each plants optimum time to try to pollinate & when they actually set the pods plus when the pods finally open, which months they flower best, when fertilizer needs to be applied(in Australia once a year was fine with slow release, here I need to do it twice a year), the best NPK ratios to use,  when seeds/seedlings are planted, what you add to them and when, how much growth you get a year, when can you start to take cuttings/do grafts and when it is no longer advisable to do so.  I also keep a list of what is added to the soil and when, does it improve my plants growth etc, all these things are important.

There are many “how to” pieces these days on plumeria. while some of them can be applied to all areas some cannot, this is especially so with the mixes used in pots and the ground. A different average rain fall  or average  temperature means you need to adjust them, by all means use them as a base but then adjust for your local area and do not be afraid to try something new, this is how we all gain a better knowledge about these great plants. Although the experts can advise you and give you much of their knowledge, in the end the only person that knows what actually suits your plants best is you.