I am looking forward expert responses to this question as well.

The Exotic Plumeria website says to start watering and fertilizing as soon as the grow tip starts coming to life, when it is wet looking. They recommend a water soluable fertilizer with a phosphorus content of 50 or higher, or a granular fertilizer with a phosphorus content of 20 or higher. I use Hawaiian Bud and Bloom for my plumeria, but need to be more regular in watering and feeding them. One has a bloom spike already.

Here is a link that might be useful: Helpful hints for plumeria

Hi Alohani,
If you read the posts given on when to feed. It depends on if you are raising them inside..I know nothing about feeding there.

If you plan on bringing plants outside that are dormant now to water and feed. Your night temps must be 50 and above and hold there. Feeding and watering is a lot of liquid to plants..is fine if warm night or morning temps..But if too cold for your plant can harm it. I am in So. CA..plants inside will wait untill the end of March if the night or morning temps are chilly..waited this long, heading for 5 months..can wait a little longer.
Karen B.

My $.02! I bring my plants out for sunshine when the nighttime temps. stay consitently (for the most part!) above 50 at night. During that time, the day time temps, here in S. Texas will warm up quickly. I give them a good watering w/ Super Thrive. As they begin to grow (show actual growth at the tips) you can begin fertilizing. They will need to regrow small feeder roots whether you have kept them in a pot or removed them from soil for overwintering. The best explaination of feeding I have ever heard came from a grower in California. He recommended 1/4 strength water soluable fert. everytime you water, explained this way 'would you rather have your meals 3 times a day or once a month?' It make sense to fert. in smaller doses more often. There are as many different fertilizers out there as there are growers (well almost). This year I will be using a time release 13x13x13 as I have heard over the last several years they really don't need that high middle number, will see how they perform. For more growing/fertilizer/care information you can check out www.theplumeriasociety.org
Happy Growing
Karen (the other KarenB in Texas)

Here is a link that might be useful: The Plumeria Society of America

Hmmmm....good advice regarding fertilizing at 1/4 strength once a week. Makes sense! I think I will try that it this year with a couple of the plumies to see if it benefits the same as feeding them once a month.
Has anyone who has done the weekly feedings noticed a difference? I think thats what the orchid people suggested too...."weakly weekly."

Ok, I've had my plumie for a year and have never given it fertlizer. It came out of dormancy about 3 weeks ago and now is growing large leaves rather quickly. I want to start to fertlize in the hope of producing blooms and branches. (Its just been a 20" leafy plant until now)

I keep it indoors now (It's still in the 40's here in NJ) but will put it outdoors in a few weeks when spring finally arrives.

Should I start fertlizing it now while it's indoors? Or wait until I put it outdoors? And how often do I fertilize? I will probably use Miracle Gro Bloom Booster since that's what I can find locally. What strength do you recommend I use? Someone above said 1/4 strength of what is recommended on the package?

Thanks so much!

Debbie

The only problem with high nitrogen fertilizers and plumeria is that plumeria are trees, and will want to grow to tree size the more nitrogen you give them. My plumeria are in pots, and I'm more interested in blooms from them than a lot of rapid vegetative growth. It depends on what you want.

Hi,
discussion on giving a quarter dose of food a month each time you water. Well first..I feed my cans twice a month, half dose, is the 10-50-10 mix. Now feeding quarter doses, depends on how hot it is where you live. Where I live, in the summer can hit 110, I can water in the morning and sometimes at night. so this cannot work for me.. One who can do this would have to be in a pretty controlled climate. Even temps.
Karen B.. in So. CA.

I have had this plumeria for about four years. It has grown tall with two branchs coming off the main trunk, a third branch broke off last summer in the wind. Right now one branch seems to be dormant ,while the other has produced a number of leaves. I dont know if I should cut the branch with the leaves or to try to cut the other and replant it. I,m afraid I dont have a green thumb but would like to see this tree survive. It has never produced flowers , just leaves. Is there anyone who could put me on the right track?

fazool,
Can you post a picture of your plant? There are several reasons why it may not have bloomed. How big is the pot you have it in, have you repotted it since you have had it, how much sun does it receive, how long is your growing season, do you feed it and how often?

The tips of the branch is where it will bloom and if you cut a branch off, you will need to root it and may or may not get blooms off of that branch until it establishes a good set of roots. If you plant is getting 6-8 hours of good sunlight and you are feeding it (they are heavy feeders) you may get blooms this season.
kb