Strange growth on Plumeria

19 years ago

Hi,

There is a very strange growth on my plumeria plant. I don't know if it's normal or not. It's sorta looks like a pod. It is about 6 inches long and connects in the center like a T to a branch. It's a dark purple color and is about 3/4 inch in diameter. This is the first time I've ever seen anything like it on my plumeria. I've had it for about 2 years now.

Thanks,

Featured Answer

tdogdad

19 years ago

Seed pods are fairly rare although some plants are regular producers. What you see is really one pod but it has two sections. I have found that I have more pods on whites than any other color. Those it seems produce white flowered babies unless they are a hybred from colored parents (my cindy moragne produced an orange, a red and a multi colored baby among many whites). Multi colored or red to pinks are usually the preferred pods because the vast varieties of new combinations that can be produced. Yellows seem to be like whites in that they produce yellows. Pods occur because the flower is pollinated which because of the very narrow neck is very difficult. A few moths and some small insects are known to be pollinators. Although few believe me, I have seen newly hatched Monarch trying to necter on my plumerias and I think because my wife raises and releases butterflies, I have so many pods. for me, most pods start out brown but I have one white that has bright green pods that turn brown just before opening. Some are short and fat, some are long and skinny and others are big and fat. I had several pods freeze this year and they did not survive. Others look just fine so far and are fattening up. Since they take 6-9 months to ripen, it will be summer before most are ready to open. Bill Moragne hand pollinated a Scott Pratt with a Daisy Wilcox which created the Moragne group. I do not know if Joey Rosselli hand pollinated his plants or not. The process is explained in the books but is questionable because the parts are so small and the possibility of accidental self pollination is high. Gotta run- more later. Bill

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Comments (13)

mrpearson253
19 years ago
Any chance you could get a picture of it? That would make it lots easier to figure out. Mahalo.

Mark
plumeriaplant
Original Author
19 years ago
Here is link, I didn't know how to post a picture until now. Also I'm really bad at judging size it turns out it's more like maybe 8 or 10 inches.
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valerie_mi
19 years ago
That is weird. I'm waiting to see what people have to say it is.
Valerie
tdogdad
19 years ago
It is a seed pod. The pod will grow and then darken. As it matures it will split along the seam facing outward and the pod will open to look like a shoe tongue with dozens of seeds inside with a flat wing attached. Plant wing up and soon you have many little babies which may or may not look like the parents. Many people put a panty hose over the pod to allow air in and to catch seeds. i just watch right opposite the attachement point for the pod to begin to crack open and then I remove the pod and allow it to open in a bowl. Pods vary from 6 to 30 inches long and usually take at least half a year to mature. If you are removing old inflos from your plants you need to look carefully. I just removed one from a spectacular My Valentine and then noticed a tiny pod starting on the end- would like that one back. I usually average about 20 pods a year but I only plant the premium seeds. Bill
karyn1
19 years ago
Babies! I've never had a seed pod develop on any of my plumies. Is that 1 or 2 pods?
Karyn
valerie_mi
19 years ago
How do you chance getting pods? Do I leave my inflo on the tree?
Valerie
kbauman
19 years ago
Hi valerie,
I would like that answered too. Do you remove the stem that was a inflo? I have some that are as thick as the branch. Do you cut them off? will they die back?
Karen B
mrpearson253
19 years ago
Congrats on the upcoming babies! I have one full pod on a little potted Nebel's Rainbow cutting I have at work, and half of one (not sure how the other wing broke off) from a Cancun Pink I got from Kimi's in Corona. Does anyone know if the half will develop on its own, or does it need the other part for some reason? Mahalo!

Mark
tdogdad
19 years ago
Mark- the half will usually develop.
Karen and Valerie- If your inflo is more than 4 months finished and no pod is seen, it is basically done. There are many opinions on what to do now. Usually the inflo will crack along the base and will fall off or can be snapped off. Some will shrivel and darken- I cut these off at the connection point because if left, some will rot into your plant. Some will start to grow into a new branch- these from my experience are weak and slow growing. I cut them off at the connection and let the energy go into other branches. By March, I cut off any still left (usually beefy ones) with a sharp knife. Rarely one of these will re-flower but these inflos are usually inferior so I do not wait to see- I cut off. This puts the growth energy into the splitting branches and their new inflos. The main thing is to not let a rotting inflo stem sit too long on the branch because this can infect the plant and cause much damage. Bill
tdogdad
19 years ago
Mark- the half will usually develop.
Karen and Valerie- If your inflo is more than 4 months finished and no pod is seen, it is basically done. There are many opinions on what to do now. Usually the inflo will crack along the base and will fall off or can be snapped off. Some will shrivel and darken- I cut these off at the connection point because if left, some will rot into your plant. Some will start to grow into a new branch- these from my experience are weak and slow growing. I cut them off at the connection and let the energy go into other branches. By March, I cut off any still left (usually beefy ones) with a sharp knife. Rarely one of these will re-flower but these inflos are usually inferior so I do not wait to see- I cut off. This puts the growth energy into the splitting branches and their new inflos. The main thing is to not let a rotting inflo stem sit too long on the branch because this can infect the plant and cause much damage. Bill
kbauman
19 years ago
Hi Bill,
thanks, cut back the beefy inflos, was on celidine. Never went totally dormant, starting to grow again!

Now you told me to put it in the ground or larger container., will put it in the ground, late March, if the weather holds warm..right?
Karen B.
teeaach
6 years ago
I have one of those too. So what do I do? Put a nylon on it? How do I plant the seeds??