Hi,
Packers is either very good and a great deal, or very poor. It all depends on the time of the year. They take cuttings in Jan-Feb so if you order now most of the time you will get awesome cuttings of good length and girth.

I've heard of people ordering later in the year and being very disappointed with rotting cuttings.

Now is the time to order and for $1.99 per cutting, I'd give it a shot.

Let us know if you order and what the cuttings look like.

Good luck,
Tony

I started my plumeria collection by ordering from them twice -- once in January and again a couple of months later. The cuttings were thick and beautiful and single tipped. Some of my favorite Celadine plants are from them. You simply cannot beat their prices, and it is a good way to learn how to root plumerias while not risking a lot of money.

I placed my order....I think I got one of each except for the rainbow and I got 2 of those! :o)
I'm pretty excited about it....Now I just have to wait until they arrive.
At that point I will be back for some assistance.
The last cuttings that I received were already calloused and had the root tone on the end. I just potted them up and they just took off! Sadly those plants got too cold this winter and I was only able to save 1.
I'm looking forward to having some more..they are really pretty and the blooms smell wonderful!
Thanks for encouraging my purchase!

mgf~

mgf, just follow the instructions over at Plumeria 101 to the letter. Bottom heat will greatly help the rooting process. Buy a heating pad if you have to. The rainbows and reds are difficult to root and will rot in a heatbeat if given too much water or if they get subject to cold while they are sitting in moist soil.

My friend Antoinette ordered some cuttings from Aloha Palms, and she received this email:

"ALOHAPALMS
PACKER NURSERY

Aloha,
I am writing you regarding your recent order for Plumeria, etc. from my nursery. I had a slight heart attack last week ended up in Kona Hospital for a few days.
Sunday, I must fly to Oahu for a small surgery (I hope). I am very sorry for the delay in shipping your plants. If you can please bear with me, I will ship all about Wednesday of next week.

Please accept my apologies for the delay. If this does not work for you, then just let me know via email and I will refund your money. My daughter will be handling my email next week.

Again, Mahalo' for your patience.

Sincerely,
Ed Packer"

I'm going to send him a get-well-soon email. This is always sad news to hear, and he is having surgery on Easter no less! I'm sure we all wish him well.

Thanks for posting the info Clare.

Kasie

Wow I had read this post a while ago and decided to place an order. It seems to be a little slow so now maybe I know why. Hopefully everything is ok.

Oops~
I ment to post on Monday the 18th but totally forgot~
I received my order!! I think the cutting look great!! The largest is about 11 inches long and the shortest is about 7. I received all 8 cuttings that I ordered.
I have them potted up and hope to see some roots!
If I knew how to add a photo I would.....
For now you need to take my word!
mgf~

I ordered from these folks about six weeks ago and after four emails I still have no cuttings and no response to my emails. Any suggestions on how to get them to respond? At this point I just want to cancel and move on. Lesson learned? You get what you pay for.

Ken L.

I ordered from Packer last August and it took a long time to send my order. I had to leave a disappointing message on their voice-mail and Mr. Packer called me back. A week later, I finally received my order, which was disappointing as well. Short, shriveled, and rotten cuttings: out of 10, only 5 are hanging on. Since I only spent 1.99 on each one, I chose to not complain and move on.

That same month, I went to Vegas and learned they had opened up 2 ABC Stores of Hawaii at the Aladdin Mall and the new downtown mall. I went to those stores and found cuttings for $3.95. I bought four: 2 reds, a pink, and white. They are all doing well, thriving, and have nice leaves sprouting up.

I ordered from Packer Nursery a couple years ago just to get started and the plants are wonderful and the cuttings rooted well for me. I think it is a good place to get started with rooting plumaria cuttings. you really can't beat the price.

I got an email from Ed Packer today saying everything had shipped on the 25th. I'll let you know how the cuttings look when I get them.

Ken

Just to follow up on the Packer cuttings. I received them on Saturday and although small, they don't look too bad. I am water rooting them now and will let you know the results.

I agree with RedKen. The cuttings are small. My question is: Do we still follow the general rule, which is sink 4" of the cutting into the soil?

Yes, I just saw an old picture of my cuttings when I got them from AP, and they were small, but most of them rooted just fine. I would sink them two to three inches into the soil and no more. Follow the advice over at Plumeria 101 on rooting them.

Is it too late in the year to order from Packers Nursery???

I have heard that if you order from Packer Nursery on eBay that you get much nicer cuttings than if you order from the website. The theory is that he doesn't want bad feedback so he ships faster and, nicer cuttings...
My experience ordering last year was a waste of money. Better yo buy one good cutting from someone else reputable than a boxful that don't make it...

I think Ebay would be the only way I would order from him again, too. It's been at least 6 weeks and 2 unanswered emails...I'm giving it to the end of the week and canceling my credit card charge for non-delivery.

Latest Update:

The last email I sent Mr. Packer, I said I would be cancelling the credit charge since I have not heard back from him. He called me that evening and said he would ship them out immediately. They had been pulled but something happened. He sounded like a very old man. He did ship them out that evening as promised, sent a confirmation number and I got them yesterday morning. I had originally ordered 4 and 2 coffees but since it took so long, I found coffee someplace else (and got my own to grow) so I asked him to switch the coffee to 2 plummies...whatever was the healthiest. This is what I got (You can click on the thumbnails for a close-up):

{{gwi:1157793}}
{{gwi:1157794}}
{{gwi:1157795}}
{{gwi:1157796}}

The longest was 11 1/2", the shortest about 8". He sent 7, although I only ordered 6. A couple were a bit soft (the hot pink and the white). The healthiest and most vigorous were apricot, celedron, and pink in a mist.

Overall, the cuttings exceeded my expectations considering I spent less than $20 on them. I'm definitely happy with them and would have had no problem with Packer's if he just was either a bit faster (i.e. kept within the timeframe he stated in his original & only email (within 4 weeks) or if he communicated better about the extra 3 week delay (and who knows how much longer it would have been...)

As I stated somewhere else, I think this is probably a very small operation and he's probably not in the best of health and a bit overwhelmed at times AND I would buy from him again but next time on EBAY so I could count on it being shipped in a reasonable timeframe (he must have all that possible feedback for a reason...no mention anywhere of slow shipping!!!)

Wanna run:

Glad to hear that you FINALLY received these cuttings after much concern. Again, I had the same experience in terms of having to call etc.. I'm happy you're happy with your cuttings. :o)

Btw: Just my .02 cents, but I noticed you used clay pots. Roots on plumerias are pretty fragile and easily torn when transplanting unless it's a complete, established root ball. It's easier to pull them out of plastic than clay because the roots attach themselves to the sides of the pot. Years ago, I had one in a 10 gal. clay that I had to transplant because it was root bound. The only way to get it out was to break the pot in half. They will also thrive in a plastic container because the nutrients don't leech out as readily. Again, this is just my experience.

With that, I wish you the best of luck with many, many blooms to come!

Suzy

Thanks for the advice, Suzy. I hadn't didn't know that! I initially went with the clay because I thought they would be "drier" and less likely to retain excess moisture! But I will swap out the pots now that I know!

Did you get some from Packers, too? I was just wondering how they are doing?

Hi Wanna,

You're welcome. Glad I could be of help, hope it wasn't too much trouble for you to re-pot those. Yes, I did. I actually "bought" 20. I got 10 and lost five. I told my mom and a friend so they ordered too, the same week I did. Well, the ones they got, my mom lost 1/3, and the friend lost 1/2. In my guilt for recommending, I ended up giving them each a couple of rooted plants with inflos. So in essence not only did I lose the ones fr. Packer's, I lost 4 of my own rooted ones too. Way more than just $1.99 X whatever? But what are you going to do?? My philosophy is we're all accountable for what we do in life. I also got bad cuttings fr. an ebay vendor(sussafrus) so this has all left a bad impression on my online purchases.

Of the five, I have: Celadine, Yellow, White, Hot Pink, and Pink. They're still pretty small with leaves, the tallest is 8" fr. the soil line and I've had these since Sept.

I will try to post pics when I get a chance. Btw: I have about 50 seeds in the germination process. So far, only 5 have sprouted so far. I lost 3 yesterday, I peeked and the seed was all brown and soft, like rot. It's pretty exciting so far.

I also have 22 plummie seedlings in various stages of growth. I got the seeds from Barry.ng on ebay and had 100% germination...although 2 do look like runts and have not grown like the others.

I was looking at ebay again last night but then I gained control of my senses and convinced myself to at least give these cuttings some time & see what happens (before I have 900 pots out on the patio!)

I posted a picture of one of my first seedlings to come up on the other thread...I'll do an update soon!

I saw someone in texas who was selling a 5 foot grown from seed for $29.99 but it was pick up only! (But it does give me hope ;)

What was the seedlings parantage? What part of Texas was it in?
Holly

Just my two cents worth. I am learning that you get what you pay for in plumeria cuttings. People say they buy from Packer's to get experience with rooting...but its hard to root a bad cutting. That's not the kind of growing experience you need.
Buy a good cutting from a reputable source and you will be rewarded with a healthy plant!
And a seven or eight inch cutting is awefully short when you sink 3 or 4 inches into the ground.

Keleke,
I have to agree again. You get what you pay for. Btw: do you order cuttings fr. a reliable source you would be willing to recommend? If so, who may I ask. I'm itching to buy some named Cvs but I'm leary about getting bad/rotten cuttings again.

Suzy

I love Packer Nursery....!
I agree about the plastic pots being better for the plants!
I have ordered 3 times from Mr. Packer and twice via Ebay, and one time Vis AlohaPalms, all of my plants are thriving!
I did however put the first batch into clay pots because I thouht they looked better. Those few were doing terrible. So, after reading some posts, etc. I put them back into plastic. Now all of them are great. Most have big leaves and one new one has Celedine floweres one it in just one month! I know for a fact the it is a one man operation. So, be patient...COMPLETLY WORTH THE SMALL WAIT!

I got my cuttings a couple of months after I ordered them. Great, nice,big, thick, healthy, cuttings. I put the cuttings in a couple of weeks ago and they have a lot of leaves coming up. Even sent out directions.
Tally HO!

i just recieved plumerias cutting from Mr. Packer today and they are look fantastic, he give me and extra one!

Just thought you all would like an update. The cuttings have been doing fine all summer. Initially I was going to move them from clay to plastic pots as recommended but then I saw a segment on Paul James' show where he said clay helps prevent root rot since it is almost impossible to overwater in them and living in Florida... I figured, worse comes to worse, I could also crack the pots open with a hammer. I also never got to the final step (putting some stones in to stabilize) as recommended by Plumeria 101. But I guess there was no need to worry because all are doing great. Even the weakest, softest (and yes, they are still soft!) ones (the white and hot pink just as before) are doing ok. The white has just formed claws, all the rest grew leaves some time ago. The picture of the plummie on the far left closest to the edge of the pool is a seedling put in the picture for comparison. The white one is on the far right. Sorry don't know if the pictures are in order but there are also a couple pictures of the very first claws that started back in July.

All in all, I am very satisifed with my plummies, and I hope Mr. Packard and his wife are doing better.
{{gwi:1157797}}
{{gwi:1157799}}
{{gwi:1157802}}
{{gwi:1157804}}



{{gwi:1157806}}
{{gwi:1157808}}

wanna
They are nice looking plants.
I have no experience with plumeria but they sure are beautiful!
How long before flowers appear?

I think the cuttings will bloom as soon as they are finished establishing themselves and the temps stay warm. The seedlings take 2 to 3 years depending on who you listen to.

Anyone else having trouble seeing ALL the comments in this thread?

Ed Packer is a true gentleman & I would highly recommend his nursery to anyone,i found his customer service to be excellent , he was very professional & even requested that i call (at his expense) to discuss any questions or concerns that i may have had-if you wanted to find a reliable source of great plumerias at a reasonable price,ed packer is the way to go-his kindness in including a free gift for my mother (of a blooming plumeria as she is very ill) overwhelmed me & i think that hes a good man.

I absolutly Loved Packard Nursery. It stated when i Bought my cuttings 45 of them to be exact that they took up to 3 weeks to get them cut as Mr Packard has Been a wonderfull help to me and getting all of mine going i lost 4 in total. the rainbows according to Mr Packard they are the Hardest to start and Being Very New. i wanted to try them and at least have 1 plant of each Color . Now i have extra.
all of them rooted well except for the 4 rainbows that turned into Mush I cannot Blame Packards nursery for that.I have even Gotten Blooms from them this yr and there only 9 months old now . Tammy from Florence Oregon email me for pictures They did me right and If you read his page all the way you will find he states That the shipping can take up to 3 weeks to cut them and another 7-12 days priority mail. and yes i would say there a mom and pop shop . and i will buy from them again.

Westwood, I ordered 13 plants, they arrived in March, they all rooted except 1, the red one. I decided to order 8 more in May, and emailed Ed Packer in June, to see if I could change one of the colors, he emailed me back that due to illness they would not be able to fill my order, and he send back my payment. I wish I would have ordered more, the first time, like you did. My plants are all about 3 foot tall right now, and look like they are ready to bloom, I am in zone 9, I can hardly wait.
Today I went to Lowes, and they marked down their plumeria to $3 each gallon, I bought 5 of them, but I have no idea what colors they are.