Jackie,

May I ask what is the name of the "Red Plumeria" that is your hearts desire?
I'm trying my hand at rooting a cutting of Hilo Beauty and I'm very cautious about the "Reds".
My best and most favorite is the Siam Red that I purchased as a "Grafted Cutting" from Brad's Bud's & Blooms. I am so glad that I did, because today it's a small tree!
I also have read that Florida Colors sells quality grafted plumeria.
This to me is a guaranteed way to purchase and grow the difficult red varieties.
Please let me know what red variety you most want?

Aloha, Stuart

Stuart
I tried Key west Red and Siam red both. No germination at all :( I bought them from 2 different places. All my other seedlings are growing strong. I wanted to try a cutting, but have read so much about how hard they are to root, so I decided to go the seed route. The Siam red is by far my favorite, I believe it in my eyes to be the truest red of most of them. I know everyone sees colors differently so I may be wrong, but its a beauty. I have not ventured into grafted territory just yet, would like to get a little more experience under my belt first. Also I would love to come when you have your cutting sale at the gardens. I work for the school system and we have no vacations until Xmas once school starts :( I am hoping you will take lots of picture so we all can see the fruit of all your labor!! I hope they appreciate all that you've done. I also know it was a labor of love for you. I love Florida, have not been down there in several years, but planning to next June. So when June rolls around again, I will plan to come see the gardens you carefully tend to

Jackie

P.s. I think we all should move to Hawaii lol

I've germinated some Siam Ruby seeds and rooted a Kimi Beauty cutting, but I guess the majority of my seeds are multi-colored varieties. Believe it or not my Kimi Beauty was unbelievably easy to root and shot ahead of almost all my other cuttings-I did get a 3 tip instead of a single and I think that helped too.

My best advice is just don't give up! If you've germinated others then you know you can do it. Where did you get your seeds? Brad's has some of the best prices and I get great germination from those seeds. I've also had great quality seeds from a seller named cuckooznest on eBay, although they are more expensive.

Jackie,

You don't need any experience growing a grafted plumeria, you buy it already grafted with roots and all.
All you have to do is plant it in a good soil mix water it and watch it grow!
Here's some of my "Grafted" Siam Red from Brad's Bud's & Blooms.

Stuart-
Will you please post a picture of the grafted part of the trunk? I would like to see what it looks like on a large mature tree. Beautiful blooms, btw!
Thanks!

Rachel

OMG Stuart Its beautiful!!!!!!!!! I just went to brads site and he has rooted ones. Doing the happy dance:) Its not grafted so I am hoping it will be as beautiful as yours. I know the color prob wont be as deep as yours, you have a longer growing season then I do. But I had no idea he even had them, thank you for telling me. Guess I will have to start looking at sites other then ebay lol That is one place I got the siam red seeds from that didnt germinate but I know how finikey reds are so I have to go the rooted way. Thank you Stuart so much!!!! Yours is definately a beauty!!!! I am still looking at your picture Wow

Jackie

The starts I have took quite a while before they got roots. Put on leaves long before they ever rooted. As long as the stick looks well I would not bother it but hot weather seems to get them started but not in cool weather. Patience has been the best answer for sprouting cuttings. There is a website which shows how to plant the seeds as well as added information on the care of those seeds. Just type in growing plumeria seeds.

Hey Rachel and Jackie,
Keep in mind this is a almost 5 year old grafted small tree when you see the photos. You'll notice the base has a bulge, this would be the starter plant with roots and in this case they made a "V" cut into the top and made a point cut on the Siam Red cutting and joined the two together and taped them to heal and take hold. Here are my photos, I just ran outside and took, Stuart

Stuart
Some people say grafting leaves ugly scars. I dont see anything ugly about your tree. Just looks like its fatter in that section. It healed very nicely. Thank you again. Your such a sweet person. I am honored to have you as a plumeria friend!!!!!! That flower just blows me away!!!!

Jackie

stormy's mom - I understand completely about being afraid of red cuttings! I've had my eye on Duvauchelle and Siam Red for awhile, but felt like I should become a little more experienced before tackling them. And I've worried about getting a grafted because so many people don't like them. As time goes by I feel more and more confident and a red might just be my next purchase! And I'm wanting a graft as well, whether it be red or not! Just try it all is my new motto! :)

Stuart - your Siam Red is stunning!
Could you point out exactly where the graft scar is on your tree? yeah, I'm oldish and maybe my eyes are failing me but I can't see it.

Moonie, You see that fat part at the ground level that looks like a horse hoof? Well that's it!

Hey folks... as time goes by the scar blends and becomes one with the attached cutting, I thought about taking a sharpie pen and drawing it on there....naaaa!

Listen If you see a "Grafted Red or anything" this means someone has taken the time to prepare a beautiful plant for sale that would otherwise be difficult to grow from cutting or seed.

You can ask Brad to pick you one out that would heal nicely once it fully matures.

Just so you know... the next time you drink a glass of orange juice = it came from a grafted tree!
Most fruit trees here in Florida are grafted.

Don't be afraid, it's not "Frankenstein" LOL
It's a beautiful way to bring something beautiful to you in a healthy way,
Mahalo! Stuart

Thanks Stuart!
It's actually more attractive than I had thought; I like it!. I guess I was unduly biased against grafted plumeria.
All of our walnut trees out here are grafted (English onto Walnut) and they usually look pretty gnarly. I like that one though. I plan on ordering from Brad and will ask for one that will blend well. Hopefully I'll get one as nice as yours!
That's a good point that someone actually took the time to do it. I know it isn't easy (I have tried with other plants with few successes) so getting a tree from someone who put the time and effort into making a great plant makes sense!
Thanks again and Happy 4th of July!

Rachel

Stuart - Thank you. From what I've read here, I was expecting to be able to see the V scar, and for the bark to look different between the two. Actually, we do have grafted plants and trees at work and of course the graft looks different on different plants but I was expecting it to look horrific on a plumeria since so many seem to be against it.

It's a beautiful way to bring something beautiful to you in a healthy way

What a wonderful way to word it!

Beautiful color Stuart !!! Thanks for posting the graft pics. I have some but never knew what they would look like when they were older.

Jackie, my red was the fast cutting to root so far, 3 weeks. I had 7 cuttings to get to that though. All the others rotted and some took awhile and others were rotted before the 3 weeks to root the one. Some times I think it has to do with the cutting than what we do. Peg