first $4.25 is pocket change in the plumeria world as cuttings can go for upwards of $200 for top of the line new releases. Most of what you are doing is correct. Your plant might be a bit shocked to go into full burning sun so you might give it filtered sun in the heat of the day. Stop fertilizing in mid September so your plant can harden a bit. Remember a nice hot window without a curtain is a very cold place radiating fridged cold at night. Worry about the cold at night which can ruin a plant. Curtains or move it away or it is curtains. It may or may not bloom this year based on the plant. In 100 plus heat water every other day or third day in summer. Mist each morning and evening. Cut back as it cools. If you transplant, an 18" can go into a 5 gallon black plastic pot which is best. Use B-1 and/or superthrive when transplanting and leave a few days in filtered sun or partial shade to ease the shock of change. Bill

Hi Eureka,
Yea.. congrats you have a great size plumie.. welcome to the Plumie acholics!! Lots of leaves that is good, only one, you will enjoy and get more. Hmmm need to visit Lowes.
Bill gives great advise.
Karen B..

Thanks Bill for the info. I actually paid $12.50, marked down from $25.00. Like I said, it was an impulse buy; I would normally never put that much out on a plant, that's also why I would really like this one to take off and grow. I did actually pull the plant back under the lattice patio cover as I was thinking the same thing you pointed out. I thought at first that the top of the soil was covered in lava rock and aquarium gravel but I worked down a bit into the pot and it appears to be the planting medium that the nursery used and it was still damp from a squirt of water day before yesterday. I also have a petite antherium that is growing on a lava rock which is doing very well. Any thoughts on transplanting with the rocks? So my bright idea of looking for a unique pot to transplant to is not such a good idea? Is it that the black plastic draws the heat more than a pottery planter? I sure hope this plumeria takes off cuz I can't imagine spending big $$$$$$ to get more.

$12.50 is still really inexpensive for a plumie or many other plants for that matter. The black plastic does help retain heat but ceramic pots that are unglazed on the inside are a problem because the roots tend to stick to the clay and get ripped off when you have to transplant them. You can always set the plastic pot inside a decorative container. You really only have to worry about keeping the soil hot during rooting. If the plumie is already rooted bottom heat isn't necessary. Good luck with your new plant.
Karyn

It seems lately that I should just add after Karyns signature "and what Bill was going to say if he was a bit quicker in responding" It is like she is a mind reader. Anyway- all that Karyn said plus your soil needs to be really fast draining so a cactus mix blended 50/50 with pumice is better. I use a high grade cactus mix and potting mix with pumice and perlite in equal scoops. Just avoid anything designed to retain water as that is not good for plumies. I used to use rock but it is heavy and often the added weight tears the roots when transplanting to a new pot. The lighter soils are much better for the roots. I use styrofoam to hold rooting cuttings but an established rootball will tend to hold itself. Rock in the pot on the surface is fine for heat and looks but keep it several inches away from the stem which will sunburn from the added heat if touched by the rock. I put nice colored rocks collected from the Central Coast on the surface in many pots which has a great look and holds heat. Also, pots with a glazed surface inside the pot work great. Bill

Thanks for the vote of confidence Bill. I just wish I knew half as much about plumerias as you. lol Eureka heed Bill's advice about keeping rocks away from the stem. I burned the #$%! out of a few of my plants using pea gravel.
Karyn

It is rather funny to watch as people who post regularly do become a couple, a pair, whatever. I spent tons of time over at Organic Lawn Care and it didn't take long to know how each person was going to answer an inquiry. Sight unseen yet we develop amazing connections, fascinating.

I'm thinking that my plumie root system is likely growing in the aquarium gravel or lava. That would account for the pot being heavy, and I thought it was all water, though it was dripping wet. So I guess I'll tease the plant out of the pot ever so gently and hose off all that I can, then place it in a fresh planter. Geez, finally a plant to match my growing conditions that will be beautiful too. I struggle with my yards as they are red clay and far too big to continually amend. The best we do here is add Soil Buster for clay. We struggle to get watering just right so we don't over or under saturate. I'm moving a few favorite plants close to the house but then I'm sticking with natives. The plumeria will give me lots of satisfaction especially when I see the first flowers as that is what I long for. Few plants that can stand clay have really attractive, fragrant flowers.

I too enjoy using rocks and shells around plants. I collect both from vacation spots and the desert is on the other side of my fence, so I walk back there after a rain (what's that) to collect quartz that comes to the surface.

So do y'all spend big bucks for rootings or are there sources that are less expensive? In other words, how do you support your habit of being plumiholics?

Welcome to the forum Eureka. I am also in the high desert. Are you in So Cal? I am north of Palm Springs.

I'm just going to chuckle a little now because I never imagined spending the kind of money I have on a plant, much less a stick with no leaves or roots, LOL! Once you are exposed to a plumie in bloom they become very addictive very quickly. I have been growing these for about a year now and have somewhere between 100-150 in my backyard. My desert now looks like a small jungle and I love it.

Congrats on your purchase and enjoy, Just remember they are like Lay's Potato Chips... you can't have just one :)

Hi Eureka,
Last year when I started buying plants, like you was new and delighted to find them in the $15 to $20 range. But this year, I replaced a lot of plants, cause of our freeze, and they have ranged in the $25 to $40 range..ouch. ha Trying for different ones and color. I am delighted when I can find some more reasonable..proudly have a $8.99 one!!! ha

Be careful when you transplant, you can easily break up the soil, and the roots can break off. I have never had anyone comment to how I do it. But I let the plant totally dry out in a lump. I put that lump into my soil, peralite and cactus soil.. down into it. And fill it up with mostly perarlite and soil around it and on top.. Then.. I water it to loosen up the soil that it came with, water with B-1 and superthrive. I did not do this on one, and it busted apart and I had one root.. weelll is now a cutting, hope will make it, no roots. Now thats the way I do it..welcome other comments.
Karen B.

Well Karen, I'll probably be a nervous wreck trying to get this impulse repotted. I wonder if growers use lava gravel since the plants need to be on the dry side. This would be similar to orchids growing on wood chips in a pot w/lots of holes or as my antherium that has its roots spread over a large lava rock that sits in 1/4" of water. The rock absorbs the water and the roots take up just what they need. I'll just do everything really slowly and hope for the best.

Plumeriastix, yes I'm up in VV, close to the 15 & Bear Valley Rd. I can't imagine 100+ plumeria. I think my DH would also start hyperventalating at the costs. He's about ready to throw up his hands over my plant buying in general. I have spent the last five years reading and studying landscaping and horticulture. That doesn't mean I can grow much of anything in this soil but I keep trying new things that I come across. That's also why I am going to do small investment areas (flowers) close to the house, then midway the yard will have clay loving plants w/low water needs and the very back will have native arid plants. I wish I understood five years ago that landscaping w/low water use plants was not the most important step, it's all about the clay soil. You must have all of your plants in pots, yes? Geez, 100+ plants in a year, that's amazing. I'd love to see your collection if you're giving tours. DH is a teacher at Adelanto SD, close to retirement. I'm a lazy stay at home, 55 yr old who just wants to play in the dirt, in the backyard with my two dalmatians. I will admit to one horrendous impulse buy of two HOTBISCUIS one gal plants at H&E. They were the most gorgeous hibiscuis you can imagine, one of the hybrids developed by Armstrong Gardens. I paid $25.00 a piece and they both died. I haven't seen this particular hyrid plant on the Armstrong list so wonder if that specific Hotbiscuis was not a good performer, thus H&E probably got a deal on the remaining stock. Did I feel stupid. I think I will work with Ms. Impulse to see if I can see success before making additional investments.

Eureka ~ You are always welcome, just let me know and I'll get you the info you need to get here :) Right now I think I only have about 10 or so in bloom. I am trying to start a small backyard nursery that's why I have so many. If it were just for me I would cut down quite a bit. I haven't really made a big attempt to sell yet, probably next year.

BTW - I am not married, therefore I can have anything I can afford without being in trouble, ROFL...married is good, but single can be better at times, LOL!!! Of course the plumies don't keep me warm in winter either, but then I can always move in the greenhouse with them I guess :)

Hi Eureka - welcome to the zany world of the stick plants. It's easy to get carried away. I've been at this since 2003 and still can't pass on the bargains at the local garden centers. Any time we have someone come onto the property, the first question I get is if this is a backyard nursery. No...just love, love, love roses and plumerias...that's all.

Kasie

I have now gotten my supplies needed to transplant Ms. Impulse to her new black nursery pot. That was only $35.00, crimany. I went to my Home Depot and realized that at least most of their plumeria were outside but under shade cloth. This store is quite small & always rearranging stuff to squeeze in more. They moved the houseplants inside the store, not even the greenhouse. They had several 4 in cuttings inside that were labeled as yellow, drenched and looking very sad. No sun, no heat, and sitting in a bathtub practically. They were on sale for $1.77, and yes I passed them up. Kasie, I too love roses and could easily get very carried away buying JP or Armstrongs. I have a long list of all of them I would like to have. I'm sure as I become more familiar w/names and colors of the plummies, I'll develop a list also. I went to Amazon to find a book on plummies. I was surprised to find that nice little paperback that is rated so well, I was surprised w/a copyright date of 2000 that I couldn't get a used book for less than what Amazon was selling new. This book must be a HOT item, it does sound like a very nice guide.

Thank you Plumeriastix for the invite, it would be fun to see your collection. Will you see more blooms before the cold weather? You can go to my email address and post any info there. Yes, husbands who don't share the same hobbies can be dumber than doorknobs about why we need just one more in another color, style, size, whatever. That's why pets play an important role in my life. My dalmatians and cats understand me and I them. We talk, play in the dirt, pull weeds (yes, the dals do, also good plants)and we admire each other. Our king bed is full everynight with all the animals. Poor husband has given up ever living like a normal couple. What's normal I ask? He will be thrilled to know I am off on another kick w/so many choices. Who's got an extra room if I'm put out on the curb?

I'm so happy I found this forum.

Friday I was at Lowes also and spotted the Plumeria on the 50% shelf. The ones I found were in 4" pots and are about 12" tall. When the salesperson checked the price for me I picked out the ones that had leaves already and had new leaves sprouting. I ended up buying 3 at $3 apiece.

I had bought one last year from another store but it ended up rotting, then I found out my daughter was watering it almost every day plus it was in a decorative pot with no drainage.

I didn't realize these were outdoor plants and after reading about them I think I will be heading back to Lowes tomorrow morning.

I'm in Stockton,CA and I was worried about the heat and the Delta winds.

Hi Eureka,
no, plumeria are not planted that way. They need a very pourous soil to grow. Bill put on , soil for growing plumies, one scoop of perlite, one scoop of cactus soil, some potting soil in there, back and forth...etc..A very loose soil that they can grow in, will not hold water, but enough..No lava rock, some bark.
Karen B.