The Addicts Tale

20 years ago

It all started in such an innocent manner and it took a while for my addiction to get out of control. A neighbor had a large tree and I decided I wanted just one. I bought one plant that looked like it started life as a center cut with three branches. It is a Celadine type plant. It grew and bloomed and I was satisfied.

The next year, a different neighbor trimmed her tree and gave me several large branches because I had refused to accept money for fixing her computer. I didnÂt know how to root them, so I went to Plumeria 101 and saw the incredible varieties that are available. I rooted the cuttings, kept one and gave the rest to relatives. I began to feel the need for more, but still felt in control and decided I might obtain one or two more plants. I have several other plant addictions and didnÂt want a new one.

Year Three: yet another neighbor received a bunch of cuttings from a friend and gave me several. I rooted them and they bloomed. They were a beautiful but unknown rainbow type. I now had a Celadine type, the one from the previous year, which turned out to be a nice white type and the rainbow. Neighbors and friends were beginning to ask me questions about rooting and general care. I still felt things were under control and decided to order a cutting or two the next spring instead of relying on the kindness of neighbors.

This Spring: All of my plumeria were covered in blooms and something snapped! I ordered several named cuttings (my first) for myself. I ordered cheap generic cuttings from another dealer so that I could hook friends, neighbors and relatives! I rooted the generics and gave them to unsuspecting victims. I needed more; I bid on and won an auction of generic cuttings on e-Bay.

And then the most shameful event occurred. I was looking through the plumeria listings on e-Bay and saw a listing that was due to expire in fifteen minutes, for a much sought after variety. What to do? There were no bids for this cutting! I checked the sellerÂs e-Bay rating and found it acceptable, but she wasnÂt on the list of approved dealers that is circulating among the serious addicts! I decided to take a chance and poach the cutting! I filled out the bid form for the sellerÂs start price and waited. At ten seconds to close, I pushed the "send" button and hoped I was the first to get a bid in. My screen flashed; I was the high bidder but could still be outbid! And then, a split second later, anothor screen flash and I was being asked to pay for the cutting that was now mine! Still shaking, I made arraignments with PayPal to transfer some of my funds to this dealer.

Is my driveway never to be free of pots with rooting cuttings? I have been given seeds and they have taken their place in a community pot on my driveway. And I can only wonder down what paths my overpowering addiction shall take me in the future, and how many others I will take with me.

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Comments (8)

plumeriastix
20 years ago
Welcome to addiction sweetie...it only took me two months! : )

Jerri
kbauman
20 years ago
Hi Musarojo,
Absolutely thoroughly enjoyed your story!!! YOU ARE a PLumiahlic..congratulations and join all of us! ha.. My driveway isn't covered, would have to compete with automobiles.. A Few of my neighbors do have plumies, one gave me a mystery plant.
but one corner of my back yard has been taken over!!
I started in Feb, failed with cuttings..then started again in March bought rooted plants..now have 12 rooted plumies, 8 planted in the ground and 4 in 5 gallon pots and my first cutting, growing leaves... I am hooked!!!
welcome,
Karen B.
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john_luvs_frangipani
20 years ago
Hi Musarojo,
My name is John and I'm a plumeriaholic!
(group says, "hi John")
That was a great story there! I know that Ebay feeling of shaking and staring at the screen LOL. Once you win the auction, You then say mine,mine, and then wonder where your going to put it! Have you started riding through the neighboorhood looking at everyone elses trees and saying hmmm, thats a nice one? Well, good luck and welcome to the group!

Take care,
John
mrpearson253
20 years ago
Ahhh yes...we all can relate to that! I recounted my addiction (maybe admitted to it is a better way to say it!) to the group and they have accepted me with open arms (and hands that smell of perlite and potting soil). :) We all want our own Plumeria forest some day...and we'll probably infect more than our fair share along the way. Welcome to a sweet smelling lifestyle (I think it's a bit more than a hobby!)!!!
--Mark
susan51
20 years ago
This is the first time I have come forward and said I am an addict!!!! It only started in the end of July and already I have hounded ebay.... I have bought several (6)plants from one dealer in Texas who is just so sweet one more on the way.. Now have 3 more on the way.... I have cuttings and seeds now trying to learn and grow... So people MY NAME IS SUSAN and yes I am an addict...... Thank you for seeing me tonight in this room and excepting me....

Hugs,
Susan :-)
Ps. I am going broke :-(
mrpearson253
20 years ago
That sucking sound you hear is my checking account slowly draining away...*ssscchhhllluuurrrrppppppp* Broke but happy I guess!
--Mark
musarojo
Original Author
20 years ago
Thank you everyone. I am happy to be a part of this enabler (not recovery!) group. As you can see, I owe my addiction to several enablers who stepped in at critical moments and gave me freebies until my addiction was confirmed! I have done this to other people as well. One of my relatives went to Hawaii after I had given her a plumeria and she returned without buying another one. She told me she had experienced overwhelming urges to buy plumeria cuttings and plants, the power of which amazed her. So I gave her a second plumeria shortly after she returned home! I predict we will all be bidding against her next spring.
musarojo
Original Author
20 years ago
John, I have looked at my neighborÂs trees. Most of them are Celadines, which seem to be the gateway variety for addicts in California.

Karen, the pots are only on one side of the driveway so far! The rest of it is still used by the cars. My paraphernalia (pumice, pea gravel, large black plastic pots) is at the far end of the driveway next to the shed.