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Hi Dennis,

I see you are in zone 6... It might be better to wait until spring/ summer to do a repot into Gritty Mix since you would be probably bare rooting it. The soil you have it in looks moist? Is it wet? Has it been in the same mix? I am just wondering about what it is in now.. It looks like it could use more soil. I would go along with replacing and or adding more soil at this time if I thought the tree was in need ..

They like to dry out between watering and not sit in moist soil, so I'll wait to see what you say about the mix that it is in. I'm just afraid that it would be a lot on the tree to do a full barefoot into Gritty this time of the year. If the soil is causing issues, then I might take it from the container and pot up into better lighter mix that is close to what you are using. Let it go dormat and then when it is getting ready to begin to wake up and start its active period, I would think about replacing all of the soil and re pot. That's my opinion. I'm sure others will hopefully chime in to help you. It also looks like it needs more soil in the container too.

I would stake it now to alleviate the stem from to much weight if it is not strong enough to support the leaves. It should be able to support the leaves at this age... You will see it starting to shed it leaves anyway because of the time of the year. You could always take a few leaves off of it now to help. ( just a few)

Hopefully when you answer some of the questions, we can get a better feel .

Again, I would wait to repot it at this time of the year.. Potting up could be an option if it is needed to save the tree..

I'll post a pic of how I stake my trees..

Hope this helps!

Laura

Agree with what Laura posted. I would also add the wrinkles in the stem would indicate root problems such as root bound or root rot.

I would wait until the spring to do anything major but would consider this right now....pulling the root ball out and adding a few inches of fresh soil under and around the ball then stabilizing the plant as shown above. Essentially raising the plant in the current container from below. Hopefully it will help until spring and then you can decide on what to do next. I recommend you use a 3 gallon container at that point.

The soil I *think* is bagged cactus mix we had.

We water once a week, and it has been 6 days since the last watering but the soil is still very moist. It sounds like it is getting over watered.

We have been keeping it staked, I just took the stake out for the photos.

I don't have any other soil right now, but do have a big batch of gritty mix.

So the suggested course of action:

1. Reduce watering.
2. Get a bag of soil similar to what it is in now. (Or can I use gritty mix now?)
3. Pot up but don't bare root.
4. Keep staked.
5. In the spring (May? June?) bare root to gritty mix.

Thanks!

Correction - it was last watered on Friday (3 days ago).

My wife is in charge of watering it, not me, and I thought she had watered it 6 days ago. She thinks it is dried out between waterings.

Hi Dennis,

I'm afraid it sounds like it is gettting way to much water for the type of soil it is in right now especially this time of the year. Plumeria like to stay on the dry side in a fast draining mix. I see there is a saucer under your container and I hope that is just to protect the floor and not to let the tree sit in water? Plumeria don't like to sit in water and they don't like wet feet( roots) this will cause root rot.

It does sound like it may be suffering from a root issue and I would think that there is some root rot happening . I'm sure you have taken good care of your tree by watering it on the schedule, but I'm afraid it is to much water.. So with that in mind, I would get it out of that soil to protect what good roots you have on the rootball.

You have two choices.. This is my opinion and I hope others will chime in as well....

Since you have the gritty mix all ready available you could take the tree and do an emergency re pot to help save the tree from more damage. I'm afraid it you leave this tree in its soil as is, it will continue to decline . I would take the tree and gently get rid of the soil it is in now. Look at the roots and cut away any brown dead roots that you might see. You can use the gritty mix if you like right now since you are going to have to replace the soil or you could use a mix of cactus mix mixed with perlite and fir bark ( you can buy this at Petsmart called Reptibark by zoo med) make a light mix like the 5-1-1 . You could use either mix. Both would be fine.. I would find a black nursery container and since you will be trying to encourage new root growth, I would use a one gallon container and after you repot, stake the stem so it won't move in the new container and mix. You will have a smaller root system and the roots will be fragile. Keep it in a sunny location in your home and you could even place the container on a heat ( seedling heat mat) to give it heat to try and encourage new root growth .

So I hope you understand what I am saying.. I think it is to wet in that container and it needs a faster draining mix. I usually wouldn't encourage someone to repot now, but I feel like it may have root issues with the root system now and I think it is suffering.

Your wife is loving this tree too, but she needs to give it less water especially this time of the year. I haven't given my trees any water for about a month now and when I do, it will be limited amounts since they will go dormant. The ones that will stay active are still dry, but I give them a little water when they are dry and that's usually two weeks or so. You can use a wooden skewer to test the moisture level In Your mix.. They like to stay on the dry side. If the wooden skewer is wet or moist, don't water.. During the summer you will be able to water more with a fast draining mix. ... I would also keep that saucer off of the container to allow the water to drain freely .

Just be careful when you remove the old soil. Try and keep the rootball from breaking and cut away all dead roots. Have all of your soil / mix ready. Container ready.. Then work on the repot.

Good luck and keep us posted as to how it is doing. If you could take a pic of the roots, that would be helpful to see.. But if it is to much during the process and it might cause issues, then don't try to take a pic. . I want you to get that tree back to its full potential and once the roots are happy the stem will harden up again and will be able to support the leaves. It will love being out of that wet soil.

Take good care,

Good luck with your tree!!

Laura

I'll repot into gritty mix soon. My wife will help so I should be able to get root pictures.

I have a ceramic pot 12" tall and 12" diameter (5 gallons?) that was going to be its eventual home. Is there a specific reason for the 1 gallon black nursery container?

The current container is about 7" tall and 9" diameter (2 gallons?)

Hi Dennis,

Sounds like a plan.. I just like the black containers because it helps warm the mix and helps encourage root growth. You use what makes you happy ( as long as it has good drainage) that is what growing Is all about. ;-)

One little tip when using the Gritty Mix. Take some screen and cut a little piece to cover the drainage holes to allow proper water flow, but will keep the mix from coming out of the drainage holes. It really helps!! You can find small pieces at Lowe's etc. ( replacement screening ).

If you need anything, please don't hesitate to email me...

Good luck!!

Laura

Thanks for all the tips!

As for a screen to cover the drainage holes, I use two pieces of fiberglass mesh drywall tape at a 45º angle. It has an adhesive side so helps it stay stuck while I'm filling pots, two pieces make the hole small enough, and I already have some from past projects.

So this is my current plan:

1. Very carefully bare root the tree, pruning any dead roots.
2. Repot into gritty mix in a black nursery container. Stake plant well.
3. Place container into my larger pot, and use some old incandescent Christmas lights between the two pots as a warming mat. Be careful not to electrocute myself :)
4. Adjust watering schedule.
5. Once the stem has strengthened, repot again to the new pot (but only repot in the growing season).

We are switching over to all LED Christmas lights this year, so I have a string of incandescent I can use for heat. And it will be festive! What is the target temperature I'm looking for?

Hi Dennis,

Sounds like a good plan.

Definitely adjust watering schedule and reduce even more when it goes dormant.

I haven't used lights to warm the container, except for keeping palms warm under frost cloth , but I'm sure they will do fine. You asked about ideal temps ... I would like it to be about 75 degrees.. Give or take a few either way.. It kind of like encouraging cuttings to root during the winter. It's a little more difficult, but it can be done. I just like bottom heat the best.. But it sounds like you have a plan and that's great . Having good roots will be the key for keeping your tree healthy and that's why it's good to see what is happening now because of the weak stem and wet conditions its been in.

The only step I would omit would be to repot this coming summer after doing this emergency repot. It will be fine in the same container and I would give it this season or two to get strong and healthy with a good root system. Then later.. Repot into your favorite container.

Good luck!!

Laura