Advise on how to proceed

11 years ago

I ordered two 'dwarf Plumarias for Mother's Day. I asked that the be sent to me at my winter address, but they were shipped to my daughter home where we will be visiting in about 3 weeks. My daughter is in Nampa Idaho and is renowned for her 'black thumb'.

The question is that, I think that the plants are best pot immediately in cactus mix rather than waiting three weeks in the dark without soil, water, or light. I will walk her through the potting process with a commercial cactus potting mix. It's NOT hot there yet, so once a week watering a full sun should do it.

Would you advise repotting in 'gritty mix' when I get there in 3 weeks or wait until they need to be repotted?

Thanks

Featured Answer

Houndhome

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Rick - Last summer I sunk several larger plumerias that I left out over the winter, my smaller ones went inside for the winter. There is a nursery in Mesa, called Treeland Nursery that sells 2 varieties of larger Arizona grown plumerias (5' tall + for $29.99). I have 3 of their trees in which I had 2 different results. 1 I covered and 1 I didn't, strangely, the one I covered black tipped on all tips. I'm pretty sure this was due to the amount of rain we had and the frost cloths getting wet then freezing. I think lights and covering so that the cloth is not touching the tips over the winter you will be fine. 2 Months ago I planted my dwarf Singapore pink, a dwarf orange Singapore, Celadine and 2 Treeland trees. All of my plumerias get filtered light under palms or trees. You will want to make sure you amend your soil so that it gets good drainage. Some of our soil here is horrible. Also, if you are in Az now, we are having our spring gathering for Az Plumeria Growers this Sunday 4/26. Let me know if you want more info. I took this picture a few weeks ago, you can see DSP planted between the mule palm and the evergreen bird of paradise tree. Behind that are more plumerias that are in pots behind the screen wall.

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Comments (17)

Kimo
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Rick,
I would just leave the plumies in the Cactus mix if they look like their doing ok. You can put it in Gritty Mix when you need to repot. Personally Gritty Mix does not work for everyone, I know of couple growers here in Coastal So Cal, including myself that tried it and did not like it..had to repot the plumies into different mix.
Good Luck.
Rick Foreman thanked Kimo
Rick Foreman
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the quick reply. This is our first go at growing Plumarias. (Funny, the tablet I'm using insists that the plural of Plumarias is 'plumari'.)
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Kimo
11 years ago
Rick will the plumeria stay in Idaho, or will you take them with you?
I had a vacation house in Alki Beach WA, which has similar weather to Idaho, and they did well. I only tried Celadine and Samoan fluff, which grow like weeds, so hopefully your plumies will flourish.
"Plumari"??? LOL.

Happy Growing and I am sure you wife will luv her Mothers day gift.
Rick Foreman thanked Kimo
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the_first_kms2
11 years ago
I agree with freak. get them potted and going and then you can consider the enginnered solution at repot. Besides how will you be able to sift and mix all the stuff to make it right while on the road at the home of a notorious black thumb?
Rick Foreman thanked the_first_kms2
Lisa
11 years ago
I am in Boise, Idaho and am surprised you said Plumeria do well here Freak4plumeria! I was under the impression they could only be indoor plants here, moved outside for sunshine whenever possible...are you saying that a full size Plumeria tree can survive the winter here??? .... Gasp! I'm so excited if that's true!
barb13_gw
11 years ago
Lisa, If the weather gets colder then 40 degree you are going to have a dying plant. People that live in places with cold weather have to bring them in the house or store them somewhere so they do not get to cold. Barb
Lisa
11 years ago
That's what I thought, Freak got me all excited, LOL! ... Thought maybe she had some insider information I needed to know. =)
Lisa
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Nampa is only 20 minutes from Boise, but the night temps are still dropping below forty about every other day, make sure your daughter knows to keep your plumies indoors at night till you get there Rick. The almanac says there is still danger of frost in our zone until May 10.
Rick Foreman
Original Author
11 years ago
I live in Gilbert AZ from October to April. We spend the summer traveling around the Pacific Northwest. We are getting two dwarf plumeria started along with several desert roses. We will probably travel with them until they get to large for our fifth wheel. Then we will leave them AZ for summers. With grow lights and bringing them inside we hope to keep them from going dormant. It was 80 in Nampa today according to my daughter.
Kimo
11 years ago
Hey Lisa,
Let me clarify my statement by saying that the normal rules of growing plumeria apply where ever you are. The plumies I had did well, and yes had to bring them in and store them by the first week of Oct., so you can grow them as long as you follow the guidelines regarding temps. So you can grow plumies in Idaho, you just need to shelter them during fall and winter.
Lisa
11 years ago
Rick; Yes, we are in the 70's and 80's in the daytime, I was just talking about overnight. We have a saying in Idaho, "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes, it will change." Which is why the Almanac says don't trust it till May 10th, lol....And Freak4Plumeria, I wasn't arguing with you, just thought you knew some cool trick I didn't and wanted to pick your brain about it. =P
Kimo
11 years ago
Lisa,
I didn't think you were arguing, the issue with communicating in writing sometimes..lol. I just want to make sure that no one thought that I had the plumies out 24/7. I also had very hardy cultivars (Samoan Fluff and Celadine). I noticed on JL's website on his multi pack, it's listed as having a Samoan Fluff and Celadine..lol I guess JL is gearing it to the newbies.
Lisa
11 years ago
Yep, text conveys absolutely no emotion, which is why I say "LOL" waaaaay too much, lol!
Houndhome
11 years ago
Rick - I'm in chandler az. If I can help with questions on weather here, let me know. I have a dwarf Singapore in the ground here, filtered sun.
Rick Foreman thanked Houndhome
Rick Foreman
Original Author
11 years ago
Houndhome - I am very interested in details of your success. Are you simply putting the pot in the soil then removing for winter or do you cover and light like I do for my citrus. Also are you planting beneath a tree or gazebo? If I have success I will eventual plant with a southern exposure beneath a palo verde. How has the dwarf Singapore adapted? Do you have any other recommendations as to species that will do well in Phoenix?
Rick Foreman
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
This is a pic of the two plant now potted. Thanks everyone for the advice, suggestions, and encouragement.

Sorry, I have tried multiple times to upload the photo without success. Perhaps the upload speed is too slow. I'll post it when I get home.