What's going on with this tip?

11 years ago

i can't figure out what's going on with my a Nubles Rainbow. It's hard as a rock but is this normal in July? I just got it a week ago from my grower. I can see roots in the bottom of the pot but all 4 tips are very Dark like the pic, please help?

Featured Answer

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I've had problems with smaller Nebel's too, by the way. Only when they get larger do they seem to grow out of their propensity for black tip.

I've since gotten rid of my Nebel's Rainbow. Just wasn't worth the space and aggravation. But that's just me.

I do think some varieties are more prone to black tip and need to have more perfect growing conditions to avoid it. My experience has been that black tip begins, usually in the Spring, when the plants want to begin growing, but the conditions are unfavorable.

Unfavorable conditions that can lead to black tip include:

1) Too wet from overwatering, or cold rains in winter/spring

2) Frost damage to tips.

3) too cool temperatures in winter, spring (temps in upper 30s to 40s)

4) too long a forced dormancy period (delayed warm weather)

5) a really bad spider mite infestation,

6) too little sunlight and heat in spring

There may be more.

I would say 'too cool temperatures' in spring is probably the most common.

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Comments (8)

jp49erfaithful
Original Author
11 years ago
jp49erfaithful
Original Author
11 years ago
Here's a pic of the whole plant. Thanks guys
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
11 years ago
I'd send it back to the grower. Doesn't look good. Where do you live and what are your temperatures like?
jp49erfaithful
Original Author
11 years ago
I'm in Southern California, Orange County area and temps are perfect right now. Lows in mid 60's, hi's in lower 80's.

I traded a cutting for it so it's no biggie to me to keep it but I really want to figure it out

It's weird, I can see roots in the drain holes, the trunk is very hard, the plant is dark green, it's as if it's trying to push out leaves but the tips are holding them back. The tips are almost black with little claws/ leaves and it hasnt done anything in the 2 weeks I've owned it. I'm so confused... I've been watering 2 times a week like all my other plumerias and feeding onece a week with a bloom booster fert....
jp49erfaithful
Original Author
11 years ago
Update.

The tips are completely dead. They were soft and squishy, I cut about a 1/2 inch and it was black all the way through so I cut a little further down and it was white with sap. Can I save this plant plumie experts? Will it grow new branches on the 4 tips next year or did I just kill it by cutting the tips back?
Mark Scarlato
11 years ago
You had no choice but to cut it. I would hold back on the watering until it unfurls new leaves.
jedobaTX9b
11 years ago
As long as the rest of the plant is healthy, it will branch from those tips. You should get 2-4 new branches per tip! At first, you'll see small 'swelling' spots, then branches. You did the right thing.