Potting medium looks dark and sunken as though quite damp. Also the pot having a saucer included as part of the pot itself is not the best as it would be better if the plant was never in a puddle.

What region is this project being tried in? Is it usual to try and root these in winter there or would that be better undertaken in summer? Maybe your situation is too cool and dark at this time. Plumerias grow out in the full, hot tropical sun in places like Honolulu. A collection of them there was planted in an old volcano, where it is comparatively dry (and Honolulu is on the drier side of the island to begin with).

Thank you both. I'm in Chicago so am trying to root it indoors. I can switch the pot. The instructions said to water the very first time until the water ran out the bottom which is why it's sunk. I let the water run out and then poured it off. There isn't any water in the saucer and I haven't watered it since which has been over a week. The dirt feels moist to me but not overly. I don't know what variety it is. It didn't say on the label. Here is a closer up picture of the bad spot. The bad spot feels papery and hollow but it's firm where the stem is green. It is getting sunlight but maybe I should put it on a heating pad?

Hi Kim,

I'm brand new with plumerias but have had good luck with rooting cuttings in the last 9 months. Have you tried the pinprick test yet? Poke it in the "papery" area with with a sterile pin and see if you get the white milky latex to flow. If it does flow it's not yet afflicted with root rot. If it doesn't you want to get a sharp knife or pruning shears (clean with rubbing alcohol) and carefully snip off the bottom of the cutting. Keep making small cuts (clean utensil everytime you cut) until you get to healthy tissue- the inside will look creamy white no discoloration. You can replant but will need to throw out soil you have and start all over again. People can be successful with as little as 6" of plant left but I haven't had luck with less than 8".

Forgive me if you already know all this!

The way I plant a cutting is to let it dry for 2 weeks until you have a good callous on the tip. I use a potting mix of pine bark fines, potting soil and perlite in 5:1:1 ratio. Just using 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 perlite is fine too. Use a black nursery pot (dark color and plastic retains heat) or a large plastic soft drink bottle with top cut off and make good drain holes (can see roots develop that way). Ideally use some rooting hormone but some don't. I don't let water run out of pot when planting but that's just me- I mix the potting soil up to be moist but not drippy. Plant about 3 inches down. I always stake mine but if it's a short cutting (10 in or less) maybe not necessary. Most people wait until springtime to do cuttings indoors but they can be done successfully in winter in a bright window. A heating/seedling mat is always best.

I'm sure others may have different methods or add and subtract to this. Good luck. If this one doesn't work keep trying! This is an addictive hobby!

Nancy

PS. If this is a cutting from Ebay or one from a store in Hawaii sometimes they are not the best. There are several different sellers that you'll see recommended here. I like Maui Plumeria Gardens online. They always have beautiful healthy cuttings and give a "mystery" cutting with each one.

Thank you. No white came out of the bad area.... In fact no white came out of any area. I started to slice off little pieces and sadly didn't find any areas with white in the middle. :( I guess it is gone. I'll have to start over. Thank you for your help.

Sorry Kim. Gotta say it really did look kinda sickly. Hope you do start over.

Best wishes,

Nancy

Thank you. I threw out the dirt and washed the pot, but a previous poster didn't like that pot because of the saucer although the dirt didn't feel soggy to me. Just moist. I made need to try with a new pot too. Really appreciate all the advice.

If it were me, for the next one, I'd cut off the top of a soda bottle, and add good drainage holes. The ceramic pot loses heat and overall is really too big, and the saucer collects standing water- (root rot- plumeria like it dry.) Roots from cuttings like it cozy till they get a little bigger. You can search for the "bag method" of rooting cuttings too. Never tried it but some here use it exclusively.

I know the soda bottle isn't aesthetically pleasing to anyone, but it's the best way to get things going. Once it gets established you can transplant to a pretty pot :)

Very nicely said Nancy.

Sorry to say it's goner. IMO I don't use pots again if they had rot. I might use them for other kinds of plants but not again for Plumeria.

"It's dead, Jim."

"I'm a doctor not an escalator".

RIP