Thank you, KMS! I hope to see continual blooms on some of these scented ones. I am anxious to see some branching begin.

We have the Venezuelan fiddle-leaf Alba (white, no scent) planted inground around the property. It blooms continually throughout March-Dec.

Maria Elena

Unfortunately, they go hand-in-hand with the Giant Grey Sphinx Moth.

It's a really neat, self-contained little ecosystem ... The moth lays its cluster of eggs on the underside of leaves and in inconspicuous crevices. The baby caterpillars invade the tree and make a meal of all its leaves ... I've learned to consider it natural pruning. Once fattened up, the caterpillar falls to the ground, burrowing under brush & dry leaves under bushes ... in our case, Maltese Cross, Hibiscus, and Gardenia. They wrap themselves in a crysallis and emerge the Giant Grey Sphinx Moth.

The moth is about 3" square and, I initially took them for bats. The plant comes back lovelier than ever. The only nuisance really are the caterpillar droppings, but they just resemble black pellets on the ground surrounding each 3-7' tree. I wonder if they somehow also provide its own natural fertilizer to the tree.

Maria Elena

Congratulations, Maria!!

It's such a great feeling to see an inflo emerging!!

Laura

My newest Plumie had an inflo when I bought it.

Unfortunately it died after transplanting.

Rob

Very interesting about the moths. I have seen a similar moth in west TX and the Big Bend area. I suspect it is a natural fertilizer.

Update on my very 1st inflo:

It's been 2 weeks ... Is this inflo developing on schedule? How much longer until I see blooms? Should I fertilize? How often? What N-P-K? Thank you soooo much!!

Maria Elena

Hi Maria looking good when my plumeria leaf out in spring I start them on jacks 20/20/20 ever 2 weeks untell it's time to move back to the greenhouse . It may be another 2weeks or longer for it to bloom

roger

Thank you, Roger! I fed it with a general purpose 20-20-20 formulation (with micronutrients) at 1/2 strength when the inflo first appeared and will do so again today.

Because it's my first, I don't know what to expect. How long until I see blooms? Another month? Maybe Mom & I can enjoy some fragrant blooms for "our" birthday on April 30th!

Maria Elena

I think you are 10 days or so from the first couple of blooms and should have a pretty good show by the end of April.

. YOU MADE MY DAY!

yes it is very exciting Maria :) can't wait for you to share the blooms

Chuy

Congratulations!!!!

Laura

As long as mine are in the ground, they bloom at least yearly. I had at least one that bloomed 3 different times last year and grew 3-4 feet.

Congratulations on the inflo!

Hi, Jerry! Haven't seen you lately. Hope all is well and that you've just been hybernating.

These are my first plumerias with fragrance & color. I'm super excited and am pampering them in containers for now.

We have the white, non-fragrant, fiddle-leaf Venezuelan Albas planted inground all around the house ... aka "Ramo de Novia" or "Bride's Bouquet." They are prolific bloomers with beautiful foliage but NO scent.

Unfortunately, they go hand-in-hand with the caterpillar (frangipani 'worm') mentioned above on March 10th. I would freak out if they got a hold of my 7 potted plumerias. No, these won't be going in-ground on this property. In fact, I suspect they can do some serious damage to my adeniums, as well. I have already caught them trying to crawl into the pots. Can you imagine?

There's also a bright red moth that looks very similar to the Giant Grey Sphinx Moth (adult metamorphosized frangipani worm) ... It's resembles a red rose petal and has already laid a cluster of bright yellow eggs on the underside of the leaves on one of my adeniums. Scary ... I'm very vigilant and guard my babies jealously.

Maria Elena

My guess is still at least 3 weeks before first bloom opens from time of last pic.

Enjoy the process.

Hi Maria Elena,

Wow that is great....Can't wait to see the blooms :) It so prompted me to pull all my Plumerias out of the garage (I think there's 38 total).

There are a few that have 2 to a pot.....I need to re-pot all of them and now wondering should I seperate the ones that have 2 growing in one pot or just pot up like they are?

I've been busy with my Adeniums and forgot all about them in the dark garage. Hopefully they will not hold it against me and bloom very well!

Thanks, Jeannie :)

Thanks, Jeannie! The inflo is developing pretty fast now. This is today.

That's quite a collection you have there! Age? Seed grown? Did you know the plumeria is related to the adenium?

I would only try to separate if the root balls are not too intertwined. They are about to come out of dormancy ... Wait until then to repot. Don't disturb them just yet.

Do think of me if you ever decide to prune a branch or two ;-p

Maria Elena

I'm sure the blooms will be spectacular!

No, I didn't know they were related.

The tallest one (over 8ft) is my original one (Pink)....I got in a trade from one of my driveway plant sales. This guy was taking some to a Flea Market to sell and he asked if we could trade. I traded a huge Crinum Lily (with about 6 small ones still attached) for it :) I've had it over 20 yrs. My youngest son (soon to be 30) knocked it over doing Karate, back when he was a teenager and that's how I got new plants from it.

I purchased some a few years back (the ones that are 2 to a pot) and the rest I've done from cuttings....never any from seeds.

As for cuttings, I do need to cut a lot of them back, I'm just not sure when. I have white with yellow center, a yellow one and two pink ones (different shades of lighter pink) and the rest of them I did not mark, so I have to wait for them to bloom again.

I did get seeds pods off of them but usually gave them away or just took them off plant and never planted :( I found a pod the other day (in the garage), and saw on a forum about putting them in the peanuts (that come in packaging) and tried that, but they never germinated. They are in the greenhouse with my Adeniums :)

Since I had 17 out of 20 of my Milkweed Tree germinate and 6 of the Adenium seeds germinate, I'm now trying lots of saved seeds that I stored (probably most too old). I did plant some tangerine seeds ( off my tangerine tree) about 2 weeks ago and they have germinated :)

I will be happy to send you cuttings, just not sure when. Thanks, Jeannie :)

Jeannie, my suggestion on those plumeria seeds is to soak them 4 hrs, then plant, wing up. Keep well watered but not soggy. Acclimate to full sun once germinated.

Seed grown plumeria do not bloom for about 3+ years but I love the foliage. Treat them just like your adenium seedlings, indoors during winter, full sun during summer. Same substrate, fertilizer, & water needs, too. Before you know it, you'll have flowers.

Congratulations on the tangerine seeds .... Those are fun. I am going to plant mine right now!

Maria Elena

Update - Branching out into individual stems:

The anticipation is killing me! Is it soup yet? Another two weeks?

Maria Elena

Tada ... Doesn't look perfect like the first pic, but it's beautiful and has great perfume. I love it.

Maria Elena

Whoooooohoooooo!!

It is beautiful already!!!

Certainly has the look ( petal traits ) of a Bali Whirl.. I know you are thrilled!!!

Thank you for the picture and I'm sure it has an awesome fragrance... this is why we wait!! Patience finally pays off!!

Congratulations, Maria!!!

Laura

Something does not seem right.

Hi Maria give it a year or two this thing will put on a show for you

roger

I often see some minor imperfections with the really early bloomers. I think it has to be the cooler temps during development.

I love it anyway!

I love it, too, Jerry. Thank you, everyone. I was just so grateful to have successfully rooted my first plumeria cutting. Now my first bloom.

Yes, as I said, the first bloom to this cutting is not perfect in terms of what is the norm. Yet it is beautiful, nonetheless ... The vivid color is fantastic and the bloom smells AMAZING!

The petals are all over the place, I know. It just opened this morning. Maybe the next one will be different. I'm sure future blooms will take form as the cutting matures. If not, who cares? I still love it ... It's a keeper. Did I say it smells fantabulous?

Thank you, Roger!! A hug to you!

Maria Elena

Marie most all the blooms on the mother plant look like this

That's fine, Roger. I love it ... It smells delicious!

Just found this online. Apparently, this is a normal characteristic of the cultivar Bali Whirl.

Bali Whirl aka Bali mas.

The first known double yellow ten-petal flower. Discovered in Indonesia, it appears to be a sort of Celadine. It has the same strong unique sweet scent and good texture. Most desirable plumeria for fragrance. Medium compact tree. A good thick upright grower but needs more water than others to get a lot of blooms. Temperamental. Recommended for the coast. Only true double 10 petal with citrus fragrance. Too bad the flowers don't stay long enough for you to enjoy them. They essentially have no stem on the bud so there isn't much to hold them once the bloom is open. Smells just like the Celadine. Drops flower buds. Seedlings from Bali Whirl tend to go Celadine. Must be hot to get flowers to open.

PSA Registration

Color: Yellow with pale edges

Flower Size: 10 petals, 3" Flower

Blooming: Average, but blooms do not last long.

Growth: Medium Compact Grower

Scent: Sweet, smells like Celadine

AKAs: Bali mas

Notes: The first known double yellow ten-petal flower, discovered in Indonesia

It's a very beautiful bloom and it will continue to be even more fabulous as the tree matures. Sometimes first blooms might not be what we all think they should look like from pictures because we usually see the best of the best when they post. Bali Whirl is known for having its unique petals. This tree is young and will improve over time..

keep up the good work, Maria!! ;-)

Laura

I guess I was wrong.

Definitely unique.

enjoy.

Wow....Beautiful unusual bloom:) I'll have to check into a Bali Whirl Plumeria. I like different and unique plants and that one is definitely different from any of my Plumerias.

Happy Gardening, Jeannie :)

yes.. agree with everyone! so beautiful and unusual as well! I too love unique plants. Congrats Maria :)

Chuy

It's one I don't have, and recommended for the coast. When you have more, would you like to trade? I have quite a few, in a wide range of colors.

Thanks, guys. I only have the one rooted branch. If I had more, I would definitely share/trade. Will keep you in mind for the future. This one came from Roger (KatieDolittle), who has some pretty spectacular adeniums and plumerias and is always a pleasure to work with.

Maria Elena

I think I've got one of those coming this week. I can't remember what all was ordered. Hope they are labeled!

Update:

My very 1st inflo on the Bali Whirl is still going strong! It's been blooming since April, straight through the summer. Please tell me how to get it to branch so I can quadruple the inflos for next year! Here are her latest blooms:

**

Aaaand, I just got a new inflo, my 1st on Pink Pansy:

Good morning!

Yaaaay!!!

Wow, that was super fast! It literally took Pink Pansy a week from inflo to bloom. It's not fully open yet, but it's a beautiful start! Nice, grape candy scent.

Maria Elena

Beautiful.....just Beautiful :) Congrats!

Happy Gardening, Jeannie :)

Good morning! Today, we are in full bloom! What a lovely sight!

Colors look more purple out of direct sunlight.

Would love to smell it. Very nice

Love it!

That is so beautiful! I am new to plumeria. Do they branch on their own or do I have to prune to activate the nodes for branching? Please tell me what to do and when to get these to branch. We are hot year round but in Jan & Feb the plumerias lose their leaves and go dormant due to cooler overnight temps (68-70).

HI Maria it should branch when it blooms the mother to your cutting will put out 3 branches at a bloom but being a new cutting it may not make 3

roger

So plumerias are all self branching and there is no need to prune them for branching at all?

I have been following this thread a few years later, going through the same thing as you with my first rooted cutting and my first inflow ever. This thread has been very informative and helpful and so have your pictures, however this last question I would love to know too 🙂cheers

Yes, Michael ... They do self-branch.

thanks Maria ;-)