those poor roots. .....I have read you don't want to crowd their roots with other plants in a pot....

I took the advice to repot.Here he (yes, it's a he) is in his new bigger home!

When I took him out of his old pot I saw that he was severely root bound. I root pruned by about a third and repotted in a homemade mixture of soil, sphagnum peat, perlite, and coarse orchid bark. I also trimmed off his blooms so he can devote all his energy into growing new roots. I have him on our shaded patio for now, and will probably move him back into the sun in a week or so, depending on how he does. I decided to leave in the ornamental sweet potato vines because they act as a living mulch, keeping the soil shaded and cool.

This was my very first plumeria repot, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he does ok and hopefully doesn't die!

Thank you both for your input and advice.

I'd still take out all of that other stuff. If you want to shade the roots, use a mulch of some sort. Those other plants will steal nutrients and create a new root bound plant.

If you had a healthy root system, it probably won't die. Might have some leaves fall off due to shock of replanting and pruning though.

I would not have root-pruned at all. That is best done when they are dormant.

Before I first planted those ornamental sweet potato vines (earlier this year, back when it was in the smaller pot) I did have a layer of regular mulch. I think the bag said "Shredded Texas Hardwood Mulch" or something like that. I had a layer about two inches deep. The reason I removed it was because it compacted, dried out, and got rock hard, to the point where it was repelling water. When I would water the plumeria (about every 2-3 days) the water would roll off the mulch and just run down the inside wall of the pot. I even checked by sticking my finger several inches down into the soil and it wouldn't be wet. Hence my reasoning for removing it and using the sweet potato vines instead.

Maybe I just chose the wrong kind of mulch?

I'm not against taking out the vines, but what should I use instead?

Here's the mulch I used

I'd do a one to two inch layer of mulch (I mulch all my Plumerias), type of mulch not so critical. If top growth resumes (or not effected by re-pot and root prune) add one handful of both the composted manure and compost mixed together, worked into just the top layer of the soil prior to applying the mulch layer.

Pine bark mulch or chunks may be a solution for the hydrophobic issues. It doesn't compact and dry out in the same way a some of the other finer shredded mulches. Another option is white marble chips. long lasting and nice looking but sure does add some pounds onto big containers.

It looks great. I really don't see too big of a deal with the other plants. I suppose there could be some insect issues or a tangled mess of roots but provided there is enough water and nutrients its an issue for a future point in time.

Forgot to add that it's a subjective call to remove flowers. I do not and have not seen much in the way of bad things for not doing it.

Those are the same mulches and mixes I have here in Austin. I use the Happi Gro compost as one part of my pot mixes and am very happy with the crumbly texture.

The other plants in the pot may be fine, or may be competing too much with the plumeria. Really, each plumeria is so different you just have to observe and adjust. My Desert Sunrise was dropping buds like crazy until I removed a volunteer perilla plant from the pot (Its roots had gotten huge and were very difficult to remove!). Now the plumeria is much happier.

You learn and grow with your plants. :)