Good question. I would lean towards a stalwart like Gina or Kauka Wilder with a twist...

...let them get about 4 years old and in a 10+ gallon container before implementing your plan.

Thanks. So you're saying that I ought to grow the reds in a warmer environment until they're big enough to stand some cold?

Correct. Cold is defined in this instance as based on your minimum of 45F.

As a plant matures you can see the wood change from a soft green to a harder greyish green with a tree bark type skin. This harder wood is more likely to be "OK" with cool weather (possibly into the upper 30s for a few days). Same thing with the root structure. You might find some of the young fiberous roots die back from extended cool temps but the larger feeder roots will probably be OK. Particularly if they have 10+ gallons of soil mix insulating them.

You can also use a silicone supplement like Pro-Tekt but it must be routine. As it has been described to me the silicone does not distribute itself throughout the plant but only in the growth parts at the time of use.

Steve,

My red is same as others in the car port during in the winter as I posted on CM subject. It does seems red almost gets black tips but it survived every winters, my red plumeria plant is about 6 years old. I did kept it first winter in my kitchen.

Here is a mature sort of Red (Royal Hawaiian/ AKA Plastic Pink) with overwinter damage to what was formerly a green soft branch tip. IMO the area damaged was the green new growth which had not hardened up before a cold snap.

2018 · More Info

2018 · More Info

We had an unexpected dip to 31F this winter. I think the ultra-microclimate of where plants were in the yard made the biggest difference, but that being said- anecdotally I had a Red Jack that suffered no damage and is leafed out with inflos now so as a datapoint, that is apparently a red that won't fall over dead if it gets below 40.

You can call Florida Colors and get their recommendations for a better red for your situation.

Thanks for your help! I'd been wading through old posts trying to figure out "reds" before I got any. My favorite one so far, based on pics, of course, was Kevin's Red. I love the color and the fact that it smells. The inflo is so delicate and airy.

I'm just getting into plumeria. When I look at more recent breeding I can see that plumeriophiles have gone down the same road as orchidists. Petals must be wide, round and overlapping. There's a certain sameness to the flowers. I think that's why Kev appeals to me. OK there's one I simply must track down. (I'm sounding like you guys now:)

I'll also search the forum for each of the other reds you mentioned and learn more about them. Any other suggestions are welcome. And Kevin...if you're reading this.....

I was going to second irun’s tally for Red Jack by jj. I have mine in ground, low 30s here and there. Try to keep it as dry as possible during your temperature trough. Mine is also planted backed by white masonry wall and adjacent to brick driveway, so a little help with radiant heat and lower wind.

It’s worth a try bc it’s a beast of a brancher. 4-5 tips are not uncommon. I’ll try to find a pic.

-s

I’ve been waiting for Hula Girl to bloom. I have wanted a Kevin’s Red but have never come across one.

Irun and beach---what does Red Jack smell like?

My red jack grew like a weed. No smell whatsoever, gave it away...

Here’s some red jack by jj pics-

check the number of growth tips:

Here’s a pic of mine, a couple of years old:

Flower:

-s

I adore JL Thai Red, and have so far not had issues over winter like some of my other reds.

Here is my NOID Red. Can anyone name this?

Same plant, taking different time.

I have all mine in-ground. Previously, mid-30's they were all fine. This time though, the island hit 25, and it lasted for many hours. All of my plants are now dead to about an inch or two from the ground, and I had constructed a hoop-house around them.

So, if you were asking me, all of my plants are able to survive down to about 32-35. Honestly, maybe it's because I obtained all of mine from here, and they're accustomed to our weather.

Sorry to hear about that cold snap Jedoba. 25F on Galveston is quite rare. Good news is the trunk and roots are OK.

Not that it helps you now but I have used incandescent Christmas lights to provide supplemental heat under the plant covers. Particularly when the temperatures will be below freezing for more than 4 hours. IMO the better lights to use are the mini or pin lights. The larger c-9 bulbs will burn the plumeria if they are touching it.

Loneroc,

maybe that is another thing you could do to keep the plumeria at a warmer temp. Wrapping the container in lights and then insulating it with an old blanket or something like that would help keep soil temps above ambient levels. That way you don't have to raise the greenhouse temp but can still keep a couple extra BTUs going for the plumeria.

I get what you are saying as far as all the sameness out there. There are many cultivars that I just pass up for that very reason. I enjoy different size/shape flowers, unique/varying growth habits, etc.