Plumeria Rubra is a deciduous plant that belongs to the genus Plumeria. It is one of the best tropical plants. Plumeria flowers are the most beautiful and eye-pleasing flowers that you must have in your garden. Plumeria flowers come in different colors such as white, yellow, red, and so on. Planting Plumeria in a pot is the best way to grow them irrespective of where you live or reside. You can grow it as an indoor plant or a big tree in your garden.
Picking the Right Soil for Growing Plumeria in Pots
For rooting plumeria cuttings in a plot, you will require well-drained soil with a slightly acidic PH of 6.0 to 6.7. So, a pot with adequate drainage holes is a must for its new growth. You can buy a good quality commercial citrus or cactus potting mix and eventually add 2 parts perlites in this potting soil. This will provide aeration and will also improve drainage. You can also use a good homemade potting soil mix that contains an equal proportion of coconut coir, sphagnum moss, and perlite. Therefore, the more you put in organic content, it will help overcome or mitigate the burden on fertilizer.
Lighting and Temperature Requirements:
The Plumeria trees often have large, lush leaves, and flowers that are striking and strung onto the Hawaiian leis. You can grow a Plumeria plant in a hot climate and or keep them indoors too. The steps mentioned below will walk you through the things you would require in growing and nurturing Plumeria trees on your own.
Environment and Materials Required to Grow Plumeria:
Choose a Warm Location in Your House:
Firstly, choose some warm weather/location to grow this plant in your home. A Plumeria tree requires a least temperature between 18 to 27 degrees Celsius which is about 65 to 80 degrees in Fahrenheit. They cannot survive in temperatures below 13 degrees Celsius.
Likewise, an exceeding cooler temperature will affect the growth of the Plumeria Plant too. Therefore, you must ensure the right location to plant Plumeria trees in Pot. If the conditions are too harsh, you can opt for black nursery containers that you can keep indoors when the climate becomes too cold.
Growing Plumeria in pots requires strict temperatures and full sun sometimes. However, it can flourish both outdoors and indoors.
Adequate Sunlight:
A Plumeria tree grows best in direct sun. It requires at least 6 hours of full sun a day. If you want to keep Plumeria inside, then find a location in your house that is exposed to full sunlight usually the southeast corner. To enjoy the beautiful blooms of Plumeria, you may place the potted plant, near a window that is exposed to regular sunlight.
Watering and Fertilizing Needs for Growing a Plumeria Tree
Watering Needs For Your Plumeria:
We all know that watering a plant, especially a potted plant regularly using a preferred method is a must. However, you may overwater your plant and eventually kill it. But the good news is that maintaining and watering a Plumeria Flower is very easy.
The Plumeria plant begins to bloom from late summer (March/April) to late winter (November/December). Hence, regular watering is required when you grow Plumeria cuttings like least once a week depending on their location. However, you should not water your Plumeria when the leaves begin to drop and fall. As like all other plants, overwatering your Plumeria can be a big hazard. To ensure that the plant is not overwatered, you can allow its soil to dry in between the waterings.
You have to make sure that enough, water is there to moisten the soil, but the water shouldn’t puddle at the top. Also, keep in mind that the amount of required water depends on the size and type of Plumeria.
Fertilizing Needs For Your PLumeria:
Along with other growing needs like water or sun, your plant also requires some fertilizers. You need to fertilize your Plumeria during its new growth with high-phosphorous fertilizer. It is advisable to fertilize your Plumeria just after watering it. This will mitigate or overcome the chemical burns.
When your Plumeria is in bloom or has new growth (during early summer), apply the high-phosphorus fertilizer twice a month. This can be done in a 10-30-10 ratio (30 is the npk middle number). Do not forget to dilute your fertilizer by adding 1-3 tablespoons of water. You must stop fertilizing your plant during the dormant (winter months).
Pruning and Repotting Your Plumeria Tree
Pruning and Immunizing:
Plumeria trees can grow tall if you prefer a smaller tree in your living room, pruning your Plumeria tree is extremely important to keep its height small. Pruning will also keep your Plumeria disease free and healthy.
If the branches of your tree start growing big and large, you can simply cut the branches by 1/3. This will also help your tree grow better and improve its health.
How to Repot Your Plumeria Plant?
You can repot your Plumeria plant when it is dormant (in fall or winter). You can check the roots of your plant to make sure that it is time to repot. If your plant is growing for a long time, it is likely to have a root-bound plant. This limits the growth and health of your plant, and you shall repot it then.
You can start with removing the old soil by loosening the roots of your plant. Then, tease the roots with your fingers. Use a new container that is the same or bigger in size as your old pot or container.
Keep some well-drained soil ready. Add it to the existing soil where plumeria was last potted. Lastly, put the prepared plant and tap it down with soil.
Common Pests and Diseases that can affect your Plumeria:
Certain insects can affect this plant such as spider mites, flies or aphids, and mites. If you start noticing insects on your plant, you can apply insecticide or horticultural oil to its leaves. One common example of a good pesticide that you can apply on your plant is ‘Malathion’.
However, you should follow the guidelines and directions written on the pesticide. This will yield you the best results.
Key Takeaways:
Plumeria trees usually have large and lush leaves. Plumeria flowers grow best in a hot and warm climate. But you can grow it indoors if you live in a cooler climate.
The Plumeria plants can be a large shrub or a small tree. The Plumeria Plant adapts very well to containers and pots. Hence, it can be grown indoors too.
With certain methods and techniques, you can bring out the best in your Plumeria Tree. Choosing the right soil and pot, exposing it to sunlight and proper temperature, watering and fertilizing it regularly, and pruning the plant will result in healthy plant growth. All these techniques can bring the best for your Plumeria.
FAQs Growing Plumeria in Pots
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