How to grow plumeria? A detailed guide to cultivation methods

Plumeria is also known as Burmese frangipani, egg-yolk flower, and dajihua, among other names. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus Plumeria in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). In South China's Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places, it is widely used for greening and beautifying parks, courtyards, green belts, lawns and so on, while in the north it is mostly grown in pots for ornamental viewing. Let's take a look below at the cultivation methods for plumeria!

Growth habits of plumeria

Plumeria is a sun-loving tree species. It prefers high temperatures, humidity and a sunny environment, but it can also grow in semi-shaded conditions; however, in a shaded environment the branches grow leggy, with few flowers or with leaves growing but no flowers, while yellow plumeria in a shaded, humid environment will grow aerial roots on its branches. A deep, fertile, well-drained, organic-rich acidic sandy loam soil is best. When the soil is poor, growth and development are poor, the flowers are small and the flower color is dull. It is drought-tolerant, dislikes waterlogging, and has good stress resistance, but drought is not good for plant development and in severe cases causes poor growth, while waterlogging easily causes root rot. Its cold tolerance is poor. The most suitable growing temperature is 20-26°C, and during overwintering, prolonged periods below 8°C easily cause cold damage.

Propagation methods for plumeria

1. Cuttings: Plumeria branches root easily from cuttings, and it is mainly propagated by cuttings. In tropical and subtropical places suitable for open-field cultivation, cuttings can be taken all year round. Insert the cuttings into a clean loam-sand bed in a shaded shed, then spray with water, spraying once every other day to keep the medium moist; roots can form in 30-35 days. As long as there is no waterlogging and the soil is kept moist, they root very easily.

2. Sowing: Plumeria does not produce many fruits, but in open-field planting sites most varieties can still yield a small amount of seed. The seeds split open naturally after ripening. Remove the seeds from the pods and sow them in a sandy loam seedling bed in a rain-proof shaded shed. The suitable germination temperature is 18-24°C, and generally they are sown as soon as collected.

3. Grafting: Because of the strong compatibility between rootstock and scion, grafting plumeria is relatively easy to perform and has a very high survival rate. In tropical and subtropical regions such as South China, it can be done all year round, but spring and autumn are best. In winter and spring it is better when the temperature is stable at an average daily temperature above 18%, but long periods of rainy weather in winter and summer should also be avoided when grafting.

Cultivation methods for plumeria

1. Soil: Plumeria is not demanding about soil, and grows best in loose soil containing more humus. When planting, the roots can be slightly exposed when potting up.

2. Light: After planting plumeria, place it indoors in a shaded spot. After one week, give it weak light, and after another half month it can be placed in a spot with ample sunlight.

3. Watering: Plumeria likes humidity and has a slight drought tolerance, but dislikes waterlogging, so watering must be moderate. Usually, do not water until the soil is dry, and water as soon as it dries.

4. Fertilizing: From June to November, apply decomposed liquid fertilizer once about every 10 days, with the concentration controlled at about 15%.

5. Temperature: In the south, plumeria can be planted in the open ground. In the north, potted plants should be moved indoors to a south-facing window in mid-to-late October, and the room temperature should be above 10°C. Low temperatures and poor indoor ventilation will cause the plant to drop its leaves.

6. Pruning: If the plant needs to be dwarfed, prune appropriately after the leaves fall each winter to encourage the growth of side branches.

7. Repotting: Plumeria grows quickly and needs repotting once every spring, renewing the potting soil and applying sufficient base fertilizer, so that it can have abundant flowers and lush leaves.