What month does plumeria bloom? Detailed explanation of planting methods and medicinal effects and uses

In Xishuangbanna, China, and some Southeast Asian countries, plumeria is designated by Buddhist temples as one of the "Five Trees and Six Flowers" and is widely planted, hence it is also called "temple tree" or "pagoda tree." Its flower colors are elegant and its fragrance is light, making it both an excellent ornamental plant for courtyards and a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. Below is a detailed introduction from three aspects: blooming period, planting methods, and effects and uses.

What month does plumeria bloom?

The blooming period of plumeria is from April to December, and it begins to bloom in April to May each year. It first sends out flower buds at the tips of the bare branches, or flowers and leaves emerge and grow at the same time; the flowers of each inflorescence open gradually, and different branches also bloom one after another, so it keeps blooming for a long time, with flowers all over the tree, flowers and leaves setting each other off, and colors overflowing with light. Its fragrance is delicate and elegant, and the flowers can still retain their scent for several days after falling, giving it very high ornamental value.

How is plumeria planted?

Propagation is generally done by cuttings or sowing. Cuttings are best taken in mid-to-late May. Cut 20-30 cm long branches from the base of the branches; white latex will flow from the cut, so they need to be placed in a cool, ventilated place for 2-3 days to let the wound form a protective film before inserting, because inserting with latex still present makes them prone to rot. After inserting into clean vermiculite, a sand bed, or a shallow sand pot, spray water and place indoors or under a shade shed, spraying water once every other day to keep the substrate moist; after insertion, move them to a semi-shaded place with weak light after 15-20 days, they root in 30-35 days, and can be potted in about 45 days. After rooting and surviving, they should be transplanted in time. For sowing, take out the seeds after the seed pods mature and split open naturally, and sow them as soon as they are collected. The suitable germination temperature is 18-24°C. Sow evenly at 5-6 cm spacing, cover thinly with a layer of sandy soil or coconut coir, and water appropriately to maintain moisture; seedlings emerge in 8-12 days in spring and about 5 days in summer. The seedbed should be kept moist but must not be waterlogged. When the seedlings grow to 10-15 cm, transplant them into 20 cm x 30 cm propagation bags, and when they grow to 40-50 cm tall, plant them in the field.

For ground planting, choose sandy loam rich in organic matter, with a cultivation site in full sun and with good drainage, and a plant-to-row spacing of 2 m x 3 m. Before planting, apply base fertilizer in combination with deep plowing. Organic fertilizer must be completely decomposed and buried deeply, and should not come into direct contact with the root system; during the growing season, apply an organic compound fertilizer once a month as a top dressing, stop fertilizing in winter, water promptly during drought, pay attention to drainage and waterlogging prevention during the plum rain season, and loosen the soil and weed after rain. For potted plants, prepare the potting soil in the ratio of garden soil : garbage soil : river sand = 4:4:2. You may pot them with the roots slightly exposed. After planting, first place them in a cool place for 15 days, then move them to a sunny place. In summer, give them more sun so the branches become thick and strong. For watering, master the principle of "do not water if not dry, water as soon as dry, water thoroughly when watering, and do not allow waterlogging": in spring and autumn, water once every 1-2 days; in summer, water once in the morning on sunny days, and water again in the evening if the soil is dry; in the rainy season, pour out accumulated water in the pot to prevent root rot; in winter, water once every ten days to half a month, keeping the potting soil slightly moist. Plumeria is a strongly sun-loving flower. Except after potting or repotting and changing soil, when it needs shade for 7-10 days, it should be exposed to sunlight most of the time. Before the minimum temperature drops to 10°C, move it indoors and keep the room temperature at 10-15°C. Below 8°C or with poor ventilation, it will drop leaves, but if kept above 5°C it will not freeze to death, and the next spring it will sprout and grow leaves again. Regarding fertilization, when potting or changing soil, add 20-30 g of bone meal and 50-80 g of superphosphate (it likes calcareous soil, so attention should be paid to calcium supplementation). From May to October, apply a light, thin decomposed organic fertilizer or nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer once every 10-15 days. Avoid applying nitrogen fertilizer alone to prevent excessive vegetative growth, and do not fertilize in winter. It grows rapidly, so repot once every spring, changing to a flowerpot with a diameter of 30 cm. Prepare the potting soil with 4 parts garden soil, 4 parts horse manure soil, and 2 parts river sand, and add 100 g of cake fertilizer or sauce residue and 50 g of superphosphate or bone meal per pot. After repotting, water thoroughly, and move outdoors to a sunny place around Grain Rain. If orange-yellow pustules or powder appear on the back of the leaves, it has plumeria rust disease, which can be controlled with a 25% triadimefon 1500-2000 times solution.

What effects and uses does plumeria have?

After being dried in the shade, plumeria can be used as a traditional Chinese medicine. It can clear heat and relieve summer heat, moisten the lungs and throat, and treat diseases such as sore throat. In Guangdong, people often dry white plumeria to make herbal tea beverages, which are very popular; it has a slightly sweet and bitter taste, and can be combined with other traditional Chinese medicines to treat summer heatstroke, dysentery, and abdominal pain. It also has the effect of resolving phlegm and clearing the lungs for coughs after the weather turns cool in autumn. The aqueous extracts of the stems, bark, leaves, and peeled stems of red plumeria have local anesthetic and antispasmodic effects on rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, and mice. In addition, besides white, plumeria also comes in red and yellow, all of which can be used to extract essential oils for making high-grade cosmetics, soap, and food additives. The price is quite high, and it has great potential for commercial development. In landscaping, it has multiple effects of greening, beautification, and fragrance enhancement, and is very worth planting.