Plumeria Guide: How to Grow and Care for Plumerias

The plumeria plant (Plumeria rubra), also known by the common name frangipani, is a tropical, deciduous flowering plant in the Apocynaceae family. It’s native to the warm climates of Mexico, Central America, South America, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Most plumerias are small trees or shrubs with long and green leaves and beautiful flowers.

The fragrant flowers of plumeria blooms can grow in vibrant colors, including white, red, yellow, orange, and pink. Many frangipani flowers have two colors, such as white flowers with a yellow center. Plumeria cuttings are often used as flowers on Hawaiian leis and are planted at temples, and at cemeteries.

Although plumeria trees are tropical plants, growing them in other climates is possible under the right conditions:

• Choose your planting area: Your plumeria will require full sun or partial shade in your garden. They are not very tolerant of cold weather, so consider planting your plumeria in a pot with drainage holes so you can bring the potted plant indoors during cold winters.
• Plant when warm: It’s best to plant your plumeria during early spring, or any time during the warm weather of the growing season.
• Prepare the soil: Choose a well-draining soil mix that is mildly acidic, such as a cactus potting mix or a potting soil with perlite and sand.
• Plant the plumeria: Dig a hole as deep and as wide as the root ball, and plant the plumeria tree in the soil so the root ball is flush with the ground.
• Cover and water: Fill the hole and pat down the soil. Water so the soil is moist but not waterlogged.

To ensure your plumerias thrive, there are several points to keep in mind:

• Watering: Water your plumeria regularly so the soil never dries out completely. During the colder months, or during the tree’s dormancy, you can stop watering completely.
• Fertilizing: During the peak growing season, give your plumeria a phosphate fertilizer every two or three weeks to promote new growth.
• Collecting seeds: When your plumeria flowers, it may produce seed pods that look thin and long. Allow these pods to become dry and brown before collecting them. Pry them open to find the plumeria seeds.
• Pruning: You can prune your plumeria to remove damaged branches or to control their size. Trim the branch right where it joins with the main branch or trunk.
• Removing pests: You may get pests, such as spider mites, whiteflies, mealybugs, or scale bugs. These can be removed by hosing down the leaves of the plant to knock them off and using a neem spray or other insecticide.
• Preventing disease: Plumeria rust is a common disease and appears as an orange powder accompanied by blisters on the leaves. You can treat this with a fungicide.

Propagating a plumeria can be done easily with a simple cutting from the tree.

1. 1. Take a cutting: Remove a branch from the plumeria tree that is roughly 12 inches long.
2. 2. Allow the cutting to callus: After cutting your branch from the main tree, wait at least a week for the new cut to dry out and harden.
3. 3. Plant the cutting: Choose a spot with full sun or partial shade and prepare a perlite and potting soil mix in a pot or in your home garden. Dip the cut end in a rooting hormone, and then plant in the soil about halfway up the branch.
4. 4. Water and let dry out: Water the cutting as soon as you plant it, then let it dry out for at least a week. Water lightly and sporadically. Your cutting should take root within a few months.

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