Birthday
HydrangeasPlumeria, or frangipani, is a small tropical tree with waxy flowers and a rich, sweet scent. In Hawaii the blooms are strung into traditional leis, and in Southeast Asia plumerias grow beside temples. You can grow one indoors if you give it plenty of sun and the right winter rest.
Exotic greenery for your home: potted plants.
What kind of plant it is
Plumeria belongs to the dogbane family and comes from tropical America. It is named after the French botanist Charles Plumier. The flowers are white with a yellow centre, pink, red or multicoloured, and are most fragrant in the evening and at night.
Careful: milky sap
Like other members of its family, plumeria has a white milky sap that can irritate skin and eyes and is poisonous if swallowed. Wear gloves when pruning or taking cuttings, and keep the plant away from children and pets.
Care at home
- Light. The sunniest window, south or west; plumeria needs at least 6 hours of sun a day. In summer it benefits from time on a balcony.
- Watering. In spring and summer, when the top few centimetres of soil are dry; standing water rots the roots.
- Soil. Light and free-draining: all-purpose compost with perlite or sand.
- Feeding. Every 2 weeks in the flowering season with a phosphorus-rich fertiliser.
Winter rest
In autumn, as the days shorten, plumeria slows down and may drop some or all of its leaves; this is a normal rest period. Keep it somewhere bright at 15–18 °C and water very rarely, just enough to stop the trunk shrivelling. When new leaves appear in spring, gradually increase watering.
Why plumeria does not flower
- Too little sun is the most common reason.
- The plant is still young: a rooted cutting usually flowers within 1–3 years, a seedling later.
- Too much nitrogen fertiliser gives leaves instead of flowers.
Propagating from cuttings
- Cut a woody piece 25–30 cm long in spring or early summer.
- Leave it to dry in the shade for 1–2 weeks until the cut end calluses.
- Plant it in a light, slightly moist mix and barely water until leaves appear.
If you love exotic plants, read how to grow an olive tree in a pot and about sun-loving houseplants.
FAQ
Why are the branch tips turning black?
Usually rot from overwatering during the cool season. Cut back to healthy tissue and water less.
Can plumeria be grown from seed?
Yes, but seedlings may not match the parent’s colour and take longer to flower.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
