Purchasing Plumeria Seedlings On Ebay

Gardeners not only can purchase plumeria cuttings and plants on Ebay, but they also can purchase plumeria seedlings. 

Following are some tips to consider before purchasing plumeria seedlings on Ebay.

Sometimes a picture of the mother plant is placed next to the picture of the seedling. The buyer is interested in purchasing the plumeria seedling which is the item that the seller is actually offering to sell. Placing the pictures next to each other can bring about confusion.

The buyer may come to the belief that the flowers of the seedling will look the same as the mother plant. This is not the case. One unique characteristic of plumeria seedlings is that they never grow and develop to look exactly the same as the mother plant.

When purchasing plumeria seedlings the buyer needs to make sure he or she understands these points of confusion by carefully reading the seller's description to know what he is selling and what is being purchased. The buyer needs to know that the picture of the mother plant does not suggest that the seedling is going to be an exact replica of the mother plant when fully developed and grown.

Growing your own plumeria plants from seeds may result in magnificent new hybrids never seen before. The following picture shows one of my own plumeria seedlings which bloomed just seven months after the seeds were planted.

 To have seedlings bloom just seven months after the seeds have been planted is rather rare, although I heard of one gentleman in New York and one lady in Thailand who also had their seedlings bloom in less than one year after planting the seeds. The usual time frame from planting the seeds to enjoying the flowers is about 1 1/2 to 4 years depending on the growing conditions.

Copyright © Bob Walsh

www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com 

Plumeria Plants Budding and Flowering in Fairbanks, Alaska

Welcome All Gardeners Worldwide,

On March 1, 2012 I received an email from Ms. Micheline Patterson from Fairbanks, Alaska, thanking me for my “wonderful” plumeria book, How To Grow Plumeria - Frangipani Anytime Anywhere!, which she had purchased. 

Ms. Patterson informed me that she is in the process of rooting some plumeria cuttings which she bought while vacationing on Hawaii.

Yesterday, June 4, 2012, three months later, I received a follow-up email from Ms. Patterson showing her success in flowering and growing plumerias in Alaska. 

With her permission I present to you Plumerias from Fairbanks, Alaska.

Plumeria flowers in Fairbanks, Alaska

Budding plumeria plant in Fairbanks, Alaska

Please note that the plumeria plant in the second picture is developing inflorescences, flower stalks, on BOTH branches.

Both pictures are proof that plumerias can be grown as far north as Alaska if proven and tested guidelines are followed.

Copyright © Bob Walsh
www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com

Plumeria Plant Care

Purchasing Plumeria Cuttings and Plumeria Plants on Ebay

Purchasing plumeria cuttings and plumeria plants on Ebay can
be an exciting adventure, but unfortunately it can end up as a very
frustrating experience if one does not know what to look for.

After locating plumeria cuttings or plants one likes, the buyer
should take a look at the vendor's positive feedback which is
shown as a percentage. It should be close to or at 100%.

Directly below the positive feedback is the feedback score 
which is a number of actual positive responses the vendor has 
received from buyers. 
 
This number reflects the number of products sold to customers 
who provided "positive feedback" per items purchased.  

The higher that number is reflects the vendor's reliability to
provide quality products on a consistent basis.

Plumeria cuttings and plants are offered from vendors worldwide on
Ebay with the majority being located in the United States and South
East Asia, for example Malaysia and Thailand.

Unfortunately, some vendors from South East Asia have given
a bad reputation to the region in general because they were
selling poor quality plumeria plants and cuttings to Ebay customers.

But this should not keep one from purchasing from vendors in South
East Asia which show a positive feedback close to or at 100%.

Reading the latest positive feedbacks left by previous customers 
also is a helpful tool when making the decision to buy or not to buy 
from a specific vendor. This is found on the merchant's homepage
located right below the positive feedback and feedback score.

Plumeria 'Rose Red'

                                                        
Following are some tips for purchasing plumeria cuttings and 
plants on Ebay....

1. Only buy cuttings and plants if you're able to see a picture of
    what is offered to the buyer 

 2. When viewing pictures of blue or purple plumeria flowers,
     the buyer should know that most of these pictures are
     produced in photo shops and the colors of the plumeria 
     flowers have been altered. Generally speaking, there are 
     no known blue or deep purple colored plumeria flowers.

3. During certain months of the year, especially from April to July,
    rooted plumeria plants with visible inflorescences, flower stalks,
    are offered.

    If the inflorescence has opened flowers, the developing buds
    and inflorescence may be lost after the plant arrives at its
    new destination and is planted in a climate different from its 
    origin.

    Shipping stress may be another contributing factor for the loss
    of the buds and the inflorescence. 

    If the developing inflorescence has emerged only a short way,
    it may or may not continue to develop in its new home due the
    above mentioned reasons.

4. Showing a tennis ball or shoe placed next to the plant offered
    gives the buyer a clearer perspective of the actual size of the 
    plant he or she is thinking about buying. 
    Any vendor doing this gets an extra "+" from me.

5. Check on the shipping charges which should be reasonable
    depending from where your cuttings or plants are being 
    shipped from. You can compare the shipping charges from
    other Ebay vendors in the same area for a perspective of
    what would be considered "reasonable".

6. Question phrases which include "very easy to grow". Each
    plumeria has it's own unique characteristics and when
    adjusting to a new non tropical temperate growing zone
    the plumeria plant or cutting has new challenges to bring 
    it into flowering. 

7. If a vendor offers a "return policy" be sure to read very carefully.
    You can contact a vendor with an email for any clarifications. 

8. Be leery of purchases that offer free phytosanitary inspection
    certificates and free shipping from overseas. Generally,
    there is a cost for each inspection certificate and, of course,
    shipping and handling charges. Any shipment of plumeria 
    cuttings or plants coming to the United States or Canada
    needs to have properly executed inspection certificates.

9. Contact your local Customs Office or visit their website to
    find out what forms and procedures need to be followed.

10. Some foreign vendors include a disclaimer notice that they
    are not responsible for any cuttings or plants confiscated
    by Customs agents. 

11. Consult with family members, friends or other gardeners
    you know who buy from Ebay vendors and ask them if 
    they have ordered from a particular vendor that you are
    now interested in ordering from and check out what their 
    experience was.
 
In conclusion, it can be said that Ebay is a great place to shop
for anything, including plumeria cuttings and plants if one follows
guidelines on how to choose a reputable retailer.

Take the time to browse thru different vendors' stores, compare 
the offers and you can end up with a great purchase.

Copyright © Bob Walsh
www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com
www.BobWalshFrangipaniPlumeriaPflege.com