Plumeria Flowers In Chicago

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

What To Consider Before Purchasing Plumeria Cuttings And Plumeria Plants

Welcome All Gardeners,

When searching the internet for plumeria 
cuttings to purchase, it's easy to get 
carried away.

Practically every cutting you see is one
you want for one reason or another. 

Some you choose because of the name.

The other choices you make are based 
on the color, fragrance and/or the price. 

In the end you order a bundle of cuttings
and all purchased are justified based on 
your needs and wants to complete your
plumeria collection.
  
The day that the cuttings arrive at your
front door, you open the boxes and get 
even more excited as you plant each new 
cutting noticing how many of them already
have developed small "claws". 

These claws soon will develop into leaves
and new growth on any plumeria cutting is 
reason to celebrate. 

Arranging all your newly ordered planted
plumeria cuttings where you want them,
you proudly and excitedly admire these
new additions to your collection.

But this excitement soon can turn into a
problematic logistic question, "Why did I 
buy so many cuttings?", once the 
plumeria cuttings have rooted and start 
to grow "full steam ahead" developing 
leaves more than a foot long.

It's relatively easy to plant and space 
15 or more unrooted cuttings as the 
picture below of some of the cuttings I 
planted at the beginning of September 
2012 illustrates. 


Newly planted plumeria cuttings in Chicago.
Plumeria cuttings planted on Sept. 4, 2012


















It's important to consider the growing space you 
have available for your plumeria cuttings after
they start actively growing.  

The overlapping and crowding newly growing 
leaves open the door to harmful disease and 
insect problems due to interference with 
proper lighting, humidity and airflow of each
individual planted cutting.


The picture below shows Plumeria 'Makanani'.

The cutting was planted  on  May 12, 2012 
in Chicago with the spent inflorescence 
still attached and three branches just 
emerging.

As of September 6, 2012 the plant 
already had a span of 28 1/2 inches 
with leaves up to 13 inches long.


Growing in Chicago - Plumeria 'Makanani'
 Plumeria 'Makanani'


















The picture below shows Plumeria 'Pink Pansy' 
which is considered to have a compact growth
habit.

The cutting, which had just flowered and started
to develop two branches, was planted, like
Makanani above, on May 12, 2012 in Chicago.

As of September 6, 2012 the plant had a span 
of 16 inches with leaves averaging  8 inches 
in length.


Growing in Chicago - Plumeria 'Pink Pansy'
Plumeria 'Pink Pansy'





















When comparing the sizes of Makanani and 
Pink Pansy, the young plants already exhibit
the difference in growth habit at an early 
stage.

Thankfully, many internet retailers list the 
growth habit of plumerias offered as cuttings 
and/or plants.

Next time you're purchasing plumeria 
cuttings and/or plants consider their growth 
habit if growing space is an issue for you.

If the growth habit of a specific plumeria you 
want to purchase isn't listed, contact the 
retailer by email.

When purchasing plumerias on the internet,
it is important to consider the big picture of 
where am I going to put all the cuttings I want 
to buy.  

And where can they be planted to provide 
the best growing conditions without 
endangering them and preventing them 
from proper and successful growth.


My plumeria book,
How To Grow Plumeria - Frangipani Anytime Anywhere!,
which is currently offered with FREE SHIPPING,
gives you step-by-step instructions what to do
with your plumerias now and enjoy them again 
flowering during the 2013 growing season.


Step-by-step plumeria book.
















Happy Growing,

Bob Walsh
www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com