Plumeria obtusa 'Singapore' and Plumeria obtusa 'Dwarf Singapore Pink'

Plants of the species Plumeria obtusa can grow to small shrubs or large trees depending on the variety one chooses.

Plants of this species are considered evergreens as they don't shed all of their leaves during the shorter days of the year compared to other plumeria species.

The leaves, formed near the tip of the branches, have characteristically oblong shape with the tips being blunt, obtuse, which gives the species its name. The color of the leaves is dark green with a glossy shine.

Flowers develop on the inflorescences, flower stalks, at the tip of the branches.

In the early 1930s Mr. Harold Lyon brought the first cutting of Plumeria obtusa from Singapore to Hawaii and it was thus given the name, 'Singapore'.

Plumeria obtusa 'Singapore' produces white flowers with a bright yellow center and a strong citrus fragrance. The flowers range in size from 3 to 4 inches in diameter.

Flower petals are defined as wide, rounded and separated.

The keeping quality of these flowers is considered "poor" by some because they turn brown rather in a short period of time.

Plumeria obtusa 'Singapore'

Plumeria obtusa 'Dwarf Singapore Pink' is a true dwarf, well branched plumeria plant.

Flower buds are light pink with the flowers being pale pink which is accentuated in a darker shade of pink at the borders of each petal. The center of the flowers is orange with some red.  

Flowers are up to 3 inches in diameter and have a citrus fragrance.

The leaves of Plumeria obtusa 'Dwarf Singapore Pink", about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide, are shiny dark green.

Plumeria obtusa 'Dwarf Singapore Pink'

For information on growing plumeria cuttings, plants and seeds or to receive your FREE Tropical Plant Guide, Grow Your Own Tropical Garden, visit Plumeria Plant Care.

Copyright © Bob Walsh

www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com

My Favorite Annual Plants - Amaranthus tricolor 'Perfecta', 'Illumination' And 'Aurora'

One of my favorite annual plants are Amaranthus tricolor 'Perfecta', 'Illumination' and 'Aurora'. All three are commonly called Summer Poinsettias due to their brightly colored  tops that demand a lot of eye-catching attention in any garden..

The genus Amaranthus, commonly known as Amaranth, is comprised of about 60 species known for either their colorful inflorescences, flower stalks, leaves or both.

Different species of Amaranthus are used as either leafy vegetables, grains or ornamental plants.

Amaranthus tricolor, also known as Joseph's Coat, is widely used as an ornamental in the United States. The leaves and stems can serve as colorful additions to salads or be steamed and served as a side dish as they do in China and Japan.

These plants are easily raised from seeds and grow equally well in containers or planted in the ground.

Amaranthus tricolor prefers a partial sun to sunny location, regular watering and fertilizing with a fertilizer high in Nitrogen. It also benefits from a monthly application of fish emulsion.

Amaranthus tricolor 'Perfecta'

Amararanthus tricolor 'Illumination'

Amaranthus tricolor 'Aurora'

Copyright © Bob Walsh
www.BobWalshPlumeriaCare101.com 

www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com 

How To Grow Canna Lily Plants

Canna lily plants are wonderful flowering plants to grow, either in the ground or in pots, and provide the gardener with great aesthetic appeal and appearance in the garden or on the patio from early summer until fall frost.

To view the slideshow CLICK >>> How To Grow Canna Lily Plants.

How To Grow Canna Lily Plants

Copyright © Bob Walsh

www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com 

Gardening Tips For These Hot Summer Days

Welcome All Gardeners Worldwide,

It has been a hot summer so far in Chicago

with temperatures forecast to be in the mid

to upper 90s for the entire week.

South and west of Chicago temperatures

are soaring into the 100s.

This hot weather is not only stressful for

humans, but also stressful for your plants.

Your gardening began in spring when you

started planting them from seeds or bought

them as seedlings or plants.

You have nurtured them along with proper

care and have watched them grow.

Then, from one day to the next, your plants

are lost either to heat stress or improper

growing conditions such as letting the soil

dry out during hot weather.

For gardeners, it's extremely frustrating to

helplessly watch the demise of his or her

plants.

Just like humans plants get sunburn, or

worse, they just wilt and are lost due to

these extreme hot temperatures.

Epsom Salt, which has been used in

agriculture for many years, is one helpful

solution. 

 

Magnesium Sulfate, the ingredient in

Epsom Salt is used to treat Magnesium

deficiency in plants.

Magnesium deficiency is a serious plant

disorder that manifests itself in yellowing

of the leaves, called Chlorosis.

This would be the the first sign for the gardener

to take action to attempt to save his or her plants.

Necrosis, the death of plant tissue, and dropping

of the older leaves occurs if the Magnesium

deficiency is left untreated.

Plants, including tomato plants, will produce

smaller fruits when suffering from Magnesium

deficiency.

It may also help to prevent sunburn and aid in

the development of feeder roots.

To treat your plants with Magnesium

Sulfate dissolve 2 - 3 tbsp. of Epsom

Salt in 16 to 24 ounces of hot water in

a separate container per one gallon

watering can, and let it sit until the

Epsom Salt is completely dissolved.

Add this solution to your watering

can until the water reaches a lukewarm

temperature, and water your plants

thoroughly.

It can also be applied as a foliar feeding.

This process will act faster than the root

feeding.

In this case, add 2 cups of the dissolved

Epsom Salt solution to your spray bottle

and fill the rest until you reach a lukewarm

water temperature.

Adding one or two drops of liquid dish

soap acts as a surfactant which helps the

solution to stick to the leaves.

Make sure to spray BOTH sides of the

leaves until the solution runs off the leaves.

Foliar feeding with Magnesium Sulfate is

best done at sunset when the stomata,

microscopic pores on the leaves, are

opening up allowing for better absorption

of the Magnesium Sulfate.

Important: Never spray the foliage

with anything, including water, while

the sun is shining directly on the plant

as this may cause extensive leaf burn

to the plant.

Finally, I have an announcement to

make.....

I added excerpts of my plumeria book,

How To Grow Plumeria - Frangipani

Anytime Anywhere!, to my website at

www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com. 

These excerpts give you a sneak preview

into this step-by-step, instructional and

illustrated plumeria book.

'Til next time.................Happy Growing,

Bob Walsh

www.HowToGrowPlumeriaFrangipani.com

PS: Remember that plants in pots dry

out faster than plants in the ground

during these hot summer temperatures.

Stressed plants, including plumerias,

are more prone to insect and disease

problems in their weakened states.

Providing proper growing conditions

helps to reduce stress situations for

your plants and avoid these types

of problems.

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