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. __Take a cutting__: Remove a branch from the plumeria tree that is roughly 12 inches long. 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. __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. __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. Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place. Plumerias are native to tropical climates, with fragrant flowers that grow in vibrant colors. Plumerias can grow outside of the tropics under the right conditions.