Plumeria plants, also referred to as frangipani, is a flowering plant that commonly grows in the form of shrubs or tiny trees. You can also grow Plumeria in pots at home by meeting all the necessary conditions for it to grow in a healthy way.
These conditions can help ensure that the plant is getting all the nutrients and elements that it needs to thrive well and eventually bear flowers.
It can be confusing to figure out the process, but you can go through the following steps involved to get a better idea about growing Plumeria in pots.
Soil Mix
Plumeria requires a soil mix that is well draining so that no excess water collects into the soil. This can otherwise reduce the amount of oxygen present in the soil, harming the healthy growth of the plant.
The soil mix should also be a bit acidic in content to promote good conditions for this plant to develop. You can simply buy a good potting mix or you can make some on your own using a combination of perlite and sand. Cactus mix can also work well for this.
It is important for the soil to be slightly dry and coarse while planting the seeds or cuttings.
Pot Size
The pot size you use will determine how big the Plumeria will grow. You can either use a plastic pot or a black one that you can buy from a local nursery. It is important for your pot to be slightly large (around a gallon) so that there is enough space for the roots to grow out.
This will make it convenient for them to absorb all the necessary nutrition from the soil and to grow to their fullest extent.
There can be some holes at the bottom as well to make the draining process more efficient.
You will also need to keep repotting the plant once it grows big enough so that it has more space to keep growing.
Seeds
One way of growing Plumeria in pots is by using seeds. Go through the following steps to figure out the process.
- Once you obtain the seeds, you should wrap them up in a damp paper towel for a day so that they can take in the moisture and become larger in size.
- Sow in the seeds inside the soil in the pot. You can then cover up the seeds with another layer of soil.
- Ensure that the larger part of the seed faces downward.
- Do not crowd the seeds inside the pot. A single seed should be enough for each pot.
- Once the seed grows a bit within a month, you might need to change it to a larger pot so that the roots can grow freely.
Cuttings
Another way of growing Plumeria in pots is by planting cuttings from an older plant. Go through the following steps to figure out the process.
- You will need to pluck the cuttings from a mature Plumeria plant. They should ideally be 12 inches long.
- Make sure the cuttings are dry enough before planting them in the soil. Pluck out any leaves on the cuttings.
- Allow one end of the cutting to swell up a bit before planting it.
- Insert the cutting inside the soil in the pot.
- Make sure you insert it deep enough (around 5 cm) in the soil.
- Cover the cutting with some more soil.
- Ensure that you only use a single cutting for each pot.
- You will not need to water it too much initially.
- Once the cutting grows into a small plant within a couple of months, you can move it to a larger pot if your initial pot was not big enough.
Light and Temperature
Ideally, you should start growing the Plumeria in spring or in the fall months as this is when the growing process usually takes place for these plants.
These plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight, preferably in the mornings. They should be kept in the shade during the afternoon hours to prevent rotting or burning.
Ideally, Plumeria should be kept and grown in warm temperatures throughout the year. This is particularly important during the winters, making it better to keep the plant safe while it lies dormant.
Water
Plumeria plants require regular watering. It is important to dampen them up sufficiently each time you water them. However, you should also allow the soil to dry up a bit before watering the plant again.
You can reduce the amount of watering once the fall season progresses. Make sure that you entirely stop watering these plants during the winters as this is usually when they become dormant.
Avoid overwatering these plants as this could lead to root rot and unhealthy growth. Ideally, once a week should be enough when it comes to watering these plants.
Fertilizer
Plumeria plants require you to add fertilizers to them once in a couple of weeks (or even longer). This is particularly important during spring so that the nutrients can aid their healthy growth.
Make sure you use a fertilizer that contains a high amount of phosphorous. You should also dilute the fertilizer a bit before adding it to the plant. Do not add this fertilizer during winter.
You should also avoid fertilizers that have too much nitrogen in them as this could prevent the plant from flowering to its fullest extent. There should only be a limited amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer to help the plant and leaves to grow well.
Final Remarks
You now know everything you need to know about growing Plumeria in pots. To sum up, it is possible to grow Plumeria in pots using either seeds or stem cuttings and planting them into well-draining soil.
Make sure you give them enough water and sunlight without overdoing it. It is also important to fertilize them occasionally to provide rich nutrients.
Since these plants become dormant in winters, you can leave them as they are until spring. You will also need to keep repotting the plant once it reaches a certain size.