Plumeria is a popular house plant that is grown in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The flowering plant is endemic to Mexico and Central America. Most people also know it as Lei Flowers and Frangipani but “Plumeria” still remains the most common name for the plant around the world.
They are highly fragrant plants with colorful leaves that add décor to your home. The leaves bloom freely from spring throughout fall in multiple colors like white, yellow, pink, and red. This is the reason why many people choose to keep them in their house or garden.
How to Grow Plumeria Plants?
Plumeria plants are mostly grown in warm weather but you don’t have to be in the tropics to grow one. You just need to be careful about the temperature, water, and nutrient requirements for the Plumeria plant when you decide to grow them in your garden.
Frangipanis require minimal care. While they don’t like wet soil, they need to be grown in well-draining potting soil that is slightly acidic. They also need at least six hours of sun exposure or direct sun. You can start with watering it deeply when planting it for the first time and then allow drying out some before watering again.
Being endemic to warm regions, they can fairly tolerate wind, dust, and salt. However, you must keep them away from cold weather. If you’re deciding to grow them in a colder region, you should consider covering them with a container. To easily protect it from chilly winter, you can sink the container in the ground and carry them indoors. Once spring weather arrives, you can bring them back in the open.
You can reduce watering it in mid-autumn and stop completely once the plants enter dormancy in winter. You can resume regular watering as new growth appears in spring.
How to take care of Plumeria Plants?
You should be careful when planting Frangipanis in your garden because they require either tropical or subtropical weather conditions to thrive. If you live in a colder region, it’s better to cover it with a container and keep them indoors until it’s warm outside.
Water Requirement
They can fairly withstand extended periods of being dry. Small pots will require daily watering while large pots or grounded plants may not require regular watering. In doubt, do understand that drier is better than wetter. If your garden is prone to winter chills, avoid watering them altogether throughout this time.
Fertilizer
Plumerias are a fast-growing tropical plant that produces masses of fragrant blooms between March and October. Because it’s a tree, it can reach heights of about 30 feet at maturity. You can avoid this by using the right proportion of nutrients.
The macronutrient requirement of a Plumeria plant is different from other plants. The best fertilizer with organic matter to use for Plumeria is one that is high in phosphorous. Avoid fertilizers with a higher amount of Nitrogen in them. High Nitrogen fertilizers will likely cause tall lanky growth and fewer flowers which may not suit the decoration. You can assess the amount of nitrogen in your fertilizer by checking the fertilizer number. The first number denotes the amount of Nitrogen in a fertilizer.
Choose fertilize with fertilizer numbers such as 10-30-10 or 10-50-10. When choosing a fertilizer, a granular “slow-release” fertilizer is preferable to liquid. They also need to be fertilized about every two to three weeks throughout their active growing season.
Timing
You should fertilize the Plumeria plants every three months beginning in April and ending in August. Foliar feeding helps with bloom production and may be used every 2-3 weeks from spring through September. Stop fertilizing your plants about 45 days before your dormancy period starts, i.e. during winter
Depending on the requirement of flower or foliage growth, you can feed your Plumerias with a balanced fertilizer with micronutrients. The consistent feeding program with an even-number fertilizer will produce vigorous plants with large showy clusters of flowers. However, be careful about feeding too much Nitrogen to the plant.
Quantity
When applying the fertilizer, use 1 lb. of fertilizer for every inch of trunk diameter. Sprinkle the fertilizer at the drip line and 2 feet beyond.
Pests & Diseases
Plumerias aren’t prone to many insects or diseases. Spider Mites, White Flies, and Mealy Bugs may attack plants left too dry. You can use a homemade solution of liquid dishwashing soap to spray onto the plant to keep the pests away.
How to choose the best Plumeria Fertilizers?
It’s best to keep the Nitrogen and Potassium proportion low while the phosphorus level can be slightly higher to help with flower growth. You can find different types of fertilizers in the market suitable for flowering plants like Plumeria. Don’t forget to check the fertilizer label and applications before buying one.
Here is the list of the seven most popular Plumeria Fertilizers.
1. Miracle-Gro 1-Pound 1360011, Water Soluble Bloom Booster Flower Food, 10-52-10
- Suitable for all flowering plants such as Plumeria and Azalia.
- Instantly feeds for beautiful results
- Feed every 2 weeks
2. GreenLight “Super Bloom” 12-55-6
- It has the high Phosphate nutrient required for amazing Plumeria flowers and buds
- Other active ingredients include nitrogen, potash, and iron. It contains chelated iron for quicker plant growth and rich color in leaves.
3. Scotts Super Bloom Water Soluble Plant Food, 2 lb – NPK 12-55-6
- It contains high phosphorus to help Plumeria bloom.
- Feed every 1-2 weeks for best results
- Water-soluble plant food feeds plants instantly.
4. Carl Pool BR-61 Fertilizer, NPK 9-58-8
- Carl Pool’s advanced formula BR-61 is a special blend of fertilizer with micronutrients and minerals.
- It ensures healthy growth, maximum flower buds, and colorful blossoms.
5. Dr. Earth 707P Organic 8 Bud & Bloom Fertilizer, NPK 4-10-7
- It feeds all bulbs, tubers, corms, and rhizomes.
- It’s made with 100% organic matter and natural ingredients (Superior blend of fish bone meal, alfalfa meal, feather meal, soft rock phosphate, and mined potassium sulfate
- Contains no GMOs, chicken manure, or sewage sludge)
- It ensures more naturally available phosphorus; stable consistent plant growth
- Eight select strains of Ecto and Endo mycorrhizae contribute to drought tolerance, enhanced nutrient availability, and increased plant performance.
6. Espoma TP6 Triple Phosphate Fertilizer, NPK 0-45-0
- Triple Phosphate Fertilizer has an enriched source of phosphorus.
- It helps for root growth, fruit, and flower formation
- Granular fertilizer for easy application
- Do not place fertilizer directly on seeds or plants. Keep at least 3 inches away.
7. Grow More Hawaiian Bud & Bloom Water Soluble Fertilizer, NPK 5-50-17
- The Grow More 5-50-17 Hawaiian Bud & Bloom Fertilizer is a soluble formula that is designed to be incorporated into the root zone by the soil-drenched method.
- It can also be done by a foliar application.
- It’s a special formula that can be used for all flowering tropical such as Plumeria and Azalia.
