Plumerias are popular tropical plants that grow gorgeous, and very fragrant flowers. You might know them better as a Hawaiian lei plant (plumeria are the type of flowers used to make leis), or maybe by their proper name, frangipani.
You can only find them growing outdoors in the warm tropics, but did you know that they can easily be grown in pots in cold climates too! With the proper care, a potted plumeria plant can thrive and bloom year after year.
When I think back to my trips to Hawaii, one thing that I remember the most was all of the gorgeous plumerias growing and blooming everywhere! It made the air smell amazing, and made me feel like I was in a flowery wonderland.
So of course, I just had to bring a plumeria plant home with me when I came back to Minnesota. My new baby Hawaiian plumeria plant was only about a foot tall when I got it, and it bloomed shortly after I brought it home.
The blooms were beautiful and smelled fantastic!
Since plumerias are so exotic, and only grow in tropical places, most of us only get to see them when we’re on vacation.
The thought of growing them in a place like Minnesota sounds like it would be really hard. But it’s actually pretty easy to grow plumeria in pots, and require very little care.
White plumeria flowers starting to open
Tips For Plumeria Plant Care
With the proper plumeria plant care, these wonderful tropical plants can live for many years in pots. My plumeria is more than 15 years old (!!), and for most of those 15 years I was clueless about how to grow it.
So trust me, they’re pretty easy to keep alive (even if you’re clueless about how to grow them!). But, now that I’ve had plenty of experience growing them, I get to make it much easier for you!
So follow these plumeria plant care tips to keep your plumeria growing and blooming year after year.
Here’s what you’ll find in this plumeria plant care guide:
- Plumeria Watering Requirements
- Plumeria Light Requirements
- Best Soil For Plumeria Plant
- Plumeria Fertilizer Schedule
- What Kind Of Fertilizer For Plumeria?
- Propagating Plumeria Plants
- Tips For Controlling Plumeria Pests
- How To Prune Plumeria Plants
- Plumeria Winter Care & Dormancy
- Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Where To Buy Plumeria Plants
Plumeria Watering Requirements
Plumerias like a lot of water during their active growing season (spring and summer), but won’t tolerate being overwatered. If a plumeria plant is consistently overwatered, the stem will rot and it will kill the plant.
It’s kind of a funny combination, give it a lot of water… but don’t overwater it? I know it sounds hard but don’t worry, it’s actually pretty easy.
During the summer months, give your plumeria a really good drink of water, and then allow the soil to dry out between waterings. If you tend to overwater plants, make sure to check the soil each time before you water your plumeria.
To check the soil, stick your finger about an inch into the soil and if it’s wet, don’t water it. You can use a soil moisture gauge to help maintain the right level of moisture.
You might also want to grow your plumeria in a terracotta pot, which will help the soil dry out faster.
Plumerias go dormant during the winter, so it’s best not to water them at all during those months.
Now that sounds easy, right?
Huge plumeria tree growing indoors
Plumeria Light Requirements
Plumerias will grow just fine in low light or shady conditions, but they need full sun in order to grow their best and also to bloom.
If you’re growing your plumeria outside, keep it in a full sun location. As part of my annual plumeria plant care routine, I put my potted plumeria outside during the summer in the full sun, and then bring it back indoors during the winter.
Be careful if you move it outside for the summer, because the plumeria leaves and stems can get sunburn when they’re not used to being in the sun. In order to avoid sunburn, put it in a shady spot for a few days, and gradually introduce it to a full sun location.
Best Soil For Plumeria Plant
Ensuring your plumeria is planted in quality potting soil will make plumeria plant care so much easier! Potted plumeria plants need to be planted in a fast draining soil, one that doesn’t hold much moisture.
You don’t necessarily need to buy a special plumeria potting mix, they will grow just fine in a general purpose potting soil (and that’s what mine is growing in).
But if you’re worried about overwatering, then I recommend mixing some perlite, pumice or coarse sand into your plumeria potting soil to help with drainage.
Otherwise, the best potting soil for plumeria plants is a fast draining succulent potting soil, or even a super coarse succulent soil if you’re really worried about overwatering.
Plumeria buds just starting to form
Plumeria Fertilizer Schedule
When I first brought my plumeria home from Hawaii all those years ago, it bloomed almost right away! I was very excited, and thought that getting my plumeria to bloom on a regular basis would be easy.
As it turns out, it is NOT easy when you have no clue what you’re doing.
It actually took me years to figure out why my plumeria wouldn’t bloom. Turns out, I was missing one key ingredient… fertilizer!
Plumerias are heavy feeders, and plumerias growing in pots will for sure need fertilizer to bloom. Most of the time a potted plumeria won’t bloom without it.
Now that I’ve learned this key plumeria plant care fact, it will be super easy to get my plumeria to bloom consistently every summer.
Yippie!!
The trick is to fertilize them every 1-3 weeks during their active growing season (spring through summer). It sounds like a lot, right!? But like I said, they are heavy feeders.
And just like with watering, you should plan your plumeria fertilizer schedule around the seasons.
So, fertilize them from spring through summer, stop in the fall, and don’t fertilize them at all during the winter when the plant is dormant.
That’s pretty straight forward!
Plumeria blossoms just about to open
What Kind Of Fertilizer For Plumeria?
As for what is the best plumeria fertilizer to use, you can buy organic plant fertilizer specifically made for plumerias and other tropical potted plants.
If you’d rather stick to using a more generic type of houseplant fertilizer, compost tea is always a great option. You can buy compost fertilizer in liquid form, or you can buy tea bags and brew your own.
Other great options for plumeria fertilizer are fish emulsion or liquid kelp (but only use these two on plants growing outside, they can get a bit stinky when used inside).
Plumerias also love it when you spray the liquid fertilizer solution on their leaves as part of your plumeria plant care routine, so don’t hold back! Just make sure to spray it on either in the morning or evening, because spraying plants in the hot sun could damage the leaves.
White and yellow plumeria flower right after opening
Propagating Plumeria Plants
Plumeria plants are pretty easy to propagate by stem cuttings. It’s actually very similar to propagating succulents if you know how to do that.
Here are the quick steps for propagating plumeria cuttings:
- After taking the plumeria branch cutting, remove the largest leaves from the cutting
- Allow the cut end to callus over for a few days before trying to root it, or it may rot
- Dip your plumeria cutting into rooting hormone, then stick it into a propagation soil made with perlite, soil and sand, or use a gritty succulent soil mix
- Mist the cutting regularly, or put it in a humid environment – but don’t water it
- Once you see new growth on your plumeria cutting, that’s a sign that it has grown roots
- Now you can water it, fertilize it, treat it like you would the parent plant
Get my full step-by-step instructions for how to propagate plumeria from cuttings.
If you don’t already have a plumeria plant that you can propagate, you can order plumeria cuttings online! In fact, I just bought a new red one myself.
Plumeria plant starting to flower
Tips For Controlling Plumeria Pests
I’ve never had any plumeria pest issues while my plant is outside during the summer. But, bringing the plant inside for the winter is a whole different story.
Over the years, I’ve only had problems with spider mites and whiteflies attacking my plumerias.
I used to battle the whiteflies, and get super frustrated by them until I learned that the best way to avoid plumeria pests is to allow the plant to go completely dormant during the winter.
When it goes completely dormant, it will drop all of it’s leaves. And guess what… no leaves, no bugs!
But, that’s no guarantee. So, if you still have issues with houseplant pests, I recommend using neem oil, which is a natural pesticide. It works like a charm, and I haven’t had a problem with whiteflies since using it.
If you don’t want to worry about mixing your own, you can buy a pre-mixed horticultural oil spray instead.
A soapy water spray is also very good for controlling spider mites on plumeria plants. I use a mixture of 1 tsp Dr. Bronner’s Baby-mild Liquid Soap per 1 liter of water, or you can buy an organic insecticidal soap if you prefer.
Be sure to spray both the tops and undersides of all of the leaves. Bugs (especially whiteflies) like to hide under the leaves. Learn how to get rid of houseplant bugs here.
Super healthy plumeria plant growing indoors
How To Prune Plumeria Plants
Plumeria plants will grow tall and leggy over time, so it’s best to prune them regularly to keep them looking their best (and to encourage tons of flowers!).
Pruning your potted plumeria helps to keep it small, and maintain a compact, fuller shape. Plumerias can handle a pretty severe pruning, but never cut them all the way down to the ground.
Also, keep in mind that heavy plumeria pruning will probably keep your plant from blooming for a while, so I don’t recommend it unless it’s totally necessary.
New growth after pruning plumeria
It’s best to prune plumeria plants in the spring, or right after they’re done blooming. Pruning plumeria encourages the plant to put on new growth, and you don’t want that in the fall or winter months.
Use sharp (and sterile) pruning shears to prune your plumeria, so you make sure to get a nice clean cut. You can wash your pruners with soap and water, or dip them into rubbing alcohol to sterilize them.
Also, plumerias are very sensitive to tip rot, so make sure to make your cuts at an angle where water can’t settle into the cut and cause the branch to rot.
Don’t forget to keep your plumeria cuttings and propagate them for new plants (see the section on propagation above)!
Plumeria Winter Care & Dormancy
If you live in a cold climate like I do, you can’t grow plumerias outside year round. Plumerias are tropical plants (one of the best tropical plants if you ask me!), and won’t tolerate the cold.
But, as I’ve already mentioned a few times, plumerias go dormant during the winter. This makes it super easy to overwinter plumeria indoors!
Once the temperatures start to cool in the fall, and there’s less sunlight, your plumeria will start to go dormant naturally. This is the time to stop fertilizing, and slow down on watering.
Overwintering dormant plumeria plant indoors
As your plumeria starts to go dormant, it will begin dropping it’s leaves. The leaves will turn yellow and then brown before finally dropping from the plant. This is totally normal, so don’t panic. Your plant might not drop all of it’s leaves though, and that’s ok too.
If you moved your plumeria outside during the summer, make sure to bring it back inside before the temperature gets below 40F.
Then you can simply store your plumeria in a room that doesn’t get much light through the winter. There’s no need to try growing plumeria indoors, or worrying about fussing with grow lights. It’s best to let your plant go dormant, and ignore it until spring.
Well, don’t completely ignore it.
You should keep an eye out for bugs, and also check it a few times during the winter to make sure there aren’t any signs of tip rot.
Read about bringing plumeria out of dormancy.
Gorgeous flower on my Hawaiian plumeria
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Potted plumeria plant care can be a bit tricky if you tend to overwater your plants, and plumerias don’t take kindly to being overwatered.
Other than rotting, the other main problem you’ll probably have to deal with are houseplant pests. (See the insect pest control section above for information about bug problems.)
- Tip rot (the stem is rotting from the top) – In my experience, tip rot is a pretty common problem with plumerias, especially during the winter. Tip rot can happen if water somehow gets into the top of a branch, or there was some kind of a wound. The tip of your plumeria will turn gray, brown or black and be mushy. It’s not always easy to spot, so I try to check my plumeria for signs of tip rot a few times during the winter. If left untreated, tip rot will spread, and could eventually kill the plant. You can save your plumeria by pruning off all of the rotted pieces of the stem.
- Stem rot (the stem is rotting from the bottom) – If the stem is mushy and rotting at the base, then you have a more serious problem. Plumeria stem rot is caused by overwatering. If left untreated, your plumeria will die for sure. If the rot isn’t too severe, you can save your plant by taking cuttings of the healthy stems or branches and rooting them (see the propagation section above for details).
- My plumeria won’t bloom – This is probably the #1 question I get asked about growing plumerias, and there is one simple answer… fertilizer! Plumerias need fertilizer in order to bloom, and lots of it. The good news is that it’s such an easy fix. And, once you get the hang of it, your plumeria will flower from spring through fall. Wow! That’s what we want, and it’s why we love them so much, right! See the plumeria fertilizer section above to learn more about how to make feeding a regular part of your plumeria plant care routine.
Growing plumeria in a pot outside for the summer
Where To Buy Plumeria Plants
If you live in a tropical place, you’ll probably be able to find large plumeria plants for sale at your local garden center. But, if you’re like me and live in a cold climate, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find cuttings or rooted plumeria plants for sale anywhere local.
Lucky for us, it’s pretty easy to find plumeria for sale online. Just be sure to purchase plumeria plants and cuttings from a reputable source to ensure they will be bug free and healthy when they arrive.
Plumerias are wonderful tropical plants that are easy to grow in pots! And that’s great news for those of us who live in a cold climate, so we can enjoy these amazing beauties too!
Once you know the tricks for plumeria plant care, you’ll be rewarded with yummy smelling flowers all summer long!
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Do you grow plumeria? Share your plumeria plant care tips in the comments section below.
p3chandan says
Hi Amy, plumeria (common name frangipani) needs full sun to bloom and regular fertilising thats what I found out with my own plant. Dont worry, it can be propagated using mature stems.So you can have many more seedlings!
CJ says
Not sure how old this post is as I can’t find a date! I brought a plumeria branch back with me from vacation. The branch I then cut in half. The one that had leaves on the end has six new leaves! The other end with the open wound hasn’t shown any growth. Does it now come out the sides is what I assume? I’m on the Central Coast of CA. Pismo Beach will it bloom here? Yea, I know no way of knowing! Thanks for any info.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I keep my posts updated all the time, so they are always fresh! 😉 Congrats on the new leaves on your plumeria cutting, how exciting! Yes, the other one will start to grow new leaves on the sides. Usually it will start to grow just below the cut, but it could start growing somewhere else along the stem as well. Plumerias usually bloom in the spring through summer in their natural environment.
Gloria Dowdy says
I am new with this plant growing. I bought a new house and the pumeria plant was left to me. I left it outside through Thanksgiving and I believe it was frost bitten. I brought it inside to try to save it. I knew nothing about dormant…I completely panicked. I pampered it, bought a plant light, and watered it carefully. The tip has turned a light green color and new leaves are beginning to sprout out. The stem of the plant is turning from the grayish color to a dark green color. Now reading your growing tips, I am afraid that I have caused a problem in bringing it out of dormancy. It is now New Years Eve. Please give me some advise. Thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I think it should be fine. Just be sure you don’t overwater your plumeria through the rest of the winter, and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t get bugs on the leaves as they grow. Spider mites and whiteflies are very common on plumerias, but easy to control. Good luck!
p3chandan says
Actually I fertize mine once a fortnight, whether its blooming or not..
Amy - Get Busy Gardening says
Wow, you fertilize your plumeria that often? I will have to try that next summer. I let my plumeria go dormant in the winter so I don't have to deal with the pests.
Diane Sheridan says
Thanks for the great advice this was the most I got on this plant I was given 7 from Hawaii from cousin and I am really shocked that one has bloomed I so excited it smells wonderful wish me luck for the winter
See u in spring
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! Good luck! I’m excited for you, and happy to hear that one of your plumeria plants has already bloomed. How fun!
Kathy says
I have no problem getting my plumeria to bloom. I have a ten footer now and have had to keep cutting it back so it doesn’t hit the ceiling. I got it on my honeymoon 32 years ago. Have many small ones as well from the cuttings. Once the plant gets about 3ft tall it can bloom if it gets at least 4 hrs of sun. The way I get them to bloom is when I put them out in the spring, I spray diluted fertilizer on the plumeria leaves. Some plants will respond quickly and throw up a bloom stalk in june. Others have bloomed in the middle of winter indoors.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, thanks so much for the tips! I usually let my plumeria go dormant during the winter because I have such a problem with whiteflies and spider mites. Maybe I’ll try keeping it going this winter to see if I can get it to bloom again.
Kitty says
I am having problems with white flies and spider mites on my plumeria. My potted plant is on my balcony. I have sprayed it 3 times with soapy water but the bugs still persist. Amy, how did you get rid of these pests?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Neem oil! It works great to get rid of both spider mites and whiteflies. 🙂
Kitty Martin says
Thank you!
April says
Thank you for the insight on neem oil. do you rub on the leaves, put in a spray bottle with a mixture of water? how do you ensure it gets everywhere?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, glad I could help! Here’s a post I wrote about neem oil, and how to use it. 🙂 How To Use Neem Oil Insecticide To Kill Bugs On Plants
Kathy says
You are probably better off letting it go dormant. I fight the white flies or spider mites every winter. My plumeria trees rarely stay in dormancy for the whole winter so it becomes an annual battle.
Linda Good says
put baking soda in your soil keeps all insects out of your plants
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’ve never heard of that before, or tried it myself. I might have to test it on a few of my plants this winter. Thanks for sharing your tip.
Kitty Martin says
I am a little leery to use baking soda in the soil until I hear from more people that it works. I am now using Neem oil on my plumeria. I previously used a recipe from another site which had vinegar, baking soda, oil and liquid soap, and it almost killed my plumeria. I had to cut it completely back and I’m hoping it will come back. From everything that I’ve read, it should, but I’m being very careful with it now.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t blame you at all Kitty! I would definitely test it out first (maybe on a plant that’s not as important to you) before applying it to all of my plants. That recipe you got from that other site sounds just like a recipe I use to KILL weeds in my garden! YIKES! I’m glad your plumeria recovered. Never spray vinegar or kitchen/cooking oil on plants, and be very careful with the type of soaps you use too. Some contain detergents and degreasing agents that can harm sensitive plants.
KATHY says
Beware of using tobacco tea to get rid of pests. I was told this would work, but it caused leaf deformities for an entire growing season. Thought I killed it. Thankfully it recovered but would not do that again.
Nicole says
That is really cool how plumeria plants can be propagated like succulents. The flowers smell so good!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I love that it’s easy to propagate my plumeria! Here’s a post I wrote with step-by-step instructions… How To Propagate Plumeria From Cuttings
Beth says
My single stem Plumeria has an inch long stem (not a branch) in the middle of the three branches at the top of the plant. I have never seen this before. All of my books and research don’t describe this particular growth. Do you by chance know what it is? I am guessing a possible seed pod as it definitely is not a branch, leaf, or flowering bud.
Thanks for any help
Beth
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sounds weird. The way your describing it, I would have guessed it was a flower spike starting to grow. It’s hard to know without seeing a photo. You can share a photo to my Facebook page if you want, and I can see if I can ID it. Plumerias can grow seeds, so it very well could be a seed pod. Fun!
Velvet says
Mine did this after it branched off. It was actually where it’s very first bloom spike was.
Vicky Cintron says
Thank you so much for the great advice! I have two awesome 8ft pink and red Plumerias, which have only bloomed once in the past 3 years, even though I live in tropical Puerto Rico. I now hope I can get them to bloom by fertilizing often. I have never trimmed them, because I didn’t know they were easy to propagate. I am looking forward to having newbies! Thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, so glad you found the post useful! Here’s a post I wrote with detailed propagation instructions… How To Propagate Plumeria From Cuttings
Rhony says
WOW. My cutting was “forgotten “on my workshop table and crusted over, dry ,and sad. I suppose about 8 or 9 days..Silly me planted it anyway, grew like “the best” . I will “crust” over all cuttings from now on 🤗.!!Had to share.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, congrats on having such great success propagating your plumeria!! Allow the cuttings to callus over is definitely a key point for success. 🙂
Cynthia Phillips says
I have had several plumeria branches break off during a storm, they have blooms on them. How do I transplant them?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Plumeria cuttings are pretty easy to propagate. Remove the blooms and leaves, and allow the wounds to callus over for a few days before you try it. Here’s a post I wrote with step-by-step instructions… How To Propagate Plumeria From Cuttings
Susan Horn says
I’m having an issue with my plumeria after a recent storm knocked the pot over. The bottom or root of the plant is brown and flakey, always has been, but more so now. The stem is still firm and the plant looks healthy, but I’ve noticed a bit of droopiness and want to save it.
What should I do? I’ll see if I can send photos…
Amy Andrychowicz says
It might just be drooping because it’s unhappy (and in a bit of shock) after being disturbed. I would give it a few days, and keep checking the stem to make sure there’s no sign of rot. It should pop back after a few days.
Deborah Stanger says
I’m still a bit confused about pruning. Where on the plant should I cut? Can these cuttings be used to propigate?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s ideal to cut back a plumeria branch to the stem it’s growing from. But, plumerias aren’t fussy, and they will get new growth just below any cut you make. Just be sure to make the cut at a downward angle so water can’t settle into the wound (plumerias are very susceptible to tip rot). That’s the most important part about pruning them. And yes, you can propagate the cuttings. Ideally the cutting would be at least 8″ long for propagation, but you should be able to propagate shorter cuttings too. Here’s how… How To Propagate Plumeria From Cuttings
Kitty Martin says
Do you put the cutting in water to root or directly into plumeria potting soil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Allow the plumeria cutting to dry out (cure) for a few days so it scabs over. Then dip the cutting in rooting hormone and put it into the potting soil. Keep the humidity high around the cutting, but the soil on the dry side. Once you start to see new growth on the cutting, that’s a sign it has roots. Here are step-by-step instructions for propagating plumeria cuttings.
Cora says
While reading about plumerias, two articles mentioned “bloom pods that will keep producing flowers after flowers fall off.” I have googled bloom pod images and can only find images and info on seed pods. What is a bloom pod?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’m not sure what they’re referring to either, I’ve never heard that term before. Maybe they just meant the grouping of buds before they open? Each plumeria flower spike will have several flowers on it, and they usually open at different times.
Velvet says
I think they are talking about the spikes too
Irene ourng says
Hi my name is Irene. I have learned a lot from you. But I have a question. My plumeria’ s stem were dry and the leaves start to turn yellows. I do not know what to do. The soil is dry. Should I water more or cut down watering the plants. Please help me. Thank you so much.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hi Irene! I’m so happy to hear you’ve learned so much from me, that’s fantastic! 🙂 As for your plumeria… if the stem is dry, and the soil is dry then it sounds like you need to water it more often. Plumeria plants like to be watered more often during the summer, and then kept on the dry side through the winter when they go dormant.
Micah Cheng says
I am new to plumeria. I currently have 6 mixed cuttings in the rooting process with signs of new growth. My question is regarding pruning in the future. If I prune my plumeria in spring will the new growth bloom that same summer, or it doesn’t bloom on new growth?. For I just got my cuttings in June from Disney springs Florida and I live in Lexington Kentucky which gets cold in the winter. So I will need to bring them in for the winter. Thanks in advance for your answer.
Have a great day.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Congratulations on successfully propagating your plumeria cuttings, that’s so exciting!! The best time to prune your plumeria plant is after it’s done blooming. If you prune it in the spring before it blooms, you will be cutting off all the future flowers, and it probably won’t bloom again until the following year. Good luck, and enjoy your new plumerias!
Nikki says
I have several plumerias and one of them in particular has these deep splits in the trunk and I can’t figure out why. None of my others have this issue, I originally thought maybe I wasn’t watering enough but my others are fine. Any ideas? I have pictures if needed.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Splits and cracks in the trunk is a pretty common problem for plumerias, and some varieties are more prone to it than others. It can be caused by extreme temperatures (extreme heat or freezing temps) or by inconsistent watering.
eiwin says
Will the splits kill the tree.
Amy Andrychowicz says
A split in the trunk of a plumeria plant is an open wound, which can lead to fungus or pest problems. Splits and cracks can also be spots for water to pool, which can cause the trunk or stems to rot. So, yes, they could end up killing the plant… but the splits themselves don’t hurt the tree.
Velvet says
I use a Pruning sealer, works great for wounds.
Charlie Walch says
Amy, I have a plumeria in a pot outside the roots have come out the bottom of the pot and has rooted in the ground. I want to put it a bigger pot. Will I kill the plant if I pull the roots out of the ground? I have not had blooms on it in two years. I live in north Florida and the soil is about 60 % sand. My soil in the pot gets hard from time to time but I do water it every three days. Any suggestions?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It depends on how deep the roots have grown into the ground. If they are really shallow, then I would just pull them out. But if they have grown pretty deep, and the pot isn’t easy to pull up, then I would cut the roots off at the bottom of the pot. It definitely sounds like you need to repot your plumeria into a large pot to give it more room to grow.
Tracie says
My plumeria leaves appear droopy. Stem is solid, soil seems moist and the green color is nice. Am I not watering enough?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Normally I would say that your plumeria was being under watered, but you mention that the soil is moist so that’s confusing. Did you just water your plumeria after a period of drought? If so, then it will pop back in a day or two. Otherwise, if the soil is moist, then don’t water it until it has dried out again. If the leaves are still drooping after a few days, then check the stem again to make sure it’s not becoming soft. Check the full length of the stem, because plumeria plants can start to rot anywhere on the stem if water gets into a wound.
Velvet says
Hello, I have a peppermint plumeria. I successfully have grown 38 plants from seedlings that I harvested from my own seed pods. Wow! I feel very accomplished. Summer is coming close to end and all my babies have between 5-10 true leaves. I live in Zone 8. My question is, should I allow all the babies to go dormant and If not then how would you suggest I keep them from it? I am very seasoned with caring for my mother tree but not all of the babies appear to be the same breed. Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Woohoo, congrats on being so successful with growing your plumeria from seed! That’s awesome! It would definitely be easier to allow the babies to go dormant naturally. Treat them just like you would the mother plant, but I would give them a tiny bit more water than you would the mother.
Elaine Spikes says
I purchased a plumeria branch in Hawaii. I live in Roseville, CA which can get very hot. Today it may reach 110. Anyhow, I live in an apartment and keep my starter plant on the balcony out of the direct sun. It gets plenty of direct sunlight. I am really concerned about the heat so I brought the plant inside until later when the temperature drops. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I leave the plant outside or what? It is just starting to grow. I have noticed that the top is growing and the lower branch has gotten narrower. Is that normal?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Plumerias are hardy in zones 10-11, so they like the heat. I’ve seen them growing in southern CA right in the ground (which makes me super jealous!). As long as your plant is used to being outside, then it should be just fine in the heat. If you start to notice any signs of scorching, then you could move it to a spot that gets partial shade rather than full sun. As for the lower branch getting smaller… check to make sure that branch is not mushy and rotting. If it is, then prune it off until you see healthy new growth. Tip rot is super common with plumerias.
Ran says
Hello Amy, and thanks for the tips as always.
I need help please with my Plumeria!!
I’ve bought it about 3 weeks ago, put it in my office, and I think it’s doing mostly fine since then.
Well honestly the conditions in my office is not very plants-friendly, no sun at all, artificial light only, and it can get very humid sometimes, and I’m desperately trying to find a plant that can live there. Plumeria is new to my experience, and I’ve read it can tolerate low light, what happened is: we had 4 days holiday, I was afraid it will get thirsty during this time, so I put more water, when I got back today I found it mostly doing fine, except for one leaf that has dark areas around its edges, so my status now is: freaked out!.. did I overwatered it? knowing that I tested the soil and it was completely dry!.. does it need sun now? should I bring it back home where I have a good sunny window? (dump question probably)… hope it’s not a kind of rot!
Thank you very much!
Just a further info: the climate where I live in general is very hot and dry in summer, and freezing in winter but with good humidity, I don’t have a garden so it will be kept inside over the year.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It might be starting to go into dormancy. Like other types of trees, plumerias go dormant and drop their leaves during the winter in their natural environment. I find it easier to grow my plumeria indoors by allowing it to go dormant in the fall, and then putting it outside during the summer. Plumerias do need a lot of light, so if the artificial lights in your office aren’t enough, then you might want to consider brining it back home and keeping it in a sunnier spot, or getting a grow light. Here’s a list of great low light indoor plants that could thrive without windows in your office space… 20 Low Light Indoor Plants That Are Easy To Grow
lisa williams says
My plumeria is finall budding after having it for a few years! THe problem I am having is that the flowers barely open then fall off 🙁
Amy Andrychowicz says
Bummer! Can you give me more details about your plumeria plant? Have you moved the plant recently? Did the temperature get cooler? Is it outside or indoors? How much light is it getting? Are you fertilizing it?
MARIA J FOSS says
Hi my name is Maria and I am new to Plumeria crop. I currently have seven plants. I have read a lot learned from you and the comments, but I have been surprised no get any information about the plague that is widespread in all Plumerias. I live in Florida and it is a commom plant in the city where i live Sarasota, and on most plants i see the leaves are yellow, they have a yellow power that completely covers them completely underneath them, I have two in this condition, what I do is remove the leaves, but they appears again and refill of that dust. The plants does not stop growing but it does not bloom. For that conditionI decided to look for information on the internet and i got your page I would be grateful if you could advise my.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It sounds like plumeria rust to me, but it’s always a good idea to bring an infected leaf to your local garden center to have them ID it for you. The best way to prevent the spread of plumeria rust is to remove the infected leaves and destroy them (burn or throw them into the garbage, don’t compost them). Be sure to clean up all fallen leaves and get rid of those too. Then make sure your plumeria gets enough airflow, and isn’t being crowded by other plants. Moisture on the leaves is the most common way to spread fungal diseases on plants like plumeria.
Amanda says
My plumeria is dropping it’s leaves. I read that they do go dormant and the leaves turn yellow and drop, however my leaves are still green and beautiful, however they are falling off that way too! I do not like to see these big beautiful green leaves on the ground, what does this mean?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, usually when plumeria leaves fall off for dormancy, they turn yellow and/or brown first. I would check the entire stem and all the branches of your plant to make sure it’s not mushy at all. If that looks good, then check under the leaves and at the leave joints for signs of bugs. Otherwise, did your plumeria plant get moved or exposed to extreme temperatures recently?
Gay Doyle says
Hi, Amy, I have a double trunk plumeria that is 6 feet tall. It has never bloomed despite over 8 hours of sun spring-summer and regular fertilizing. I got it as a small cutting 4 years ago. It has been in the same large pot for 3 years. Should I repot and change potting soil? Do they get rootbound and is this good or bad for blooming. We bring it in every winter to go dormant and put outside each spring. I use osmocote super bloom. Thanks for any help.
Gay
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, if your plumeria is pot-bound, then I would recommend moving it up to a larger pot. Plumeria plants don’t bloom well when they are pot-bound. Also, it would be better to fertilize it using a liquid fertilizer, rather than a granular one, and they should be fed weekly during the summer months.
Gay Doyle says
Thanks, I think I will wait until spring and then do as you suggested.
Carol says
My plumeria plants are a mess. They branched out with very little leaves. In fact the branches has branched more branches in different direction. I live in North Carolina and bring my plants are n for the winter. Would it be possible for me to “REALLY ” cut it back and start over now?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can prune your plumeria, and remove some of the longer branches if you want to keep it more compact if that’s what you’re trying to do. Just be sure to make the cuts at a downward angle so water can’t get into them and cause rot. Also, keep an eye on your plumeria after you prune it to make sure the wounds callus over, and check for rot. Tip rot is really common with plumeria, and newly pruned plants are the most at risk.
Bob Leman says
Amy, we have a small plumeria plant that started as a cutting this spring. it’s in a small pot and as we are in KS we brought it inside and now it is probably going dormant. it may be root bound, should we repot it or leave it til spring. If you recommend repotting, how big of pot and is peat moss ok to add to potting mix.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would definitely wait until spring to repot your plumeria. Let it go dormant this winter, then repot it when it starts to wake up in the spring. You can use a general purpose potting soil, but plumerias don’t like sitting in moist soil. So, if you have trouble with overwatering, I would recommend using a mix with better drainage (like a succulent soil mix). As for the pot size, I recommend going only one pot size up from the one it’s growing in. So, for example, if your plumeria is currently growing in a 4″ pot, then I would repot it into a 6″ pot.
Bob Leman says
Amy, Thank you for your response, my wife cares for the plant, she says it is still growing(new leaves). We have it indoors and we keep our home in the upper 70’s due to health issues. what would suggest. Thank you again Bob
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Patrick Rajman says
I have purchased a couple plumerias that have single stem and I would like to start splitting it to branch off, the plumeria have been growing for a few months now and are about 2 ft tall now. Is it okay to just cut them at the top at this point? I do have them in pots outdoors in Phoenix az. I also noticed the leaves are getting burnt often, I keep them under the patio and get western sun exposure a fee hours a day. I am now watering them every few days and curious if they need more often water, soil seems not dry. I did use the cacti soil for the points for draining and fertilized them using dr.earth plumeria blend.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your plumeria plants are established in their pots (rather than being brand new cuttings), then yes, you can prune them to encourage branching. Just be sure to make your cuts at a downward angle so that water cannot settle on the top of the wound.
I have a feeling the leaves on your plumeria are burning because they are being exposed to the hot afternoon sun. Since the sun is so intense in AZ, I would definitely recommend keeping them in a place that gets filtered sunlight. A spot that gets early morning and/or evening sunlight, where your plumeria will be protected from the intense afternoon sun is ideal.
As for watering, definitely let the soil dry out a bit more between waterings. You don’t want it to stay moist all the time or the stems could start to rot.
Cathy Patterson says
My plumeria has two very long, heavy “spikes” coming off of a branch. Could there be seeds in these pods? They are different than the flower blooms and leaves.
Amy Andrychowicz says
How fun! Yes, plumeria plants can grow seeds, and you can collect those seeds and plant them too. 🙂 Allow the seeds pods to dry on the plant before collecting them. Plumeria plant seeds don’t store very well, so plant them as soon as you can after collecting them. Good luck!
Danielle says
I have a plumeria, in East Texas, on the leaves there is a white powdery substance in the middle of the leaf. this was a cutting off of a tree that has bloomed before, the flowers were pink and white. i guess that I had not fertilized it enough, since it has not bloomed. But my question is what is the white powder, and how do I get rid of it. it is November here. and I have brought it in the house if the temp is going to me below 60*
it is funny in Hawaii they grow like wildfire, with very little care.
Thank you very much
Danielle
Amy Andrychowicz says
That white powder might be mealybugs, here’s how to get rid of them… How To Kill Mealybugs On Houseplants
Danielle Harris says
Thank you for the answer for the white powdery on my plumeria plant.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Pat Losack says
Hi, I brought back two cuttings from Hawaii in April. I planted them a enjoyed their beauty all summer. Both bloomed from the end of June until a couple weeks ago. They are outside here in Holly Springs, GA. I have noticed that the leaves are starting to turn a little yellow and have brown spots on them. I will be bringing them in this evening because of the temp.
What could be causing the spots and yellowish color? Pictures available if needed
Please and thanks,
Pat
Amy Andrychowicz says
The plant is probably going dormant, which is totally normal. During the winter, plumeria plants go dormant and usually drop all of their leaves (although they don’t always drop the leaves). Read the section in this article titled “Plumeria Winter Care & Dormancy” for more details.
Doreen Mohler says
Hi Amy. You have a lot of awesome plumeria information. Thank you! I️ have 2 beautiful plumeria that my Daughter-in-law gave me from cuttings of her mother’s plants in Southern California. I️ live in Northern California and need to bring my plants inside during the winter. My problem is that they are getting so big that it’s hard to move them and find space for them in my home. My question is, when is the best time of the year to propagate them? I’ve been wanting to propagate them but am a little scared. Any insite you can give me would be greatly appreciated. My plants are about 4 years old.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the details about plumeria plant care. The best time to take cuttings for propagating plumerias is the spring. You can find detailed plumeria propagation instructions here.
Nic says
Hi Amy! I’ve enjoyed reading your tips and all the questions and answers. I have several (7) 3-year old plumeria cuttings growing in one 12 inch pot. Due to moving around the past few years, I never got around to separating the cuttings and potting them in their own pots. They are about 3 ft tall and have done well, but I’m positive they are VERY root-bound. I would love to repot them, but I’m afraid they won’t like having the roots messed with. Do you have any suggestions on how to proceed?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I would definitely recommend repotting them. The best time to repot plumerias is in the spring, just before they start to break dormancy. If you want to separate the plants into their own containers, then you can gently tease the roots apart after you pull the entire rootball out of the pot. Just be careful that you don’t use too large of a pot for them, to prevent overwatering. If you pot up each of the baby plumerias into separate pots, I would use a pot that is slightly larger than their rootball. Once they’re established in their new pot, then you can pot them into a bigger one next spring if necessary.
Nic says
Great advice, thanks so much! I need to get moving on this as they are starting to show signs of life at the tips. I just really hope I can separate them without killing them as they have been doing so well, considering it was my very first try at rooting cuttings. I haven’t had any flowers yet, but after reading your tips, I will be fertilizing much more than I was. How long after repotting, and the stress of that on the plant, would you recommend starting to fertilize them? Thank you again for your help!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would wait until new growth starts to grow on the plumeria plants before you start fertilizing them after repotting them.
Lois says
Appreciate your information. I live in Austin, TX and have mine in pots, is it possible to keep it small and still flower without getting too tall? I have had blooms through the winter and new flowers are still coming in 1 gallon pots. I want to keep them as house plants since its too windy and hot and enjoy the smells indoors :-).
Thanks,
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can prune plumerias to keep them small. The best time for pruning plumerias is late winter or early spring, or right after they’re done blooming. Read the “How To Prune Plumeria Plants” section above for more information.
Sandra Merwin says
I have an issue with 3 of my plumeria rootings from last April. The finger has rot and a couple have fallen off. I also have stem rot in one of the plants. I just put fungicide on them. Do I cut the rot off the fingers? What do I do with the stem rot that is very soft and mushy? Thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sorry to hear your plumeria has stem and tip rot. Yes, you definitely need to cut off all of the rot. Fungicide won’t do anything, and the rot will continue to spread if any is left on the plant. Here’s a post that I wrote about saving a cactus from tip rot, but the same tips apply to saving a plumeria from tip rot. As for the stem rot… it depends on where it is on the stem. If it’s high up and just under the branches, then you may need to cut the entire top off to get all the rot. If the stem rot is at the bottom of the stem, then your only option will be to cut the stem above the rot, and propagate the plumeria cutting. Good luck!
Ashley says
My Plumeria has what I now think is tip rot, as all 3 tips on one of my plants are raisin looking and squishy. New leaves have started growing about 3″ below the squishy parts and look really healthy. Should I cut the squishy parts off?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you definitely want to cut all of the tip rot off of your plumeria right away. If not removed, the rot can spread and end up killing the entire plant. Here’s a post I wrote about how to save a cactus from tip rot, but you can follow those same steps to save your plumeria. I recommend making downward cuts on your plumeria though, rather than cuts that face upward. Upward facing cuts are spots where water can pool, and cause more tip rot in the future. Good luck!
Ken says
Hi Amy, I have 2 plumeria that I started from cuttings given to me last summer, I stuck them in pots outdoors useing some sandy soil from my yard just to get them going. One plant didn’t do anything all summer the other got about 6 leaves. I live in MI so in late Sept. I brought them inside, repotted them with a soil mix for succulents, gave them a grow light, and started watering 1X a week and fertilizing every other week. The one that had leaves took off, developed 20+ leaves and gained at least 12 inches since then, It is now the end of April and it has been loosing leaves rather rapidly (6 to 8) in the last few weeks. first they droop, turn yellowish, and fall off dry and kinda shrivled. Could it be that it is confused and trying to go domant now? how do I know, the indoor temperature has been fairly consistent and it is still developing new leaves. The leaves are clean, I see no signs of bugs. What about lack of light? the upper leaves block light from back side and lower leaves. Or could it be rootbound already? the pot is 9″ wide w/ 7″of soil deep. Thanks for your help! The other plant eventually began to grow and is doing well.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I am a little worried about the fact that you said you’re watering them once a week. Overwatering plumerias can cause root and stem rot, which would definitely cause them to drop their leaves. I would check the entire length of the stem to make sure none of it is mushy or rotting.
Juanita Gibbs says
I have a plumria ith 2stems one has leaves the other 3 1inch leaves sinch feb. not growing what could be the reason
Som one said i should cut it. I also found wounds on stem where my husbnd scrape in pulling them out the garage it looks bad i put cinnimon on them should i cut it please reply.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would check the stems to make sure they aren’t rotting. If all the stems are firm and healthy, then your plumeria is probably just slow to come out of dormancy. You could repot it into fresh potting soil to see if that triggers new growth. Or you could try giving it a weak dose of liquid fertilizer to see if that helps.
Alex says
I have a afrique plumeria and the flower bud that sticks from the top of the plumeria and is connected to the stem is turning brown. I gave it a little push and it came off. But it’s still June and idk what to do after it falls off.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You don’t need to do anything special to your plumeria after the bloom spikes fall off.
Joan Jones-Borgman says
Hi Amy. My question is how often do I need to transplant my plumeria trees? I bought one at the botanical garden somewhere in Florida AND my BFF broke me a tri-branch off her tree just for fun they are now 3 years old and getting rather large. I love them big but when do I move them into their permanent pots? I started them in 1.5 gallon nursery pots how big should I go? I loved your information!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You don’t need to repot plumerias very often, they will grow fine in the same pot for years. However, if it doesn’t bloom or is completely pot-bound, then I would repot it into a larger container. It’s usually best to go up one pot size at a time when repotting plants, rather than using a huge pot. The best time to repot plumerias is in the spring. But, if you don’t want to wait that long, then you can repot yours during the summer. Just don’t repot it in the fall before dormancy.
Joan Jones Borgman says
I am so happy with the performance of my plumeria. My only concern/complaint is that the blooms did not have much fragrance. Is there something I can do now through next spring to enhance the fragrance next bloom season?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great to hear that your plumeria is performing so well for you! I don’t think there’s anything you can do to make the plumeria flowers more fragrant. It’s probably just the variety of plant that you have, some are more fragrant than others.
Mitch W Roberts says
Amy I was given one while we were in Florida and we live in Tennessee. So I wasn’t sure how to take care of it till I started to research the Internet an came across your web site. My passion is Angel Trumpets and after I read info on how to take care of my new to me plant I don’t think I’ll have any problems with taking care of it. Thank You for info.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! I hope your brand new plumeria plant will thrive and bloom for you for many years to come. 🙂
Darlene says
I’m real new to this. I just got my plant from the nursery and started reading up on how to care for it. It’s a mini white and it’s in May and I live inTampa Fl. I plan to keep it outside. Should I report it now and get it out of the black nursery pot due to the heat here? It looks like it’s in a 2 qt container. Should I go bigger? It has 3 stems . No blooms yet. What do I do about rain since it will be in a pot? If we get a lot should I take it in?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the plumeria plant is well established in the nursery pot, or it’s root-bound, then yes, I would repot it into a larger container. Just make sure that the container you choose has drainage holes in the bottom. Also, if you’re concerned about your plumeria getting too much water when it rains, then be sure to use a fast draining soil when you repot it. See the section above titled “Best Soil For Plumeria Plant” for my soil recommendations.