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A lovely andhighly fragrant tropical shrub, plumeria,(Plumeriaspp.)
is easy to grow from cuttings and a rewarding project for growing an indoor/outdoor potted plant in temperate zones.
Branches are grayish brown with long, leathery, or fleshy green leaves.
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To propagate this small shrub at home, choose a large pot and stick to this.
Here’s how to get started with the best method for propagating plumeria.
Plumeria produces a sticky sap so gloves are recommended.
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Pruning Plumeria for Cuttings
Pruning plumeria results in more branching and flowering.
Always leave at least 12 inches above the soil surface when starting out.
Cutting a plumeria plant to the ground will cause it to fail and die.
Use three-gallon pots for larger cuttings and provide plenty of drainage holes.
Place it in the pot so the cut end sits about 2 inches from the bottom of the container.
Large cuttings may require some pop in of support to keep them stabilized.
Tip
Rooting plumeria cuttings in water is not recommended.
Even if you might get roots to grow, they are weak and usually won’t survive transplanting.
Water the cutting thoroughly and place the pot in a warm location that receives plenty of indirect light.
Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Oversaturation causes the cutting to rot.
Root development relies on warmth so providing bottom heat, particularly in cooler climates, can accelerate growth.
New leaves should begin to emerge in two to four months indicating a root ball has formed.
Move the plumeria into a partly sunny location and water every three days with several cups of water.
Always allow excess water to drain away.
Plumeria thrives in sun to part shade with mature plants requiring about six hours of direct sunlight daily.
You want a clean, fairly flat surface for callousing so you may need to trim the broken end.
Plumeria grows well in containers and in the ground as long as the plant has good drainage.
Black or green plastic nursery pots have good drainage which makes them ideal for propagating plumeria.
