The 4 Seasons and Our Plumerias

SPRING

From January to early April, we can still lean back calmly. There is hardly anything to do. Our Plumerias are still in winter dormancy, and apart from a weekly check for rot or any possibly visible diseases, we have no tasks.

At the end of April, our plants will slowly awaken from winter dormancy, which can be well recognized by the fresh green shoots. Now one can slowly start with light watering and, if they are not already by the window, place the plants in a bright spot in the room. It is still too cold for the balcony / terrace. They can only go outside when there are stable night temperatures of 8°C – 10°C.

We will give them fertilizer only when the first two leaves are well developed.

If you want to use a long-term fertilizer, you should repot the plant at the end of April and mix the long-term fertilizer with the soil. One can start repotting when the plant has become too big for the pot from mid-April.

SUMMER

The main growing season for our plants. We should always ensure that we provide them with as much sun and warmth as possible. A Plumeria likes 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day to feel truly comfortable.

Water your Plumeria every day, and if it is outdoors, it may also be necessary to water it twice a day on very hot summer days.

Be sure to fertilize your Plumeria once a week with a special fertilizer for Plumerias, as nutrients are quickly used up or leached out in pot culture.

From July onwards, you can also cut new cuttings from your plants and root them. The new cuttings then have enough time to form sufficient roots before the coming winter dormancy so that they can survive winter well.

If your plants are not outside, you should mist them at least twice a day with a sprayer, as such pests as thrips and spider mites can develop quickly in dry indoor air. Outside, these pests are rare because there are enough predators in nature to take care of such pests.

AUTUMN

Autumn begins in September and our plants prepare for winter dormancy. We can assist here. Now we should stop using a flower booster To use fertilizer. Now it is time for the Plumeria Special Fertilizer to strengthen the roots of our Plumerias and to enlarge the water reserves for winter.

Starting in early October, we should begin to water less, and by the end of October, we should completely stop watering and fertilizing.

Plumerias that are outdoors should be brought into warmth, either into the house or a conservatory, as soon as nighttime temperatures drop below 5°C. Plants outdoors should be watered even more cautiously than those in the living room or conservatory. When bringing the plants indoors, we can completely remove the leaves when the soil is completely dry, thus sending the plant directly into its winter dormancy. If the soil is still moist, we must wait another 1 to 2 weeks until it is completely dry before removing the leaves and enforcing dormancy.

Please consider that the plant does not HAVE to be in the dark but can be, because photosynthesis stops during the winter dormancy.

WINTER

Our plants are now in winter dormancy.

Please check the plants once a week. If you notice black discoloration at the tips of the shoots, it may be rot, or in the worst case, a fungus (Black Tip Fungus). Here you should simply consult an expert rather than immediately resorting to cutting.

If your plant starts to change color, i.e., the stem above the soil begins to darken, lightly press against the spot with your index finger. If the area is mushy, the soil was too wet at the start of the winter dormancy, and the plant is rotting from the bottom up. You must definitely cut!

If your Plumeria shrivels (like an apple after a few weeks in the fruit bowl), then the water reserves in the roots are empty. Give it a glass of water but please do not expect it to look normal again after 1 day. It can take up to 5 days. So please do not give water in large amounts, as this will simply lead to rot!

The temperature in the winter quarters should not fall below 10°C. Evergreen plants should be lightly watered every 2 weeks and definitely should not be placed in the dark!