Care calendar of our Plumerias in the 4 seasons
On this page we would like to give all Plumeria / Frangipani friends a simple overview of the necessary or optional steps that are important or recommended in the respective season, so that the plants feel comfortable and then regularly present us with flowers.
SPRING
January until the beginning of April, we can still sit back and relax. There is hardly anything to do. Our Plumerias are still in their winter break and apart from a weekly check for rot or other visible diseases, we have no tasks.
At the end of April, our plants will slowly wake up from their winter dormancy, which is clearly visible in the fresh green shoots. Now you can slowly start watering the plants lightly and, if they are not already by the window, put them back in a bright spot in the room. It is still too cold for the balcony/terrace. They should only be allowed out when there are stable night temperatures of 8°C - 10°C.
We only give them fertiliser when the first two leaves are clearly visible.
Wenn Sie einen Langzeitdünger verwenden möchten, sollten Sie die Pflanze Ende April umtopfen und den Langzeitdünger der Erde beimischen.
Umtopfen wenn die Pflanze zu groß für den Topf wurde, kann man ab Mitte April.
SUMMER
The main growing season for our plants. We should always make sure that we offer them as much sun and warmth as possible. A plumeria likes 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day to feel really comfortable.
Water your plumeria every day and if it is outdoors, you may also have to water 2x a day on very hot summer days.
Be sure to fertilise your Plumeria once a week with a special fertiliser for Plumerias, as nutrients are used up or flushed out very quickly in pot culture.
From July you can then also cut new cuttings from your plants and root them. The new cuttings will then have enough time to form enough roots to survive the winter well until the coming winter break.
If your plants are not outdoors, you should mist them at least 2x a day with a pressure sprayer, because in the dry indoor air such pests as thrips and spider mites come very quickly. Outdoors, 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 be of help here. Now we should stop using a flower booster fertiliser. Now is the time to use Plumeria Special Fert iliser to strengthen the roots of our Plumerias and increase the water storage for the winter.
From the beginning of October we should start watering less and towards the end of October we should stop watering and fertilising completely.
Plumerias that are outdoors should be brought into the warmth of the house or conservatory as soon as it is cooler than 5°C at night. Plants outdoors should be watered even more carefully than those in the living room or conservatory. When we bring the plants indoors, we can remove the leaves completely when the soil has dried out completely and thus send the plant directly into winter break. If the soil is still wet, we have to wait another 1 to 2 weeks until it dries completely and then remove the leaves and force the winter break.
Please remember that the plant does not HAVE to stand in the dark but can, because photosynthesis is stopped during the winter break.
WINTER
Our plants are now in winter break.
Please check the plants once a week. If you notice black discolouration at the tips of the shoots, it may be rot or, in the worse case, a fungus (Black Tip Fungus). In this case, you should simply seek expert advice and not immediately reach for the knife.
If your plant starts to change colour, i.e. the stem above the soil begins to darken, press very lightly on it with your index finger. If the area is muddy, the soil was too moist at the beginning of winter dormancy and the plant is rotting from the bottom up. You absolutely have to prune!
If your Plumeria shrivels up (like an apple after a few weeks in the fruit basket) then the water reservoirs in the roots are empty. Give it a glass of water but 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 quantities, because then rot is simply pre-programmed!
The temperature in the winter quarters should not fall below 10°C. Evergreen plants should be watered lightly every 2 weeks and should never be kept in the dark!
