I first became familiar with Plumerias during my Navy tour of duty in Hawaii. They come in a variety of colors from white, yellow, pink, red and other variations. Their wonderful fragrance makes them ideal for the colorful leis Hawaii is famous for.
Plumerias are originally from Mexico and Central America, it is believed that they were imported to Hawaii by the Portuguese where it grow so profusely that people believe its native to Hawaii. You too can have your own garden with flowering fragrances year-round.
The soil
Most people will tell you just plant them in a dry area or use some cactus mix, this could end up in a disappointment for you. There is a certain balance of nutrients needed to successfully propagate this seductive flowering plant. I have found the following popular mixture easy to prepare, easy on the budget and easy to maintain:
One bag of all purpose garden soil what ever is on sale at your garden store will work fine. Two cubic feet size |
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Pots with good drainage a friend of mine, Bob, never throws out old pots because they are very useful when growing new plants from seeds or cuttings. |
The soil mixture
The cuttings.
The cuttings.
When garnering your cuttings insure that you acquiring them from a healthy plant. The branches should be solid and green, the leaves complete and firm with an aromatic healthy flower. |
Select your cuttings from the bottom or the back so you can maintain proportion of the mother plant. Cut then at an angle. |
Peel all the leaves and set aside for two or three days in a shaded area. This will give that branch the opportunity to heal the cut and build a scab. |
After the wound has healed wipe the stem of the cuttings with a clean cloth and Windex. Dip the stems into the rooting powder and plant them snugly into you pots and water them. |
This in my first cutting to bloom, two and a half months, see close up on the right side. |