In a moment of weakness, as if figs aren't enough, I have decided to try growing rooted cuttings of Plumeria - Frangipani - for my patio in Georgia, zone 7A.

Any experienced Plumeria people out there who might want to offer advice on how to get these babies through the cool of a Georgia winter?

  No brebas yet.

oh dang.. i need to put mine outside. 

Joe,
  I've been growing a plumeria in a container in NJ for almost 22 years.  I just bring it out onto the deck every spring and bring it back inside every fall.  I give it as much sun as possible over the winter.  Occasionally it keeps most of its leaves all winter.  Usually it drops most of them and keeps a few and sometimes starts to regrow new ones.  That all depends how much I abuse it (e.g. forgetting to water it, not fertilizing it.)
  I have never gotten a breba crop or main crop from my plumeria.  I think it is defective -- the flowers grow outward instead of inward ;-)  However, it has been known to sprout Christmas ornaments in December, I do occasionally find Legos and other toys in the soil.
Jim
PS - I have done damage to it by leaving it out in the cold too long in October -- so be sure to bring it in before it gets too nippy.

Mine didn't survive dormant in my garage in my zone 6, mild winter 2 years ago.  I think you have to have a grow room and let them grow in the winter or have a heated garage to keep the temps over 40 but under 60 to keep them dormant.

Joe -- some might argue that they have no idea what real pizza is, either ;-)  (I can FedEx you a pie you are ever really desperate!)
Jim

I had plumeria bought at the airport in Hawaii, growing in my other yard, but it it did not survive this climate.  Sometimes.  It is what it is.  Buck up!  Can't happen!

Suzi

That is a nice looking plumeria.  Looks a little like Maui Sunset, but then again, there are thousands of cultivars.

In the fall let it go dormant, and lose it's leaves.  Do not let it freeze.  If it doesn't lose it's leaves one can always cut them off, it will bleed that latex sap like a fig.

Keep on the dry side.  Some un pot them altogether, I find this unnecessary.  Place inside, preferably above 40, but most definitely above freezing that will kill it very quick.

When weather warms up into 50-60's you can place it back out, but keep fairly dry until weather is stable.  Water only when dry.  Even though a tropical, it will need fast draining media.  Over watering is the fastest way to kill it, next to freeze that is.

Good Luck, they are as addictive as Figs, well if your into flowers...which I am.

Thank you all!

I just started with cuttings of them as well this year! I bought 4 on ebay and the seller sent an extra. I actually didn't think they were going to live, but 2 are leafing out nicely, one has a "bunch" of flowers growing out of the top, one looks as though it is going to make 3 branches & the 5th free one is just sitting there. I cannot wait to see them flower, I've always loved hawaiian flowers =)

Jenn,

I'm warning you, you'll go from 5 to 50 very quickly.  They propagate so easy, much easier than figs.  Just lop off 12" section, remove all or most of the leaves, let it dry for a week, stick in sandy soil in warm area, water once until new leaves appear.

They love our heat, and when hot you can water more often (everyday if pot is small) and they will explode, not uncommon to get 2'+ growth a season.

I used to keep them in barely heated greenhouse over winter.  This last winter I had no idea (can't believe I made such a dumb mistake) it was going to get 12 degrees, I lost most, of course the most prized large ones.  What really hurt was the 10' pachypodium I had been growing for 12 years.

But on the bright side, I discovered figs, I wish they were as easy as plumeria.  BTW Flower Power from Natural Gardener works well to get them to bloom.

After showing my wife the picture she wants me to grow some of these for her

Plumeria below 40 will start to rot and die. lost two that my wife insisted that we plant outside. i love container culture. too that i kept in the pot are still doing fine. 

It is my understanding that some plumeria are more fragrant than others.  Definitely go for something with a strong fragrance even if it isn't as "showy" as others -- the smell is out of this world.  If you've ever been to the islands or anyplace tropical where they grow, the smell will transport you back there in an instant!
Jim

Aloha, everyone.  Had I seen this thread earlier, I'd have gone around taking pics of the trees at my cousin's plumeria farm!  Not to mention all the varieties around the neighborhood around here.  Tomorrow then...  

Nate

nate, 

yes, lot of pix. Plumeria are beautiful, and they smell good. get some pix of dark red ones.. love those blood red ones. 

Huli pau!

That would be awesome Nate!

It is my understanding that Plumeria needs to be wintered in a greenhouse or in the house
to protect from any near freezing temperatures.

I have seen (and smelled) some nice Plumeria trees while in vacation in Hawaii.
Trees can grow very big. I tried some, but gave up on them here in cold NJ.

Oh no.
New addiction...Plumeria
Now I gotta have it.
How beautiful.

Where to start, lol.


Doug