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Frangipani cuttings: How to grow
One of the many joys of having friends and family who also garden is the oft chance of scoring some plant material to try your hand at propagating. And for most of us gardeners the plant specimen doesn't necessarily have to be one we want in our garden, it's merely the enjoyment of successfully reproducing something.
Fortunately for me, my MIL has been growing a plant that I've wanted to grow in my tropical garden. Plumeria rubra is the common frangipani and has been on my "TO-GET" list for some time. However, I didn't just want to the very common white flowered variety but was more interested in the coral-shades. I had seen frangipanis growing my MIL's garden before but never observed it flowering to know whether it was the correct colour.
On a recent trip to visit the in-laws in Perth, I took a small cutting - certainly not big enough to notice that it had gone missing - and began drying it out. The wound excretes a fair amount of milky sap that can be quite painful if it comes in contact with the skin. This sap needs to stop flowing and the wound harden over before it can be planted out.
Once this process has occurred the stalk can be placed into some potting medium and kept moist and out of full-sun. While it's best to start the process while the frangipani is dormant - during the winter months - it can still be successfully propagated in its flowering season.
TIP: Don't take a cutting longer than 20cm in length and certainly don't pick one that is carrying flowers.
As we head towards winter, this cutting will lose its few leaves and be a bare stick but will regain its crowning glory again in spring. Hopefully, it might even flower but they don't usually within the first two years.
Here's some more info on growing frangipanis.
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Comments
The coral color sounds especially fine, Stuart - good luck with your new Frangipani-Plumeria. I have two 6-foot trees, one yellow and one light red, but here in Austin, unlike your more tropical part of Australia, the big pots have to be hauled into the garage for the cold months.
Yours is a fragrant kind I hope!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Posted by: Annie in Austin | January 7, 2008 11:09 PM
I love this plant!! I grew up spending every summer in Key West (thanks to a Conch dad), and the amazing Frangipani scent is a constant down there...happiness! Good luck:)
Posted by: Jessica | January 7, 2008 11:28 PM
Annie - what a shame having to 'winterize' your frangipanis. Still, 2 x 6ft trees growing in pots is an awesome achievement.
And, yes this is a very fragrant variety. Looking forward to summer evenings!!
Jessica - it's such a distinct perfume isn't it? And what wonderful memories of summer it brings. Cheers for sharing
Posted by: Stuart | January 8, 2008 6:43 AM
Stuart,
Thank you for sharing about this lovely plant! I recently acquired a start from my sister in Florida, who has three trees growing in her yard. Although she instructed me to allow it to dry, she wasn't 100% certain of how to start it. I have had it on the counter in my kitchen since the end of March this year. Amazingly, even though it has received no moisture or nourishment, it is beginning to leaf! The end from where is was cut is now dry. So are you saying I just need to place this in the soil and it will begin to take root?
I live in Indiana, so like one of your previous visitors, I too will have to plant this in a container and bring it indoors in the winter... therefore, I will need to keep it small. Any tips on accomplishing this? A sort of "bonsai" Fangipani - so to speak! LOL!
I won't plant until I hear back from you on the proper care - and if you have any suggestions of nourishment (plant food) to facilitate it's healthy growth and flowering, that information would be appreciated as well!
Thank you again for your knowledge!
Happy gardening!
Lori
Posted by: Lori | May 20, 2008 1:53 AM