Plumeria are deciduous small trees or shrubs. Plumeria begins to grow in the spring with leaves and flowers branching out from the fallen tips. Every 1 2 years these plants grow new branches and flowers appear on the tips of these branches. Plumerias always bloom on the newest wood and often bloom before new leaves develop. Plumeria flowers are the real star of the show. Inflorescence appears as a cluster at the tips of each new branch sometimes before the leaves appear. Plumerias typically bloom from late spring to early fall. However in very hot climates they are known to bloom year round.

Plumeria are light loving plants. They prefer to get 6 8 hours of direct sunlight. These hours are best done in the morning so the tree gets some rest from the sun during the hottest part of the day. When grown in a warm climate plumeria can tolerate planting in partial shade especially during the afternoon. Plumeria should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. When grown indoors these plants must be in bright light for most of the day as they will not flower without enough sunlight. A south facing window is an ideal location for Northern Hemisphere Plumeria.

Newly planted plumeria should be watered very sparingly. The roots should be allowed to dry out between waterings which will encourage root growth as they begin to seek their own source of water further down. Plumeria roots need access to oxygen to grow and being in compacted or waterlogged soil complicates this. Mature plumerias do better under water than under water. In their native environment these plants are accustomed to rainy weather and periods of drought. As a result they are able to store water and tolerate a little neglect. When planted outdoors they will do well without watering during regular periods of rainfall.

The ideal temperature range for plumeria is 65° 80°F. However they can withstand a lot of heat and temperatures up to 40°F do no real harm. In the spring water sunlight and warmer temperatures signal the Plumeria to flower. They are tropical plants so they like heat and sunshine and as long as they receive regular rainfall they will look their best in the hottest months. Plumeria does best in at least 50% humidity during the growing season. If your plumeria is kept indoors use a humidifier or mist it regularly to keep it happy.

I recommend fertilizing with a flowering fertilizer once a month for six weeks from spring to fall. Adding an Epsom salt solution once a month on a different week than your fertilizer will help strengthen the cell walls strengthening the plant as well as increasing the number of flowers produced.

Plumerias are very resilient and tolerate pruning better than most trees. If for some reason you want to start over with your Plumeria you can prune it back to about 1 tall and it will be just fine. Reasons for doing this are to completely replant the tree or to thicken the limbs if many have been removed. In general when doing general pruning to maintain the size and shape of the tree it is best to prune in winter or very early spring. This prevents disruption of the flowering cycle. Pruning also encourages new growth which is necessary during the growing season.