Smaller Leaf

Originally uploaded by blakeseely.

If you read my post last summer about attempting to grow a plumeria in an area that’s not tropical, this is the follow-up. Take a look at my Green Thumb set, you’ll see that my plumeria has made quite a change in just the last month.

With all the sunny weather we’ve had in the past month, your “dead stick” thing should be starting to grow beautiful green leaves. If you live in a particularly cold winter climate that gets very warm during the summer, you should be able to put your plumeria outside now. Since SF tends to get cold during the summer, I have mine inside on a window sill. To make sure it grows as much as possible in such a foggy, cool place, make sure it gets plenty of sun and warmth, without any of the cool fog that San Francisco is known for.

You should be watering it only after the soil completely dries out - think of your plumeria almost like a cactus. I use a very small amount of balanced fertilizer every time I water. After you get quite a few leaves, you should switch to a high-phosphorous fertilizer. This will encourage your plumeria to bloom - and also to branch more next year.

Leave a comment if you have any questions!

I also posted a few other pictures in my Green Thumb photoset - of my Chilean Wine Palm, Delicious Monster and my rose bush. Check ‘em out if you have any interest in trying to grow such things in San Francisco.