I have a Bridal Bouquet Plumeria I like so much I decided to plant a hedge of them to screen my neighbor’s monumentally ugly fence. These are evergreen Plumeria with an upright habit, when planted about three feet apart, they are perfect for a six foot height skinny hedge.
Given the plant’s reputation for ease of propagation, I decided to try growing the new plants from cuttings rather than buying them. I had such good luck with the plants I gave some as gifts.
Propagation is simple, clip 4- 6″ long cuttings from the tips of the branches:
Next, strip all the leaves with the exception of the two or three at the top:
The cuttings tend to ooze white liquid so, put them on some cardboard and let them dry in a shady area until the stems appear to have healed.
After drying place the cuttings into 4-6″pots and keep moist for several weeks. The cuttings will start to produce leaves when they are rooted. Then they can be planted in the garden.
I have three left from my original six, one succumbed to unknown causes and two were gifted to other gardeners. I still need six for my hedge – so it’s time to get the clippers again.
That will make a lovely hedge; with the deciduous Plumeria (eg P.obtusa and P.rubra), that are commonly grown in the warmer parts of Australia, you can literally break off a 5 ft piece in late winter, let it dry, stick it in the ground and viola…instant tree! Not sure it would work with P. pudica, but it’s almost worth a try 🙂
LikeLike
The pudicas aren’t branched like the other Plumerias. Although, I would love an instant hedge.
The soil here is so sandy it only stays moist about 6″ down. I have another Plumeria and it took a long time to take – if it gets that tall I will give it a try.
The hedge experiment will continue this summer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was wondering if you could pop a cutting straight in the ground
LikeLiked by 1 person
you can just dry the stem first.
LikeLike
What a lovely idea for a hedge. Impossible here of course., but i like to imagine such a beautiful fragrant hedge. One day my solitary Plumeria in a pot may bloom. One can but dream.
LikeLike
Plumerias in pots are fairly common north of me – most gardeners put them in the garden for the summer where they leaf out and bloom.
I tried this after a trip to Maui and promptly killed the plant. I think the key may be to starting the cuttings when the weather is warm.
It will be interesting to see how the hedge works out. There may be a very good reason why I have never seen one.
The perpetual experiment continues.
LikeLike
I can’t wait to see the end result.
LikeLike
Me, too. I should post a picture of my current view..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good idea. The before and after. My before is always so bad I hate to take pictures of it.
LikeLike
How clever. And saves money too.
The only thing I’ve been successful with is hydrangea. I’m sure there’s an art to it, but I only snip off the tender branches and stick the stem in the pot and keep it moist. Most catch, but some don’t.
any tricks for grafting apple trees?
LikeLike
I just received a cutting of the Bridal Bouquet I purchased on EBay. I planted the cutting in a pot, should it be in the sun or in part shade?
I live in SWFL. The hedge idea is wonderful!
Thank you
LikeLike
Shade til it makes leaves
LikeLike
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve tried them multiple ways and all were successful. Cut, Dry out and put in root hormone, then small pots. Cut, stick in ground also rooted and grew. I’m also in the ideal climate for Plumeria, Bonita Springs, FL. I love the Bridal Vale the most because of being evergreen. I will say, getting flooded during Hurricane Ian, I thought they weren’t going to come back, but they all did. Nature Heals
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great to hear.. nature does heal.
LikeLike