Question
Hello Darlene, we've had our plumeria for a few years by now. We water it, but we keep forgetting to do something about it. It grows new leaves, but that's all, no buds or anything. We're not even sure what color the flowers are supposed to be anymore which is sorta funny, but we would really like to see them. What can we do to make it bloom?  I'm pretty sure it needs to be replanted, but afraid that I might harm it.

Answer
Samantha,

Summer is the time for maximum plumeria flowering in the northern hemisphere. Plumeria will bloom profusely if a few of the plant's basic needs are met. The three most important being sunlight, water and fertilizer. These requirements are few and can be easily achieved by the average plumeria enthusiast.

Plumeria plants need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct or nearly direct sunlight to bloom strongly. If a plant does not receive enough light, it will tend to grow toward the light, adding soft vegetative growth which will likely be thinner in diameter and weaker than desired. Plumeria do not bloom well if at all in the shade.

Water is very important to actively growing plumeria. Without enough water, plumeria tend to go into a state of suspended animation or dormancy. They may even abort flower stalks in an effort to reduce water loss. However, on the opposite end, plumeria do not want too much water, especially standing water on their roots. Wet feet for more than a very few days may cause root rot, which may lead to eventual total plant loss. Unfortunately, the obvious symptom of too much or not enough water, droopy leaves, is the same for either condition. Before watering a plumeria it is wise to check the top few inches of soil for moisture. If dry, then go ahead and water. The proper soil is critical for optimum plumeria growth and flowering. A good soil is one that allows water to fully penetrate, retains plenty of moisture for a number of days, while at the same time drains excess water quickly. There are many good prepackaged soils available meeting these specifications. Always empty the drain tray an hour after watering. You can use a turkey baster to suction excess water out.

The third important factor in getting plumeria to bloom and grow healthily is fertilizer used in conjunction with the afore mentioned good soil and proper watering schedule. When feeding plumeria for flowers, it is best to use a product with a high phosphorous (the middle number, P) content. This element helps to make flowers larger and more abundant. The nitrogen content (the first number, N) should be relatively low. Too much nitrogen will enhance vegetative growth at the expense of flowers. Potassium (the last number, K) helps to produce a strong plant. This element needs to be present for a healthy plant, but maybe not as much as P. Commercial products that meet the fertility needs of NPK for plumeria are 'Super Bloom' and 'BR-61'. These foods should be fed to plumeria plants according to label directions every other week or at least once a month during the active growing season of April through August.

There are a host of other elements essential for plant growth and health. These include iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, boron, molybdenum, calcium, and sulfur to mention a few. The element magnesium is central to the chlorophyll molecule in plants, which makes them green and does the work of producing plant sugars from carbon dioxide and water. It is therefore quite necessary and can be fed to plumeria by adding 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt per gallon of water at either feeding time or watering time.

If you follow these instructions you should have blooms next summer. Good luck.

Darlene