By following staking practices for plumeria cuttings and plumeria plants at planting time gardeners avoid unnecessary delays in enjoying their beautiful scented plumeria flowers.
2. It is very disheartening to check on newly planted
plumeria cuttings and plumeria plants just to
discover that they have been knocked out of their
pots either by nature.... strong winds, animals....
pets, or even by accident.... the gardener himself
or herself knocking it over .
3. The initial roots of plumeria cuttings tend to be
very brittle and the slightest movement or shift of
the cutting from its planted position may break the
newly developed roots. The roots get stronger as
they mature over time.
4. Newly planted plumeria cuttings have no means
of staying steady and balanced when planted
either in the ground or in pots.
It is therefore very important to stake plumeria
cuttings at planting time. This is usually done by
inserting a plant stake right next to the cutting
itself and tying the cutting to the stake with tie-ups
which are readily available for purchase at
hardware stores and garden centers.
5. It's best to tie the plumeria cutting at strategic
places along the cutting.... (1) just above soil level
.... (2) just below the tip, and...(3) in the middle of
the cutting to the stake making sure the cutting is
firmly anchored in the pot or in the ground.
6. Some plumeria cutting may dehydrate during the
rooting process depending on the rooting method
that is used. If dehydration occurs, causing the
cutting to shrink in size and the tie-ups to
loosen, then one needs to re-adjust the tie-ups or
apply new ones to re-establish secure and proper
placement.
7. But what can be done if the cutting is tall and has
multiple branches?
In this case, it is best to start staking the plumeria
cutting at the main stem and tie it to the plant
stake as described above.
8. Depending on the number of branches and their
individual height above the soil level.... staking
each branch with a proper length plant stake and
tying them just below the tip of each branch to the
stake secures the cutting in the pot or in the
ground.
9. The following two pictures show one cutting of
Plumeria 'Teresa Wilder' I recently planted. The
main stem is tied to a stake and each of the two
top branches is secured tightly to an individual
plant stake as well. This cutting is unable to move
even if I tilt the pot at an angle of 45 degrees.
10.
11.
12. The same principle of staking applies when
planting rooted plumeria plants.
I recommend inserting the plant stake(s) before
covering the roots with the planting medium.
By gently inserting the stake(s) between the roots
one avoids injuring the roots which might occur
when the plant stake(s) is inserted after the roots
have been covered with the potting medium.