How do I plant plumeria cuttings?

Planting a Plumeria Cutting: What you’ll need: 

• Potting soil or cactus mix

• 1 gallon pot or larger with drainage holes, 

• Perlite (optional but can help with drainage). 

• Rooting hormone is optional but may increase your chances of rooting success.

Cuttings received from Maui Plumeria Gardens will arrive ready to root. Please do not re-cut your plumeria cutting. If you are not ready to plant when cuttings are received, they may be stored in a dry, shaded and well ventilated area for months before planting. Rooting success increases by planting early. Prepare the soil by mixing 2/3 potting soil to 1⁄3 perlite. The Perlite in your soil will help drain the water away from the roots. Root rot is often caused by poor soil drainage.

Fill the pot with soil mix leaving 1 inch from the pot rim. Water until water drains out the holes at the bottom of the pot. Dip the bottom inch of the cutting in water, then dip it into a rooting hormone (found at most garden stores). Sink the cutting 3-4 inches into the soil. Be careful not to plant too deep. Compact the soil around the cutting with your hands to secure it in place. Without leaves, plumeria require little water. Newly planted cuttings need only 1 cup of water a week until leaves appear.  Water only when the soil is dry to the touch!

Cuttings are subject to rot if they are kept too moist. Once leaves appear, your plumeria can be watered every 3 days with 3-4 cups of water. Place the pot in a partial sunny location and get ready to watch it grow. In cooler locations, warming the bottom of the pot with a heating pad will promote root development. Cuttings will take 2 to 4 months to form a full root ball. Leaving an inflo (flower stem) on your plumeria during the rooting process may slow root development. We suggest cutting off inflos that appear before leaf growth.

Fall/Winter Rooting: Plumeria enter dormancy when they receive less than 11 hours of daylight. Additional light must be added if rooting during the fall/winter months. 12-13 hours of light a day is optimal. Keep above 45F at all times.

Planting Plumeria Seeds: Fill pot with soil mix. Thoroughly water the soil. Place the seed head into the soil leaving the wing sticking up in the air. Seeds can be planted 1-2 inches apart in the same pot and separated later as they grow.  Place the pot in a partial sunny location. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. In approximately 3 weeks you will start to see signs of germination. Transplant to a larger pot when the seedling is 3-4 inches tall. 

Planting a Ti cutting:  We suggest water rooting your Ti cuttings.  Place the ‘down’ end in a tall drinking glass and fill the glass to the top with water.  Place in a partial sunny location for 4-5 weeks until roots are 1-2 inches in length.  Transport to soil.  For additional ti plants, cut your ti cutting into 3 inch pieces and plant horizontally in soil with the top of the ti cutting slightly buried in soil.  Keep soil moist but not soggy.  Once your ti is rooted and in soil, it should be watered once to twice a week with 3-4 cups of water.