Growing Plumerias In The UK

May 2010

Having just spent a very pleasant week in Sicily, I can tell you that we are not the only ones to have experienced a late Spring.

Clearly most of Europe has had the same problem. Thankfully, I’m pleased to say that this is definitely now changing, with the warmer weather moving northward and hopefully bringing a touch of the Med to the British Isles.

With the rise in current temperatures, coupled with the lighter days and strong spells of sunshine, I've certainly seen a noticeable change in most of our Plumeria, both in and out of the Nursery. It may not seem much warmer, but believe me a few degrees can make all the difference to a Plumeria and they certainly sense it. A daily misting of your Plumerias growth tips and leaf’s with some of our Leafdew Plumeria Mist is a great way to help them “greened up” and refreshed. But despite this optimism, do remember to still keep your Plumeria away from any windows or panes of glass overnight, as temperatures can still drop very low and you don't want all the benefits of a day in the Sun to be ruined by a frosty night.

Now Sunshine is lovely and you should always strive to get your Plumeria into as much of it as you can. But, when doing this inside, via a window or conservatory, it is essential that the sunlight is not allowed to become too intense and burn the leaves or cause your Plumeria to wilt. Whilst it may seem unlikely, it can easily happen. If it does, just remove your Plumeria to a shaded spot and if wilted, water thoroughly with some added SuperThrive and then leave alone to recover naturally. Unfortunately, burnt or scorched leaves are generally beyond repair. So just carefully remove any burnt bits and try not to worry about them, as after all they will soon drop to make way for new ones.

Now as we plunge headlong into the main growing season, the age old question of “Feeds & Fertilisers” raises its head. Opinions do vary on this as to how much, how often and to what extent. I really don’t think there’s any standard answer, it purely depends on your own preference, experiences and how confident you are. From a very simplistic point of view, if you’re not 100% sure about what you’re doing then don’t do it! Okay, your flowers may take little longer and may not be as big or abundant as others, but at least your plant will be safe. Overuse of feeds can be very detrimental and cause all manner of problems. So, if you’re not sure or just want that added peace of mind, do as we do and use our tried and trusted combination of SuperThrive, Leafdew Plumeria Mist and Hawaiian Super Bloomer and you won’t go far wrong.

For the more adventurous of you, the world of feeds & fertilizers does colourfully beckons, with as you may expect incredible promises of bigger, better and longer lasting blooms. In truth if you know what you’re doing it’s pretty straightforward and just a case of using certain types of feeds at certain times of years. SuperThrive is an excellent all year supplement as it promotes root growth, strengthens the core and generates leaf growth, which in turn increases light absorption. Then as Summer approaches, our Hawaiian Super Bloomer with its high, balanced Phosphate levels is the perfect feed to really give your Plumeria a boost and get those flower buds going. Next month I’ll expand on this further, so for now just concentrate on getting your Plumeria fully awake and into strong leaf.

So with Spring and Summer quickly approaching, it really is the perfect time to make that final choice, get your order placed so your new Plumeria can fully benefit from the sunny days to come. Our Catalogues offer a fantastic selection to choose from, including our New Extra Large Plumeria Plants which make a wonderful feature in any home, inside or out and a stunning addition to any collection. Go on treat yourself, start the Summer early !!!

Best regards

Neil Dimery.
Plumerias UK

Please visit our main website at www.plumeriasuk.com