Plumeria: care at home

Description

Plumeria (lat. Plumeria) grows naturally in South America up to 8 m in height. It can also be found in the gardens of southern Europe. Plumeria loves warm and humid climate, so it is not suitable for cultivation in the open field. It can grow in a pot from seeds or cuttings. In a pot, it can grow up to 1 m in height.

Plumeria usually blooms from spring to summer, sometimes until the autumn. At the ends of the elongated shoots collected green leaves reaching 30 cm in length. The flowers are the greatest decoration plants. Wax small flowers (5 cm in diameter) have five slightly curled petals of white, cream, yellow, pink or red, but the color is often a mixture of these shades. The flowers emit a sweet, slightly almond flavor. Aromas are slightly different depending on the color of the flowers.

Rhododendron Plumeria can go without water for several weeks, without showing any special requirements, ideal for gardening enthusiasts, who can forget to water your plants.

frangipani varieties for growing at home

Two kinds of Plumeria Rubra and Plumeria obtusa are generally known in Europe. The difference between the two kinds is the shape and size of the leaves and that Obtusa during hibernation does not lose its leaves.

There are several types, including:

• Plumeria alba – White plumeria with yellow middle;

  

• Plumeria rubra – frangipani with red flowers with yellow middle;

  

• Plumeria acuminata – white, very fragrant flowers, yellow center.

  

• Plumeria rubra (Plumeriarumba) – appearance, the most suitable for growing in the home.

  

Plumeria Care

It is home to exotic plants in the tropical regions, and therefore its growing need lots of sun, and in our latitudes, choose a sunny place for him. Selected location thermophilic plants should provide at least five hours of sunshine per day, at a temperature of about 20 ° C. The temperature should always be relatively constant. An ideal place for frangipani not only warm and bright, but also must be protected from the effects of drafts. That it can be run, Plumeria grown in the vegetable container.

soil

The substrate used for the cultivation of flowers, is essential. They like an easy friable soil. Used soil must have the following properties:

• nutrient-rich;
• a pH of about 7;
• high permeability.

Important!The high permeability of the soil is crucial for growing frangipani, because the plant is very sensitive to high humidity.

Waterlogging can quickly lead to root rot. Therefore, the ground for the cactus, mixed with a small amount of coarse sand, ideal for frangipani.

Watering and fertilizer

Regular and abundant watering is part of the flower care. Much moisture evaporates due to the considerable weight of the leaves, especially during the heat, the summer should be watered daily, preferably in the morning or in the evening. When watering should be monitored so that the leaves do not remain drops of water, because burns can occur on leaves. Therefore, poured directly under the stalks.

The following factors should be considered when watering:

• the moisture should not fall on the leaves;
• top layer of the earth should have a good dry between waterings.
• rare watering is only in the winter months.

Plumeria flowers can also withstand short periods of drought.

Feeding

The plant needed supply of nutrients. The fertilizer to be used for the supply of young plants, must contain large amounts of nitrogen. If Plumeria reached the older, should be used phosphate fertilizers. Fertilizing should be done every two weeks before the resting phase.

NoteIf the plant loses a huge amount of leaves in autumn – it portends a resting phase

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Transplantation and trimming

Premature transplanting plants is a stressful situation for them, and may lead to the dropping of leaves. Transplanting can damage the delicate roots of the plant. This is especially true of young plants. However, if frangipani three years or more, it is necessary to transplant it into a large container.

Transplanting should be done with the cutting of the roots. They were reduced by a quarter of the total weight. This not only strengthens the root system, but also contributes to the overall growth of the plants.

Frangipani is better to plant after the winter break, when the growing season is just beginning. However, this measure can still be held in the early summer.

Importanttransplant should not be performed in September, because then the risk reduction of flowering: at the moment the plants have already developed flower buds

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Pots for plants also play a role in growing. They should be made of plastic, clay pots are not very suitable. It is necessary to pay attention to the correct size of the pot – the more space the plant to develop freely, the more its size. It is recommended to use a 50 cm high capacity and a diameter of about 30 cm.

Before filling the substrate in plastic pots, the bottom of the drainage layer should be put, to provide optimum drainage.

Frangipani does not need pruning, but as it stands it well, problematic stems for better branching, cut in half or a third. But do not do it every year, otherwise you may never see the flowers, which are formed at the end of branches.

The rest period

No need to worry if the plant loses its leaves in autumn. This is normal and portends rest phase. Rest is part of the natural plant life cycle. In the winter period of rest is necessary for proper plant growth. It is moved to a cool (13-15 ° C) room and reduce watering.

When watering should consider the following points:

• to reduce the amount of watering in late October;
• to the end of November, irrigation should be completely phased out only when necessary, should be watered during hibernation;
• March-April of resuming watering slowly.

Plumeria flower watered by small doses especially when its stem becomes wrinkled.

Exit from hibernation usually ends in April, and since then the plant should be gradually start watering again once or twice a week. Feeding can begin in late March or early April.

On warm days, it can be put into the fresh air, when no longer night frost is expected. As a rule, this time coming from the end of May. Selected shady place within the first few days to flower could get used to progressively higher temperatures.

Breeding frangipani

Growing tropical plants in the European climate is a few small problems. Plumeria home multiplies using cuttings or sowing seeds.

Distribution of cuttings is particularly advantageous when they want to grow a tree jasmine petals with a certain color and clarity grade is necessary.

For propagation via cuttings are used thick woody branches length of about 25 cm. Stems are cut, then the cut surface was dried for several days. Stalk was placed in a beaker filled with water is 5 cm, and sent to the warm and bright place. Roots will develop within two to three weeks. During this time the water is changed every two days. When the newly formed roots are several centimeters long, they can be placed into the prepared substrate.

Plumeria seed at home.If it is propagated by means of seeds, it is better to choose for planting in the spring or summer, when the lighting conditions are favorable. If Plumeria grow in the winter, it must provide artificial lighting.

During germination the soil should always be slightly damp. In addition, ventilation is important every three days to sprout did not start to mold. The seeds begin to germinate only after two to four weeks, the seedlings can be transplanted in five to eight weeks after germination.

Note!In order to speed up the process of germination, the seed was allowed to swell in warm water for two days before the planned sowing.

After seeding containers with plants are inserted in places where the predominant temperature 25 ° C.

Diseases and pests

This plant may be affected by various diseases. One of the most common is sunburn, which manifests itself both on the leaves and on the tips of shoots. This phenomenon is especially prevalent when the flower is moved out of the house into the air. To prevent this, he was immediately placed in a shaded area. in

Also, after wintering often stem rot, which is caused by a particular fungus.

Ticks can appear on a flower, if the place where it grows poorly ventilated and dry. In any case, a good shower save the plant from these attacks.

Useful Properties

Intense aroma of jasmine flowers used in the cosmetic industry – mainly in perfumery. Fragrant Frangipani flowers are in addition to drinks. Infusions, decades ago, used as a means to combat fever and cold, made ointment for itching and skin rashes.

Edible flowers – are delicacies that dodadut nice decorative touch to various dishes.

Be careful!milky sap that flows from the stems after cutting is toxic and if swallowed can cause digestive disorders.