Plumeria is a tropical flowering plant that is native to Central and South America. It is an evergreen shrub that produces clusters of fragrant, waxy-looking flowers in shades of white, pink, yellow, and red. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and are popularly used in floral arrangements. Plumeria is easy to grow and requires minimal care. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and is hardy in USDA Zones 10-12. For best results, it should be fertilized twice a year with a balanced fertilizer. It’s recommended that you prune plumeria once or twice a year to keep the plant looking neat and to encourage new blooms. With proper care, a Plumeria can bloom for many years.
Remember, when pruning plumeria, always use shears that have been disinfected by boiling water or rubbing alcohol and disinfect the shears between cuts to avoid spreading disease. When you cut into a healthy plumeria branch, it will ooze a thick, white substance. Don’t worry, this is normal.
Why prune plumeria?
Pruning Plumeria is important to maintain its shape and health. Unpruned Plumeria can become lopsided and spindly. Pruning plumeria in the spring before it blooms helps promote more flowers, healthier branching, and growth.
Pruning helps to encourage new growth and removes old, dead, or diseased branches. This helps promote a stronger and healthier plant that can produce more flowers. Pruning also helps to keep the plant from becoming overgrown, which can prevent the plumeria from receiving enough sunlight and airflow. Pruning also helps to keep the plumeria looking neat and tidy, making it a more aesthetically pleasing addition to any garden.
Tips for pruning plumeria
Pruning a plumeria is an easy task that can be done in just a few steps. All you need is a pair of sharp pruning shears and some basic knowledge of pruning techniques. Pruning a plumeria can help keep it healthy and blooming throughout the season. Here’s how to do it:
- Wait until early spring to prune plumeria. Pruning before it flowers can help encourage better growth and flowering.
- Disinfect your gardening shears.
- With sharp garden shears, prune away branches that appear dead, discolored, or weak. Remember to cut at a 45-degree angle when making cuts.
- Cut off any branches that are crossing each other. This will improve air circulation and promote healthy growth.
- Cut away any branches that are too long or too close to the ground. This will help promote a more even shape and also make it easier to care for the plant.
- Prune the tips of the branches. This will allow the plant to focus its energy on growing thicker stems and more blooms.
- Remove any damaged or diseased branches. If the branch is severely diseased, cut it back to healthy wood.
- Disinfect your pruning shears between cuts. This will help prevent the spread of any diseases or pests.
- Place any clippings into the compost pile. This will help enrich the soil and provide essential nutrients to the soil. Note that woody stems may take a while to break down.
