Plumeria Growing and Caring Guide for Florida

Hey y'all, I am following a lot of gardening communities and groups both online and offline. Among all the flowering plants, Plumeria is getting most of the attention and it's in an increasing order day by day. I thought of writing a book or article on Plumeria care, but I grow Plumeria in Florida, so I thought I could share more insights on growing plumeria in Florida. In this article, I will cover the Plumeria Growing and Caring Guide for Florida gardeners.

First of all, a truth that you should accept: In North Florida, the blooming season for Plumeria is the shortest. For South Florida, you can expect blooming almost all year round. ( Except in winter). Central Florida gardeners will get a moderate growing season for Plumeria.

Plumeria needs a lot of sunlight, no matter in which region you are. So if possible place your plumeria in a place where it can get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight in a day.

If you are going to grow your Plumeria from cuttings you should check my guidelines on this: How to grow plumeria from cuttings - Complete guide

Plumeria Popular Varieties to Grow in Florida

If you are just planning to grow a Plumeria you should take a look at this below table before planting a Plumeria. There are plenty of Plumeria varieties available at local nurseries in Florida, so take your time to select one that you’ll truly enjoy:

You can choose a Plumeria based on whether you prefer one that has a delightful fragrance or one that is visually stunning. (Though, to be fair, all Plumerias are beautiful!)

I like Plumeria Rubra as it has a good combination of color and fragrance.

It also comes in different colors.

What variety of Plumeria should I grow if I have little space?

Plumeria Obtusa – Smaller tree with glossy leaves and white blooms. You can pick this one if you have spacing issues. 😁

Growing Plumeria in Florida

The growing methods for all Plumerias are the same, though you can adjust them based on your location. If you're in Florida, my techniques will work for you no matter where in the state you live.

You can start with seeds or cuttings or directly plant a stable plant you bring from a nursery. If you are a first-time grower then you can go for cuttings or buy plumeria plants from a nursery. Try to pick a small one as you will feel the joy of growing that plant from the infant.

I purchased a small plant in a pot and then I planted that in the ground.

Soil preparation before planting

As Plumeria is a tropical plant, you need to adjust the sandy soil of Florida. Mix 1/2 of Organic soil, and 1/2 of normal garden soil and you are all set. You can find a lot of tips like you have to mix this and that with the soil. But I witnessed that Plumeria is a strong plant and can tolerate tough conditions if planted in the Ground.

If you plant it in a pot and leave it outdoors during heavy rains, you may face yellowing leaves on Plumeria, and it's for overwatering.

For pot planting prepare the soil in the same way but arrange a good drainage system in the pot.

Watering Plumeria in Florida's climate

Plumeria is drought-tolerant and it is sensitive to overwatering. You can water it only twice a week on normal days and on heavy warm and sunny days, thrice a week. There is no specific time gaping rule. You have to see the soil. Whenever you water your plumeria, water it deeply. Once done wait for the soil to get fully dry. Once it gets dry, then again water deeply.

You should learn when to water plumeria and when not.

Fertilizer

I don't want you to get confused seeing a long list of fertilizers, to be honest, I never applied chemical fertilizer on my Plumeria. Still, the leaves are healthy and they are doing well.

If you are applying fertilizer then make sure you are not over-applying. If you do so you can face curling leaves on Plumeria.
You can use organic compost once in two months.

Tip: If you use Milorganite (composted poultry litter), your plumeria will be dark green and healthy. But it's difficult to find that. I buried a fish under the soil (10 inches away from the plant) I am experienced and I know how to control pests in the soil. If you are not experienced in that, never apply organic components like those in the soil.

My relatives (gardeners) use 10-30-10 (NPK ratio) mix and the Plumerias are performing great. If you want chemical fertilizer go for it.

What is the best time to repot Plumeria?

My suggestion is Spring as this is the growing season.

Season-wise Caring Tips for Plumeria in Florida

If you want to be a perfect gardener for your plumeria then here's a season-wise caring tip for your Plumeria.

In this section, you will get to know when to prune Plumeria in Florida as well.

Tip for North Florida's Gardeners: In winter, the temperature can go below freezing. So it's better to plant your plumeria in a pot so that you can bring that indoors in winter. But still, if you are a person like me who loves to grow plants in the ground, then cover your plumeria with frost blankets or burlap when frost is expected.

Tips for Central Florida Plumeria Growing: The climate is moderate here and you can take advantage of this. From the beginning of spring, you can start fertilizing your Plumeria.

Tips for South Florida Plumeria Growers: I have already told you that you don't have to worry much about winter care but you have to be careful in the rainy season. Water can be an enemy to your plant if you do overwatering. Make sure your soil is well-draining to prevent root rot. Consider elevating your pots or creating raised beds to keep roots dry.

Due to the higher humidity and warm climate, I am pretty sure that you will encounter Mealybugs on your Plumeria. But don't Worry I have already made a guide for that. Check it: Get rid of Mealybugs on your Plumeria