We’ve been selling a few of our extra plumeria plants this year. And I am very happy it went well. The plants seemed to handle shipping well, now that I’ve finally perfected out packing method. And people have been very happy with the plants. And I am sure the plants will love being in their new homes! Someone just asked me how they should overwinter their new plants. Tanya, this post is for you!
You have options when overwintering your plumeria plants. They need a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius to survive. You can either put them in a cool environment or a warm environment in the wintertime. Both have pro’s and con’s. Choose what suits your space and care style best. Be mindful you have to adept your winter care according to the method you choose. In general none of my plants receive fertilizer in the winter. The last time I fertilize my potted plants (half strength) is at the end of September.
Overwintering option 1: cool environment
If you have a heated greenhouse or a garage attached to your house where temperatures don’t drop below 10 degrees Celsius you can overwinter them there. A cool bedroom (12-15 degrees Celsius will also work well). I overwinter my big plumeria plants in an isolated and heated greenhouse.
pro’s;
- When kept cooler you have very little pest issues in winter
- You barely have to water your plants, just make sure the soil isn’t bone dry (use a mister to moisten the soil!)
- Your plants will do not need as much light
con’s;
- Your plants go dormant, and for many tropicals like plumeria it means they will lose their leaves
- You have to keep vigilant on the temperature. If your heater breaks you might lose all your plants in one cold night
- Because the plants need to produce new leaves first in the spring it will take longer before the plant blooms in summer
If you choose this method it is better to not repot your plants to late in the season. The biggest problem I encounter is root rot. Root rot occurs when the soil is too wet for too long. Keeping your plants in smaller pots and being very careful when watering is the best strategy. I also add perlite to my soil mix to ensure drainage. Although you will not encounter many pest problems, you should still keep an eye out for them and clean your plants well before they are placed in winter storage. For plumeria I found it best to use water first and then spray with diluted green soap. I use 1/2 tea spoon on 0,5 liters in a spray bottle.
Overwintering option 2: warm environment
If you don’t have the luxury of a heated greenhouse you could always overwinter your plumeria as house plants around 20 degrees Celsius. For this to work you should choose a place that receives as much light as possible. A south facing windowsill works best.
Pro’s;
- Your plants will keep their leaves in wintertime and you can enjoy them
- Your plumeria will keep growing and will produce flowers earlier in the season
- You don’t have to be as careful with temperature
- You can repot your plumeria later in the season
Con’s;
- Plumeria need a lot of light, if you don’t have a place with direct sunlight you might need to supplement with a grow light
- You will have more pest problems to watch out for
- You still have to be mindful when watering
If you choose this method keep in mind that plants use less water when there is less light. You should still be wary of root rot. For the plumeria I keep indoors in the winter (smaller ones). I plant them in terracotta pots so they dry out quicker. The biggest problem I encounter is pest problems. And the best method is to inspect your plants regularly and clean them with the soap method I mentioned, as soon as you see anything. If you keep having a lot of pest issues the problem might be that the air in your living room is too dry in winter. You can use a humidifier to solve this problem, or place them in a cooler room.
So I hope this helps to find what works for you and for your space,
Happy growing!
Lotte