Growing plumeria from seeds at home: practical advice

Plumeria grown from seeds with their own hands is a real gift for lovers of the exotic.

A tropical plant even in room conditions will be able to please with its amazing beauty and aroma of flowers.

To do this, it is only necessary to plant the seeds correctly and provide the appropriate care for the plant.

Seed preparation before planting
Soil for planting
Landing process
Optimal conditions and care for crops
Transplanting in individual pots
Further care

Did you know? American plumeria with bright flowers and strong aroma in the 16th century, thanks to Spanish navigators and missionaries, was widely settled around the world - it can be found in Europe, Southeast Asia, on the islands of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, in India and North Africa. In Europe, this plant has two names: plumeria (in honor of the French botanist Charles Plumer, who compiled its first description) and frangipani (on behalf of the Italian marquis, perfumer at the court of Louis XIII Maurizio Frangipani, who invented a way to dissolve aromatic substances in alcohol).

Seed preparation before planting

Frangipani seeds are large, with lionfish (like maples). For planting, fully ripe seeds should be selected, in which the root buds are visible. Before planting, planting material must be soaked. There are several options for soaking.

Option number 1:

seeds should be dipped for 15 minutes into a solution of potassium humate, Epkin, HB-101 or another root growth stimulator;
spread out on a wet gauze / napkin and cover with a damp gauze / napkin;
place in a transparent container (well, if the sun will fall on it and heat it). In the cold season, you can put next to the battery. To sustain a day, periodically wetting gauze from a spray bottle.

After a day, you can start planting, but you can wait a few days until the white roots are full.

Option number 2:

soak the seeds of plumeria in warm water (3-4 hours);
three times lower them for 2-3 seconds in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and dry;
insert the seeds into the holes of the cotton pad with the stoppers up;
Pour warm water into a flat container and place the disk with the seeds of the lionfish up;
roots will hatch in 6-7 days.

Soil for planting

Before planting the plumeria from the seeds it is necessary to prepare the soil. The best for planting will be loose and light substrate. For its preparation use humus, sand, peat, vermiculite (2x1x1x1).

If humus or leafy land from your own garden - it is necessary to fry it in the oven for disinfection (25 minutes) or stand in the microwave (2-3 minutes). Ready-mixes for succulents (cacti, adeniums) are also suitable for planting.

The substrate should be poured into containers with drainage holes.

Landing process

Some gardeners recommend planting each seed in a separate container, justifying that the plumery do not like transplants. Others - use wide flat boxes or plastic greenhouses, not less reasonably noting that in this case, the care of a flower will be simpler and safer for him.

Important! The plumeria's seed reproduction method has a serious disadvantage (or advantage). The probability of repetition of varietal characteristics of the parent plant is almost zero, and the grown daughter plant will be unique. For seed reproduction of plumeria home experts recommend the use of red plumeria seeds (Plumeriarumba).

Planting is as follows:

in the center of the tank (pot) in the substrate it is necessary to make a small hole;
Slightly perpendicularly stick the seed with the lionfish up (it should be dug into the ground completely or at least three-quarters, but the lionfish must be above the ground). Slightly press down the soil around the seed;
moisten the substrate and cover with polyethylene or glass.

Optimal conditions and care for crops

For plumeria to sprout, it is necessary to provide the right care and attention - the cultivation of the first shoots will take from 6 to 12 days. After landing, covered containers should be placed in a warm place (optimum temperature - 23-25 degrees Celsius) without drafts.

Periodically (2 times a day) it is necessary to open and ventilate for 15-20 minutes. If necessary, wet the substrate with a spray.

Important! It is impossible to overmoisten the substrate, watering should be moderate, when airing it is necessary to wipe the condensate that is collected. The main thing is not to let the soil sour.

Sign of the formation of the roots - the slope of the lionfish. With the advent of the stem and cotyledons, the containers are placed in a bright and warm place.

Sometimes the flower needs help in getting rid of the "skin" of the lionfish (the plant itself cannot cope with it and stops growing).To do this, it is necessary to soften the flakes using a wet fleece and, having picked up a toothpick, gently remove it. The coating should be removed gradually (increasing the residence time) after 2-3 true leaves grow.

Did you know? Plumeria has many useful qualities: the essential oil of the plant is actively used in perfumery and cosmetology (the smell of plumeria is combined with the smell of rose, jasmine, sandalwood, lavender, citrus, etc.). Plumeria oil has a positive effect on the skin - it moisturizes, rejuvenates and gives a pleasant and very lasting fragrance. In addition, plumeria - a strong aphrodisiac, it is used in the treatment of impotence and frigidity. Plumeria flower is often used to decorate pastries.

Transplanting in individual pots

The appearance of real leaves and a stem length of 6 cm is a signal for picking. The substrate is placed in a larger (8–10 cm diameter) plastic pot (it is undesirable to use clay pots — plume roots stick to the clay) with claydite drainage. For seating, you can also use peat containers (5-7 cm) and later transplant them with it.

The decimated frangipani should be placed in a warm and sunny (with diffused light) place.Plumeria is growing rapidly - every spring it must be transplanted into a pot 2-3 cm more than the previous one. When the plant reaches the desired size, transplants should be stopped. In this case, you need to update the top layer of the earth every spring (approximately ¼ of the volume).

Did you know? In the Hawaiian Islands, the Polynesians wove their leis from the plumeria - floral wreaths. Plumeria fell in love with the Hawaiians by the fact that the plucked flowers did not lose their freshness for weeks. For the same reason, Buddhists and Hindus considered plumeria as the flower of eternity and immortality. In Bali, in Laos, plumeria has become a national symbol, in the Philippines and in Oceania they believe that frangipani scares vampires. The asteks were decorated with altars for sacrifices with plumeria flowers.

Further care

In the first two years of life, plumeria require careful care - watering, feeding, protection from pests, etc. If the care is correct, the plant will reach 90-100 cm tall, and bloom in 3-5 years.

Watering is required when the top layer of the soil becomes dry. It should be watered with soft, non-lime and non-cold water (rain or melt is particularly well suited). Summer requires daily watering plus spraying.In spring and autumn - watered once every three days. In winter, the plumeria enters a period of rest (drops the leaves) and does not require watering (it is enough to spray the soil once every 10 days from a spray bottle).

The desired temperature is 16-18 degrees Celsius. If you do not reduce the air temperature, leaving it in the range of 23-25 degrees, the flower will try to grow and will not go into rest mode. In this case, you should continue to water the plant normally, adding artificial light (at least eight hours a day).

Important! Rest mode is needed frangipani in order to accumulate strength and provide abundant bloom. If a If you want to get plumeria flowers at home - provide lower temperatures and infrequent watering.

Plumeria is fed several times:

the first time - on the 50th day after the first shoots with nitrogen-containing preparations;
during the first year of life should be fed every two months;
in the second year - in the spring to use fertilizers with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus (1x1x1) every two weeks ("Pokon", "Rainbow"). At the end of May - June - with phosphorus ("Super bloom +", "Ideal", etc.). In July-September - with potassium, magnesium, phosphorus ("ArganiQ").Feeding is not required in winter.

Pruning is best done after the plant leaves the rest mode - in the spring. For better branching of the plumeria from the seeds, it is better to wait for it to bloom. After flowering, it is more willing to give new branches.

Plumeria has few external enemies - poisonous milky sap is not for all insects to taste. Of the pests the spider mite is the most annoying. In the spring and summer it is advisable to spray the leaves with insecticide for prophylaxis, remove dried leaves and flowers, and not overdry the plant.

In the event of a tick attack, use "Aktellik", "Fitoverm" or folk remedies (infusion from dandelion roots, onions, garlic).

Waterlogging can cause the greatest harm to the plant - it can provoke fungus disease (treat with Fundazol and Fitosporin -2-3 treatments), lead to root rot (remove the plant, cut off the affected areas, soak the roots for 4-5 minutes in solution Vitarosa (2 ml x 1 l of water) and transplanted into a new substrate).

Thus, plumeria is worth it to pay attention and strength to it, and the hand-growing of a flower from seeds can be done even by a beginning florist.