Although plumeria trees are lovely and fragrant, they may also get rather big. You may do a few things if you have limited room or wish to keep your plumeria tree modest. You’ve come to the right site if you’re wondering how to maintain a little plumeria while still enjoying their brilliant show.
This post will cover managing plumeria’s size and keeping them from taking over your yard.
Techniques To Keep Plumeria Small
Although plumeria plants have a natural propensity to expand tall and wide, you may manage their size while fostering healthy growth using the proper methods.
1. Cutting To Size Control
Pruning regularly can help plumeria plants maintain a healthy size and shape. You can direct the plant’s energy into creating new blossoms and healthy foliage by pruning away extra growth and faded blooms. Focus on removing lanky branches and crossed stems when you prune them in the early spring before new development starts.
2. Choosing The Right Container
Keeping your plumeria small can be achieved by selecting the appropriate container. Choose a container that has just enough room for the root system to grow without being too large. Naturally, this will limit the plant’s size and promote more compact growth.
3. Repotting And Root Pruning
Your plumeria’s size can be managed by routinely root-pruning and repotting it. Gently clip the plant’s roots when you see it getting root-bound, then repot it in a slightly bigger container. This limits the plant’s growth and promotes better development.
4. Regulation Of Fertilisation
Your plumeria’s development may be impacted by carefully controlling fertilizer application. Use a balanced, slow-releasing fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content to prevent excessive growth. During the growing season, apply the fertilizer sparingly to promote controlled growth.
What Height May Plumeria Reach?
Although plumeria can grow to a height of 20 feet, the kinds we usually succeed in our gardens are shorter and will only mature to 16 feet. If it’s too huge for you, several types grow shorter, and some have been chosen as dwarf plumeria varieties; these varieties often reach 6 feet tall even after ten years.
The shortest cultivable types of plumeria:
- Dwarf Singapore plumeria
- Dwarf Watermelon plumeria (Chompp Phuang Roi)
- Dwarf Nok plumeria (Duang Suree)
- Napoli JJ plumeria
- Dwarf Orange plumeria
- Dwarf Deciduous plumeria
Optimal Positioning For Size Control
1. Sunlight And Growth
Although plumerias need direct sunshine, you can control their size by varying their exposure. The plant’s growth pace can be reduced while producing lovely blossoms by placing it in a position that receives less sunshine than is ideal.
2. Companion Planting
Your plumeria’s growth can be managed with the help of well-chosen companion planting. Your plumeria’s growth can be restricted, and a beautiful garden can be made by combining it with other plants that require comparable amounts of water and sunlight.
3. Considerations For Temperature
Temperature changes can impact the growth of your plumeria. Consider taking your plumeria indoors over the winter in colder locations. This controlled climate can keep the plant from growing too quickly and manageable.
How Can I Prune Mature Plumeria?
Here are the procedures for pruning an established plumeria:
- Pick the ideal moment to prune. When the tree is dormant, the winter or early spring is the perfect time to prune plumeria.
- Pruning shears should be sharp. Before you begin trimming, make sure to clean your shears with rubbing alcohol.
- Start by removing any branches that are infected, dead, or damaged.
- After that, trim any branches that are too long or crowded together.
- Finally, prune the tree’s top to promote branching.
Plumeria Care For Smaller Plants
You can do a few things, besides trimming, to make a plumeria restrict its growth, but doing so is not recommended. As we’ve discussed in earlier articles, plumeria plants are stressed by the following techniques, which also restrict the roots of the plants. Bound plumeria roots are far more likely to develop root rot.
Using the following tips, you ought to be able to keep plumeria small:
1. Put plumeria in direct sunlight.
In nature, plumeria prefer to be planted in full sun; fortunately, doing so can also assist in restricting their development. When growing in the shadow, plumeria grows vertically to reach the sunlight. They grow more slowly when exposed to full sun, making managing with just one annual prune simpler.
2. Put Plumeria In Pots
Plumeria grown in pots only ever reach the permitted height because they have a finite amount of room for their roots and are entirely at your mercy in terms of feeding, watering, and light.
Although plumeria in pots may be small, they can grow lanky because they lack the root system necessary to generate bushy growth. Instead, they grow fast upward and provide meager displays of flowers.
Keep your plumeria in its container for three years to assist in managing this. Then, trim the roots and put the plant into a slightly bigger pot. You plumeria can survive here for another two to three years.
Conclusion:
Maintaining small plumeria plants can be done without extensive work or special care; routine pruning and regular maintenance are required. Finding an optimal spot is also crucial for these blooms to thrive.
Pruning is vital to keeping plumeria small. Please familiarize yourself with your tools and study your plant before undertaking its first trim.
