Hello! Kindly requesting help with my Celadine! I'm a total newbie, so please forgive me if I misuse terms, or otherwise neglect to include pertinent information.

I live in New York City, and because of recent, inconsistent temperature fluctuations, have been trying to root a branched Celadine cutting indoors. Eventually, I hope the plumeria will live happily during the summer months on our second-floor terrace. The terrace has a northeastern exposure.

I acquired the cutting around the beginning of May, but wasn't able to attempt to root until June 1. The soil is well-draining, with perlite. The tip is buried about 3 inches into the potting medium, no rooting hormone was used. Moderate water was used to allow the soil to adhere to the bottom of the cutting, but in the last 21 days, I've neither watered nor fertilized. I do mist the plant morning and nights for humidity, and it's placed under a 450 lumen 2700K 6W LED bulb while the sun is up.

It has eight tips, three of which have produced abundant flowers. The first flowers were fuller and less "wilty," I'm guessing because the plant could better support fewer blooms. New leaves are emerging from each of the eight tips. The longest leaves are about 7 inches in length.

What next?
When is it safe to water?
When is it safe to fertilize?

Separately, I'll be traveling for two weeks beginning next week. How should I prepare the plant and what to do while I'm away so it's safe upon my return?

Thanks so much, and I greatly look forward to learning more from this community.





edited to fix typo.

First off, I do not think that you have the Celadine (notice spelling). Your branching, leaf-shape and size, and recurved petals are not Celadine-like at all. I have included photos of the flowers of several of my Celadine. You certainly should not use fertilizer while your cutting is rooting. Without roots, well, there is no nutritional intake. Misting probably won't hurt, but also probably won't help with rooting. You are rooting it about what I do with mine, but I do keep my potting mix damp. I used to worry about rot if my cuttings got wet, but no longer do. A well-callused stem doesn't tend to rot when you are rooting it.

All this being said, your cutting may be rooted. Have you gently tugged on the plant to see if it comes out of the media readily or resists lifting?

What to do while you are gone? Humm, that's a tough question. If the cutting has rooted, you need to have someone water it while you are gone. A potted plumeria that is well-rooted uses water at a pretty rapid rate. If it isn't rooted, you won't have to worry about it. You've kept it dry for 3 wk., so another couple of weeks won't matter a bit.

How much direct sun will your plumeria get, @FlowerPOWER, spring and summer? Plumeria are tropical trees, sun-loving trees, and in my experience, growing many hundreds of plumeria over a 25 yr. period, you will neither get good growth nor flowering without at least 6-8 hr. of direct sun. Your LED won't nearly make up for lack of sun. What do you plan on doing with it when it gets cold up there (and cold comes early for you)?

Welcome to NGA.

Celadine, as most plumeria cultivars, will display differently in different areas. Can you post a close up of your leaf?
Generally when you have leaves you can trust that there are roots. In that case feel free to water and fertilize.

That is a pretty Celadine I would water that plant generously by now, it is fully awake. They get quite thirsty and water needy when they are awake. Nice to know it has good drainage.

tarev said:That is a pretty Celadine I would water that plant generously by now, it is fully awake. They get quite thirsty and water needy when they are awake. Nice to know it has good drainage.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and insight! And kind words. It smells divine too, even if I really should clip the blooms so the cutting can focus its energy on forming roots.

Dutchlady1 said:Can you post a close up of your leaf?
Generally when you have leaves you can trust that there are roots. In that case feel free to water and fertilize.

Thank you for your note. Here are some closeups. The cutting has eight "tips" and each tip now has leaf growth. The photos are in various stages.

@drdawg, Thanks so much for your kind note and for all your good info. I've fixed the spelling. Your Celadines are lovely!

I've seen conflicting thoughts on watering, and for that reason have held off so far, but can begin to do so at least to dampen the soil as you describe. When misting the cutting's growth, I gave some attention to the soil, too, but not so much. Got it with respect to fertilizer.

I have not tugged on the plant yet to see if there's any resistance, but can do so. I understood developing roots to be fragile, and was hesitant to disturb them.

The plumeria will get good direct sunlight in summer months. Other times will prove more challenging.

Thank you for your warm welcome and good advice!

From your leaf it appears you have a Celadine. Congratulations!

Celadine leaf with that double, lateral veining, and perhaps a subvariety.

@Dutchlady1 @drdawg – Good to know. Thanks to you both!

Hoping someone can help. My plumeria is struggling and not sure what's going on. It started having brown spots and now just keeps getting worse. Please ideas for help.

It is approaching dormancy time. Normal for plumeria to begin having ugly leaves and losing leaves. Reduce watering.

@Kamaina22 with Ken, your plumeria is entering dormancy.

May I suggest a spray with a natural product: Neem Oil before storing for the Winter. You can buy a ready-to-use spray on Amazon.

Your plant is going dormant as already mentioned, so just remove the dead leaves as it goes. No fertilizers, just keep it warm and drier. That means less to no watering as winter ensues.

Sometimes I may give it some water, but it is poured far away from the base of the plant, just around at the outer edge. We all have varying growing areas, it may go too cold on your side, especially at night, so keep it warm indoors..not too close to any cold window.

It will wake up towards mid Spring or later..just depends on your area's ambient conditions.

Towards Spring, you may want to check the soil, amend it, in case it needs more well draining soil, so that it is ready later for active growing when temps gradually warm up much more and light levels duration and intensity increases.