what is going on here and how do i fix it?!? bottom portion is all shriveled up. 2 cuttings out of 4 i bought came out like this. 1 of them feels squishy almost yellow looking. can i save it? any advices are helpful. thank you

It needs to be cut above the shriveled part. Then calloused again before attempting to re-root.

this is my first callousing pulmerias. i read that you cut the bad shriveled part and let it dry in cool place rubber box for a week or two and the repot the cutting. anything else i need to keep in mind? what do i do with the lower cutting under the shrivel part that appears to be good. thank you in advance, Hetty

I forgot to say - the bottom part might sprout again. Where are you located? It may make a difference in the callousing process.

Stockton, Ca. Weather has been in the 75-90 degrees lately. I thought it too dry so I gave it a little water today. I'll check on it tomorrow to see if it worsen. I hope not because I would be really sad. Thank you.

Where the bottom section right above the soil has shriveled, this will not heal. The cambium is gone. If that is all the way around the stem, there is no way it will get better - sorry..... I would cut now.
Are these plants or cuttings? When did you plant them?

Hello cherryblossoms Glad to see another San Joaquin country member here!
Something I learned with my plumeria attempts, if rooting a cutting, got to keep it in part shade for awhile till it starts to develop leaves. Our intense hot sun and extremely dry conditions is too much for it. It can take our furnace temps, but the sun is too intense. And got to wait till it shows new leaf claws before you water or at least one fully grown leaf, otherwise, it will just do that bottom rotting. I only water at the beginning when I plant it and leave it alone patiently. Once a new leaf is growing, then I can water freely, at times every other day here, it is just too dismally dry in our areas. Is there another plant or tree where you can put your container to help and shade it for now?.

I would do as Hetty suggested and cut off that portion, let the upper part callous before replanting again. Our window to root them is really slim here. Our overnights are getting cooler.

Yep, for me at least, I try to stop rooting mid-September. That's not to say I won't take cuttings after that, since I often do because of having to bring in large plants, and thus needing to trim them. I will stick those (late) cuttings into coarse perlite, knowing that the chances of rooting them is slim. Mother Nature is calling for them to go dormant and being in that dormant cycle is just opposite of being in a growth/rooting cycle. These late cuttings will just overwinter in the buckets of perlite. Not all these cuttings will make it over the winter though. They won't necessarily rot, they just get stone-hard from too much water loss. So plumeria can go hard just as easily as they go soft. Dead is dead either way.

I agree with all that has been said. The main thing is to not let any rot get into your plumeria.

Thank you for all your great advices. I'll cut it and let it callous. I'll let you guys know how it went in a week. According to the supplier where I got these cuttings from he told
me to cover it up with dirt because the tips are still good so I havent cut them just yet.


It looks worse then yesterday

All I can say is - I disagree.

I would also recommend to use a smaller container/bucket after you get it to callus. That cutting will be too short already.

I won't be as diplomatic as @Hetty. Dead tissue, regardless of the cause, should be immediately removed. Cut until you get healthy, white, "latex-oozing" tissue and then let that cut end callus for a week or more. You certainly don't need a large pot to root the plant. Just large enough and heavy enough not to tip over.

Just monitor too your outdoor temps there. I think by mid October, being a cutting, you will have to move it indoors, especially once overnights go below 55F.

I think you need to tell the supplier to send you a replacement cutting. Send this picture you posted and tell them it is not going to make it.

The rot is progressing upward and it is hard to root a shorter cutting. And even if you can successfully root it. It takes twice longer for it to bloom since it has to work harder to get to the mature size. (It's almost like starting from seeds.)

Most reputable suppliers will send you a one-time free replacement. They want your repeat business.

Well - I will be even less diplomatic. Cover the area that is bad with dirt? Good grief - that is rediculous if that is what they said. As indicated above, ask for a replacement.

Thank you! I did cut already and letting it callous as well sent a message to the supplier if he would consider sending me a replacement. I sent him the last picture. Let's hope he does. The other three looks like it's okay because the leaves are sprouting.

Keep us posted please!

Will do! Here's my collection of pulmerias. I'm new to this type of flowers and these were all cuttings I rooted this summer. Exceptions the 3 big ones- they were given to me as birthday gifts

They look excellent