Thanks @Azgarden. Perhaps it is better to try to germinate in soil. I personally do not like the wet paper method so much. After all plants do need soil to grow.

Hello everyone. Newbie here, but have been reading the forums for a while and as I started plumeria seeds a few months ago figured I'd give my feedback. I started 36 seeds I purchased from a seller on Amazon and 14 germinated. One set of seeds I have asked to be replaced as most were not in good condition. Anyways, I initially just put them into seedling starter trays filled with Miracle Grow Cactus mix, then placed the seed trays inside aluminum pans with plastic covers and stuck in a south facing window. Some sprouted within a few days and just took off. Others took about two weeks or so.


I was misting regularly with a simple solution of tap water and superthrive. Once I had a few good leaves I moved the seedlings into clear plastic cups so I could watch the root development. I also started watering/misting with a mixture of tap water, superthrive, and Dyna-Gro foliage pro and Pro-tekt. As it started to get colder I kept them inside the house and purchased LED grow lights to put them under.


Since they have taken off even more. One specifically already had 4 branches coming out and is just barely 6 inches. I have heat mats now and will be starting more seeds next week.

Bradfish83
Good job on those seedlings!

Good looking seedling, Gerald Are you liking your LED grow lights? How old is your branching seedling?

I am liking the LEDs so far. The seedling that is branching was planted just before thanksgiving and germinated a few days later. Maybe Nov 28 was when it sprouted. Many others that are a few days older are just starting to show signs of branching now. The big one is supposedly "Purple Butterfly". The others are Orange Ribbon.

Edit: I wanted to go into a little more detail about the LED lights I have been using. Keep in mind I have only been using these a little over 2 months.

My favorite is my 45 Watt which I purchased for just under $40 from Amazon. They are about 12"x12"x1" and contain 225 led bulbs, 60 blue and 165 red. The operate at wavelengths that simulate the two spectrum needed by plans to grow. Red support flowering and vegetative growth, and the blue supports stem and leaf growth. The size of these allow me to place many seedlings under one light fixture.


I also have a few E27 style bulbs that fit the general light socket. These type are what I started with and seemed to work well, just didn't have the coverage I wanted like the 45w fixtures do. I have some 120° that will cover decent area but at a lower intensity. I also have some 90° bulbs that work great for single plants, but dont have coverage for more then that.


The LED's use much less power then standard grow lights which is nice for my wallet and generate almost zero heat which means the plants can get closer to the lights without risk of burning the leaves. I also will say the LED's are working as an alternate light source for my seedlings this winter as the continue to grow well with these being their main light source. HID and HPS lights will perform better then LED, but are much more expensive and generate more heat, some of which require a setup to keep the bulbs cooler.

Hopefully this helps for anyone interested in using LED grow lights.

And thanks for the warm welcome.

Nice job Gerald.

Bradfish83 and congrats on your seedlings.
It seems you already have some knowledge with planting seeds.
If you are new to plumerias then you've come to the right place.
I have learned so much from this site and it's wonderful experienced members.
Please keep us updated on your seedlings. I really like the one that is branching 4 different ways.

Gerald! Those are interesting set up, but glad it works!

Here is my first batch of Moragne #27 babies. Seed planted 12/23/15. One month old today...1/23/16. They sprouted quickly. The second set of true leaves are now appearing, but one leaf at a time. First set appeared as a pair. I am now a firm believer in H2O2 seed soak, misting and watering with all my seeds, not only plumeria. Keeping them on heat mat under T5 lights.

Azgarden said:I am now a firm believer in H2O2 seed soak, misting and watering with all my seeds, not only plumeria. Keeping them on heat mat under T5 lights.

Yeppers. And congrats on the seedlings. Going down to the torture chamber now to check mine.

David. report back on the Torture Chamber!

@Azgarden
H2O2, is that water and hydrogen peroxide? I usually soak mine overnight with water, peroxide and superthrive. I just started a new batch of Plumeria using Rapid Rooters. I did not soak the seeds this time, but instead soaked the rooters with that solution. Was told no pre soaking is required so I'm hoping for the best.

@Bradfish83 yes, I have been using a solution of 1tablespoon of peroxide to 2 cups of RO water. Have not done a "control" set of seeds yet. This is working, although I think I will add in superthrive for the next batch of seeds. Just located my long lost bottle have not seen rapid rooters. Have you used those exclusively? Have used Hoffman's soil with added perlite, Jiffy peat pellets, and Root Riot cubes. The Root Riot seedlings were slowest to germinate, but that could be the type of seed itself. Germination at earliest has been 3 days and my Root Riot seedlings came up starting on the 6th day. I've soaked all of my media, including the cubes in peroxide solution, even though the Root Riot says it is not necessary.Your setup looks very nice and organized.

This will be my first time using rapid rooters. In the past I used MiracleGrow cactus and palm mix for my seedlings after soaking in H2O2 and superthrive. I have another set of 20 plumeria seeds that should arrive tomorrow, which I will use the presoaked and cactus mix on 10 and straight rapid rooters on rest and compare to see what the results are. I need to buy another heat mat

Gerald...Love heat mats! Have 3 and want more. You can never have too many! I am searching every flat space...including husband's desk for new places.

Have been using Miracle Grow cactus mix, but came across EB Stone's organic cactus mix this past week and got a bag to see how it compares.

I have 4 heat mats going now. One for Adenium seeds, one for plumeria, one for hibiscus and one for plumeria cuttings I'm trying to bag root (accidentally got left in pots in the rain and started to rot, so cleaned up and trying bag method). I actually bought plastic shelves from Lowes and stuck it in my office for the winter.



It's always interesting to read which soils and methods work best in different areas and different people. Let me know how the Arab Stones works out please.

What is Rapid Rooters?
What is Root Riot?

Back from Torture chamber - no true leaves yet but 27 up.

Yeah - I now use H2O2/water a lot = soaking media, watering my seeds, misting etc. Really helps tp prevent damping off and reduces other fungus nasties.

27 babies! Sounds like the torture chamber is working

Those are brands of planting cubes.

OIC .... I tried the ones that look like fiberglass and decided they just do not work for me.

Product description from vendor:
Rapid rooter plugs are fortified with General Hydroponic micronutrients for abundant root growth. The optimal air-to-water ratio within the plug matrix results in explosive early root growth. Use Rapid Rooter for robust early rooting that supports explosive plant growth.

They look like this;



They are made of "High Quality Tree Bark" according to manufacturer. I planted 47 plumeria seeds into them yesterday and will update this week as to how they are doing in the rapid rooters.