Wondering if a 3 gallon size container would be sufficient for maintaining Mature Plumerias...

Would make moving them inside each Fall easier, if they all were in the same size container !

Considered the typical 3 gallon black nursery containers but prefer something more decorative...

like a Square container: https://www.windowbox.com/pots...


suggestions

Plumeria grow into very tall trees, so if you want to use a small pot like that, you'll have to be continually pruning back the branches, and even ocasionally pruning the roots to keep it the right size for the pot. I have to move plants in and out too, so I know how hard it is. I use a furniture dolly to transport mine, but it's still a chore.

Karen; My Goal is keeping each tree 5 ft in height.. I know pruning will be required, just wasn't sure if the root ball would Need a larger container. Possible a 4 gallon size?

I find that my potted plumeria become too top heavy in 3 gallon pots and fall over. I have 3 that I just transplanted into 3 gals potslast spring. They are toppling over already. They seem very much at home in much larger 22" pots.

I'd go with the larger pots if you can handle them.Otherwise, keep them well pruned down. If it's a really large pot, I sometimes put in a big rock to help anchor it down.

Or grow a compact variety. Still, they grow to 15 ft.

I would never plan to keep a plumeria in a 3 or even 5 gallon pot forever, it will eventually just be a very poor tree.

Dutchlady1 said:I would never plan to keep a plumeria in a 3 or even 5 gallon pot forever, it will eventually just be a very poor tree.

Now I'm worried I've made a _Big Mistake getting hooked on Plumerias Am unable to plant in the ground due to Winter Temps... No Greenhouse.. so they Have to be brought indoors each Fall to go dormant.

Just assumed/hoped that they would adapt to container culture.. i.e. a 5 gallon pot would be my Max.

You can un-pot them in the fall, wash the dirt off the roots, let dry and stack them like cordwood in a garage or closet. Then pot them up again in the Spring. A lot of people do that when they have too many to take inside.

I uproot one of mine from in the ground. It slows them down a bit but no biggie after it gets replanted in the spring. It was scary the first time. But now I don't worry about it. This fall I am going to unpot one of my potted trees to see what happens. If all is good, I will unpot them all every winter for ease of storage.

I believe DrDawg did this a lot when he lived in Mississippi. He can probably provide more information.

Not all of us live in the tropics or subtropics and we have to make compromises. You can get by with 5 gallon pots for a while. Unpotting or digging up plants works but is a lot of work if you have a bunch. I prefer to keep mine in pots and move them inside in the winter. At some point I may need to change my strategy as they get bigger and 7 gallons is my upper limit at this time.

As a plumeria enthusiast up here in Nova Scotia, are some of you suggesting that when fall approaches, I can unpot my 1 1/2' foot plants, about a dozen, which are outside now, shake the dirt off them and stack them up against a wall inside, dry? Wow! I would not want to bet money on that! I bring them in and keep them under lights all winter. They do not drop their leaves! I have a number of Bouganvillias over five years old, and a producing Persian Lime tree, the same age. Same method. Please provide a reference for handling my plumerias. Not arguing with any of you, just looking for reassurance. Thank you.

Digging up your plumeria then often bagging them helps with winter storage issues where space is an issue. If you can keep your plumeria growing and out of dormancy or have a variety as I do that simply wont always go dormant below 50°, more power to you.

Many plumeria growers especially where the summer climate permits amazing plumeria growth, even if winter temps drop below 50°F have many, many trees and much, much larger than your 1-1/2 foot cutting and so winter storage can be a problem. We live where growing conditions are prime for plumeria and we take full advantage of it to have beautiful flowering trees.. My tallest tree out grew my heated 12ft tall greenhouse in 2015. I protected it in the garage in 2016 and 2017. It wont fit in the garage in fall of 2018. It's already grown 8" so far this summer. I have little choice but to uproot it, or trim it back, which I dont want to do.

I hope this answers your question @fwmosher. Do your plumeria ever get to full tree height in your short growing season?

I used to have many more plumerias than I do now. I had to sell all of them when we went overseas. Mine were mostly 6 ft and up, and they do well taken out of their pots over the winter. They do just fine when you pot them up in the spring.

I only had one or two that I kept indoors all winter. They kept their leaves and even bloomed for me inside the house.

What do you guys think ?

https://www.amleo.com/20-gallo...

$66ea? Whew! I have large pots that I have paid way less than that, that look way prettier than that and have lasted many years.

That does seem like a really high price!

@bbqnblues Glenn, this may not be the quality you are looking for but at $10 ea., might do the job for you?

http://www.greenhousemegastore...