Frangipani Admin
Frangipani will be waking up very soon for Spring, and we have some helpful tips for those of you who are spending your first full season cycle with a Frangi, or anyone who is having a bit of a struggle with caring for one of these beautiful plants.
New leaves & Bugs
When new leaves start to appear, you’ll need to start giving your frangipani some light watering. These new leaves may be slightly crinkly or distorted, this is totally normal and as the plant gets cranked up the leaves will become that lovely narrow shape.
Make sure to check for any bugs (especially thrips) on those crinkly new leaves, as they make a great sheltered hiding place. Treat by spraying with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Rot, Repotting & Pruning
Check for any soft or mushy branches on your frangi. Prune as necessary as rot is likely to spread. If you have rot at the base of your plant, this could be cause to check for root rot. You may need to cut your plant away from its roots and begin again by propagating the stems.
You can repot as needed, typically every 2 years. You’ll need to remove a third of the roots and switch out some of the growing medium. Now is also the time to prune any unwanted branches, or take cuttings for new plants! Read on for more about propagating.
Propagating
Make a nice clean cut when you prune your frangi, with some sharp secateurs or branch loppers. It will bleed a lot of white milky sap, this will irritate the skin so try not to make contact.
Then allow your cutting/s to dry out for up to three weeks, making sure they don’t get wet. Make sure the base of the cutting has a sealed appearance, it should look a bit like a wound that is just starting to heal over.
Then you can pot up in a well draining soil mixture and water in. Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. It’s best to have your cuttings under cover so they don’t get prematurely watered by the rain.
Calloused frangipani cuttings. (Image from jandjplumerias on instagram)
Fertilizing & Sun
Fertilize with either slow release or a high phosphorous fertilizer according to the instructions. A dose of potash is excellent for gorgeous flowers, you can repeat this once more in Summer. Make sure your frangi is getting at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, otherwise she won’t be able to produce flowers.
You can also strategically place your frangipani by a stone or concrete wall that gets plenty of sun, the warmth radiated by the stone will create a nice warm environment and encourage more growth.
