Growing Advice for Frangipanis (Plumeria)
First Care
It is important to follow the steps outlined below, to ensure your new frangipani will thrive.
The ideal potting mix
Avoid common pitfalls with store-bought soil mixes – we tell you everything you need to know.
9 Tips for Healthy plants
Follow the 9-point Growing Guide below for optimal results with your Scented Garden Frangipani.
Frangipani: The Perfect Flower for Australia’s Gardens
Inextricably linked to the tropics Plumeria are now being successfully grown in all parts of Australia except the Alpine zones.
Frangipani will grow well in any soil type but prefers well-drained soil. They will grow in all climates except the severe frost-prone temperate climates. They prefer and grow best in a hot dry climate. They are very drought and fire-hardy. Therefore they are well suited to the Australian climate.
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Dwarf
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Evergreen
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Semi-Dwarf
Frangipani
How to successfully grow Frangipanis.
01
On arrival
Your plant/s will arrive bare-rooted with roots packed in damp sphagnum moss & leaves removed. It is best to individually pot your plants in a 5 or 6-inch plastic pot with the potting mix recommended in point 2. Keep the pots in semi-shade or full sun in the mornings and shade from midday and afternoon until roots can be seen coming out of the bottom of pots. Wait until your plant/s produces at least 4 fully formed leaves before planting in the ground.
02
Potting up your cuttings
The ideal potting mix, is 40% commercial potting mix and 60% inorganic material such as course sand or perlite or gravel. Commercial potting mixes are generally full of fungus and bacteria which can be harmful to plants, so always water plants AND potting mix with a systemic fungicide, and a tomato wilt bactericide when potting up your plants. Any/All SYSTEMIC Tomato Wilt spray solutions are recommended.
03
Should I fertilise?
Yes. Frangipani are hardy and forgiving plants that seem to thrive on neglect. However, given regular watering and a fertiliser high in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, during the flowering season, they will reward you with more plentiful flowers which are bigger and stronger in colour. Do not fertilize your frangipanis until they have produced four new fully formed leaves.
04
Sunlight & Positioning
A minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily is required for optimum/maximum flowering. Frangipanis are very drought, salt, and fire-tolerant plants. They grow well in large pots. Only water your frangipanis once per week during the cooler months. Do not water in winter once established.
05
Treating rust
Leaves can be affected by fungus, mould, and rust. If needed, leaves are best sprayed with a copper-based fungicide or a lime Sulphur fungicide and white oil / horticultural oil solution.
06
Pruning Frangipani
Keep at a preferred size with regular pruning. Different pruning approaches can be used. To create a densely branched specimen prune branches to one-half or one-third of their natural length. To prune to a topiary shrub style, simply prune branches right back to the main trunk, to prevent further branching.
07
Nourishing your Frangipani
Avoid fungal infections by using foliar fungicide sprays. A mixture of powdered milk powder and white oil or detergent has been proven to be most effective against rust and powdery mildew. We also recommend adding a ‘tomato wilt’ bactericide to the systemic fungicide solution. Keeping plants well-nourished helps prevent fungal infections.
08
Tips for propagation
Propagation of frangipani is usually from cuttings, which should be dried out for one week in the shade and then planted directly into the ground or pots of sand. Water only once per fortnight until roots have developed. Breeders also propagate from seeds or by grafting or air layering.
09
Tips for fertilizing
Only fertilize in the growing /flowering season – Spring and Summer. Frangipanis respond best to organic fertilizers which are high in N.P.K. eg. chicken manure pellets with added trace minerals. Once established they love a top dressing of animal manure, fire ash, and compost. Dilute seaweed extract is an excellent foliage fertilizer. We do not recommend fish emulsion or blood and bone for frangipanis.
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