Plumeria is a fragrant flowering plant endemic to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean as well as Brazil and Florida. Grown primarily for it's fragrant vibrant flowers it has become a staple and a well-loved ornamental cultivar in many warm regions. While it can be grown as a container plant, it will best thrive in warm well-drained soil where it will grow to a size of a small tree. Because plumeria are prized for their extremely beautiful and fragrant blooms, it is often important to maintain a consistent fertilization program to achieve Healthy Growth. So what is the best fertilizer for plumeria? Let's find out.
Where do plumerias grow best?
Before we begin, we need to understand that plumeria will not grow well in all regions. Because Plumerias are tropical trees that are Hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11, the average minimum daily temperature Cannot drop below 30 degrees Fahrenheit for a prolonged period of time. In other regions plumerias thrive in containers and can be taken indoors for the winter. Care must be taken to ensure that cold rain or Frost do not damage the leaves or the roots.
Soil is also very important factor for growing beautiful and vibrant plumeria plants. pick a soil That provides good drainage while maintaining a good amount of organic material. Frequent watering and lack of drainage may cause root rot and stun or kill you're otherwise healthy plant. it is important to water your plants thoroughly but also allow excess moisture to drain away and let the soil dry before watering it again. this cycle should repeat itself every 3 to 4 days depending on the size of your container and the size of your plant.
How to choose the best fertilizer for a plumeria?
The importance of picking a well-rounded fertilizer.
While plumerias are relatively hardy and will thrive in a warm climate it is often difficult to get them to bloom, especially if grown in containers. Hence it is important to maintain a balanced and a well-rounded fertilizer program to keep your plumeria plants happy and healthy.
All fertilizers, be it organic or synthetic, are comprised of macro and micro elements. And it is these macro and micro elements, that will drive the growth and flower production of your play plumerias. The macro elements are divided into two components: primary macro elements, and secondary macro elements. The primary macro elements are nitrogen phosphorus and potassium. The secondary Macker elements are calcium magnesium and sulphur, typically present in smaller amounts than the primary Mac irrelevance. The micro elements are comprised of iron zinc manganese boron in Copper. while the the name micro implies that they are present in smaller amounts, they are just as important as macro elements to the overall health and well-being of your plants.
A complete and well-rounded fertilizer will have not only old and macro and micro elements, but we'll also have them in the correct proportions. think of it like having a balanced diet. Nitrogen, for example, is responsible for growing Lush and vibrant leaves. Phosphorus facilitates root growth and flower development, and potassium regulates water movement, improves root growth, and increases drought tolerance and resistance. Naturally, if you want your plumerias to bloom, you want a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and potassium, and low in nitrogen. having an excess of nitrogen, will celebrate the growth of stems and leaves, reducing the amount of energy the plant has for producing Buds and Flowers. That's if you want to shift your plan from vegetative production, to flowering, you want to reduce the amount of nitrogen you are providing.
Soil pH. An often overlooked critical component.
As discussed above, having a well-rounded fertilizer is a great start to getting your plumerias to bloom. What is often overlooked, is the soil acidity and soil composition. As mentioned before your soil should be well draining while maintaining a rich amount of organic material. If your plants are grown in containers, frequent fertilization may lead to a drop in acidity, causing your nutrients to be unavailable to your plants. This can be corrected by checking the acidity of your soil, and adjusting to meet an appropriate range. Most plants will thrive in the PH range of 5.8 to 6.3. if your plumeria is growing Outdoors, most soils will be slightly alkaline, due to the Natural presence of calcium carbonate in the soil. This is however not always the case, and if you have conifers or Cedars growing on your property your soil may actually be acidic. Again, testing your soil is the best way to ensure that your fertilizer regimen is optimized.
If soil testing is not convenient, or readily available, the best course of action is to choose a fertilizer that is buffered ( pH of adjusted) to the appropriate range. more on this later.
When should you start fertilizing your plumerias?
It is important to start your fertilizer regiment as early as possible, ideally before the buds begin to set. In USDA zones 10 and 11, this will begin in early April and continue throughout August. During the fall and winter months, if you live in colder climates, bring your plants indoor, and discontinue the fertigation program. if you are lucky to live in a warmer climate, you may continue fertilizing your plumerias, throughout the year At half the recommended rate. an early start to a fertilizer program, will ensure that your flowers will not only set better, but will develop healthier throughout the year, yielding two more vibrant and bigger blooms. The frequency of the fertilization routine will depend on two things, the size of your plant, and the size of the container that it's growing in. larger plants will obviously require a larger amount of nutrients, and a larger container will be able to facilitate a larger root structure does being able to take more fertilizer. You should apply fertilizer once a week, with a sufficient amount of water to ensure that is delivered to the entire root Zone. To get a little more technical, 1.5 - 2.0 EC ( stands for electrical conductivity) or between 750 to 1000 PPM ( stands for parts per million) at a pH of 6.3 is and ideal ratio to feed your plumerias.
Why you should consider using a liquid seaweed extract as your fertilizer for plumeria?
As the name may suggest, liquid seaweed extract is Seaweed that has been collected, dried, and process to be used as an organic fertilizer. For thousands of years, and in many cultures, seaweed has been used as both food and fertilizer. Farmers from across the world have used seaweed for hundreds of years as mulch for soil, and even today there are large seaweed Industries in Canada, Norway, Ireland, and Scotland. these industries Ensure not only the best quality of the seaweed, but also practice sustainable harvesting practices, and Ensure but there is a lasting supply for generations to come. it is these sustainable harvesting practices, and the renewable nature of seaweed, that makes liquid seaweed extract the best fertilizer for your plumerias.
When choosing liquid seaweed extract as a fertilizer for your plumerias, three important things must be considered: (1) seaweed extract as a fertilizer is complete and contains all the essential macro and micro elements discussed above (2) the fertilizer is pH balance to a slightly acidic pH of 6.3 (3) the product is sustainably harvested and is renewable in nature (4) naturally liquid seaweed extract contain a number of other beneficial growth-promoting substances including but not limited to vitamins amino acids and natural plant growth regulators. We will cover the importance of each one of these below.
Seaweed extract contains all the essential macro and micro elements As well as organic matter in a form of alginate.
As we discussed above, a well-balanced fertilizer diet is going to be the key to get in your plumerias to bloom and stay healthy and vibrant. The best fertilizer for plumarias will contain a low amount of nitrogen, but will have a balanced ratio phosphorus potassium calcium magnesium and sulphur. Combined with the right combination of micro elements, This will provide the best results for your plumeria plants.
Furthermore, seaweed extract is rich in alginate, the component of seaweed that makes it survived the depth of the ocean, provide resilience, and structure to the overall plan. Alginate is a great source of organic carbon, which increases the moisture holding capacity of the soil. if your soil drains exceptionally well, but doesn't hold water, it may cause your plants and containers to dry out too quickly. While this drying is beneficial, having it occur too quickly May jeopardize the health of your plumerias. Furthermore, organic alginate has the added benefit of improving soil structure, by buying the organic particles and increasing the uptake of macro and micro Elements by your plumerias. The natural sticky tendency of alginate, reduce soil erosion and increases the health and porosity of your soil. it is this natural property that is especially important in areas of high rainfall, where excessive rain May Leach nutrients from the soil and the containers, depriving your plants of the essential elements.
Seaweed extract is ph balanced to 6.3, making it ideal for plumerias.
As we discussed above, pH is a crucial but often times overlooked component of your soil health. Having the pH too high or too low, will lock out essential nutrients, making your fertilizer regiment less effective. The ideal PH range for most plants will be between 5.8 to 6.5, slightly on the acidic side.
Because seaweed extract is balanced to 6.3 pH, this makes it ideal for slightly acidic soils and soils that are high in organic material. Unlike conventional fertilizers, that may be too acidic or too alkaline, seaweed extract will not lock out your nutrients and will deliver the correct ratios of macro and micro elements are plumerias each and every time.
Liquid seaweed extract is harvested sustainably, and is the natural renewable resource.
unlike chemical fertilizers, fertilizers derived from seaweed are naturally biodegradable toxic, non-polluting, and not hazardous to humans, animals, birds, and bees. it is these natural properties of the seaweed extract, that make it an ideal fertilizer for your plumerias. The added benefit of organic liquid seaweed fertilizer, is that is harvested in a sustainable and natural way. these Harvest are regulated at the federal level, to ensure that only the right amount of seaweed is taken from any one spot, and that the area is allowed to regrow in regenerate for future harvests. Synthetic fertilizers are by definition non-renewable, and require mining and chemical processing to be purified and delivered to your plants. These are Often resource-heavy and require petrochemicals to complete the process.
Liquid seaweed extract contains a number of essential vitamins amino acids and natural plant growth regulators.
Just like essential macro and micro elements are vital for healthy and vibrant growth of your plumerias, vitamins, amino acids, and plant growth Regulators (PGRs) enhance that growth and improve the overall structure and size of the flowers. While not deemed essential, vitamins, amino acids, and PGRs are highly beneficial and work synergistically (together) with macro and micro elements. pgrs often times increase the size of flowers, improve the structure of the plant, and allow plumerias to develop to their full potential. Vitamins and amino acids are essential for all life, and provide your plant with the added benefit so that they can develop to their full true potential.