Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Fragripani...

The Fragripani, aka plumeria, is blooming... I got three of these cuttings as a souvenier when I went to New Orleans 5 years ago. Put them all in the same pot... 1 didn't make it, the other 2 did. The other, much taller one, blooms pink and this one, which is blooming for the first time, blooms like this...



Actually, I'm surprised that it blooms at all... I don't treat the plant particularly well. To be completely honest, it doesn't fit in that well with my other plants. It's definitely a tropical succulent, and it's got a definite tropical look... I grow it in a pot plunged in the ground all summer, and come fall, after the first frost has taken the leaves, I bring it in and it sits dormant without a leaf in sight until the next spring. I might give it a drink, but usually not, letting it's succulent trunk slowly deplete itself of water until it can start looking a little shriveled up... next spring, it gets a good long drink, set out in the sun, and it starts growing. And it blooms with this treatment... I'm afraid of what would happen if I actually started treating it well...

I do wish they'd come up with scratch and sniff posting... the scent is amazing...

2 comments:

  1. Well, I'm glad you got 2 to root and make good! We had a stalk of it, and planted it outside in full sun, watered it, and it did not ever do anything for a whole year...it didn't die, but it also never rooted. Damndest thing I ever saw. I finally threw it in the trash. It is a lovely thing though, in bloom...we have them all around in my area. I guess the one we had just didn't like us! LOL

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  2. Plumaria scent is intoxicating, but I never had any desire to have any. There are always a bunch of Plumarias of all sizes for sale at the MG Fall Show and Sale, and they do a brisk business. Some people are fanatical about their Plumarias. Sort of like my cacti obsession.
    Aiyana

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