About Seed Pods – Growing Plumeria from Seeds (2024)

FAQs

About Seed Pods – Growing Plumeria from Seeds? ›

Once pollinated, plumeria flowers will fade and begin to grow into seed pods. These seed pods will take eight to ten months to mature into viable plumeria seeds. Propagating plumeria by seed is a test of patience but, generally, is a better method of propagation for plumeria than taking cuttings.

Now you have 30-40 seeds and what to do with them? I place the pod in a paper bag to dry for about two weeks. Check on them occasionally to make sure they are drying properly. Plumeria seeds will stay viable for one to two years, but the sooner you can plant them, the better germination rate will be.

Things You'll Need

It takes about 3 years for plumeria to bloom from seedlings. While the plumeria you start from seed may not look like its parents you could get some very pretty plants from seedlings.

Visual Test – you should be able to see the inner part of the seeds (cotyldon) through the skins. Good seeds are a white or light color. Bad seeds are a black or dark color. When the cotyldon is dead from the inside, the seed is no longer germinatable.

Growing from seed is the only way to produce new and different cultivars. Plumeria seeds are easy to germinate and will grow with a minimum of care. In fact, growing plumeria from seed is the least expensive way to increase your collection.

Maturation of Seed Pods

Plumeria seed pods generally take about 9 months to mature.

IT'S EXTREMELY RARE FOR PLUMERIA SEEDS TO GROW TRUE TO IT'S PARENT(S). This is a very important fact to know. The good news, you can expect plumeria seeds to inherit some of its parent's characteristics possibly going back 7 generations. The bad news is, most will inherit the less desirable characteristics.

It is extremely rare to produce a seed pod on a plumeria — that iconic Hawaiian plant whose fragrant flowers are strung together in leis — without benefit of artificial pollination and, even then, some plumerias never produce seed pods.

Watering – I grow Plumeria seeds in full sun while keeping the plugs setting in water. I allow the water level in the tray to drop to about half before adding more and change the water once a week. My goal is to keep the top of the plugs very moist to the touch.

Enhanced Seedling Development: Soaking plumeria seeds can result in stronger and healthier seedlings. The initial hydration received during soaking gives the seedlings a stronger start, promoting vigorous growth and increasing their chances of successful establishment.

How many times a year does a plumeria bloom? ›

Plumerias typically have a blooming season during the warmer months, from late spring to early fall. They usually go dormant during the winter months and stop blooming. However, the blooming period can vary depending on the specific cultivar and growing conditions.

Pot size: Plumeria need to be planted in pots optimal to supporting their growth. Planting in a pot too small doesn't allow for the roots to have ample room to grow. Too small and too light of a pot could also cause the “top-heavy” plant to easily topple over on a windy or stormy day.

In terms of care, plumeria has cactus-like qualities. It is extremely water thrifty and its roots are shallow and non-invasive.

It's impossible to track all the different flowers and scents because there are countless varieties, however the pink, yellow and white varieties seem to be the easiest to grow. Reds and bi-colors sometimes need a little more care.

Things You Should Know

Harvest a 12-inch (30 cm) cutting from a brown or dark green plumeria branch, and strip the leaves off. Dry your cutting in a shady, humid area for 1-2 weeks before planting to ensure it callouses over and dries out.