If you’re planning to attend the Plumeria Exchange on May 23rd at Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden in Kaka’ako, we’ve got some tips for you to prepare for the event.
The Plumeria Exchange is for home gardeners who have plumeria trees or access to plumeria trees and can bring cuttings to share with others. The event will take place 9-11 am at Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden in Kaka’ako.
Registration information will be shared in April.
TAKING THE CUTTING
When to cut: Prune your branches up to two weeks in advance of the event to give it time to callus.
Select a Branch: Look for a healthy, firm branch that is "grey-green" (mature). Avoid the very soft, bright green tips.
NOTE: Please be on the lookout for signs of the Plumeria Stem Borer, a long-horned beetle, that damages the insides of the plumeria stems. Some obvious signs that this beetle is in your tree are shriveled stems and a small hole, dripping black material. No pesticides have been found to work against this pest — the only recommended treatment is to remove all infected stems.
Size Matters: The cutting should be 12 to 18 inches long.
The Angle: Use a sharp, sterilized bypass pruner to make one clean cut at a 90-degree angle.
callusING THE CUTTING
Remove the Leaves: Use pruning shears to cut all inflorescences and leaves except the tiny leaves at the top, to reduce moisture loss. Do not rip off the leaves, as this can create wounds that can get infected. When trimming leaves, leave a bit of stem to dry and fall off on its own.
Treat the Wound: University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience recommends dipping the bottom of the cutting in rooting hormone, then wrapping the bottom in plastic and securing with a rubber band. Some gardeners, however, simply dip the bottom of the cutting in cinnamon to help prevent fungal infections and do not wrap the cutting, which may promote rot if it’s not done properly.
Label all Branches: Please label all branches by writing directly on the branch with a Sharpie, or wrapping some painter’s tape and writing on the tape.
If the cutting was purchased from a farm/nursery or obtained from a reputable source, use the cultivar/variety name.
If the cutting was not purchased from a farm/nursery or obtained from a reputable source, it should be labeled using one of these methods:
NOID+type it is similar to (eg “NOID like Hilo Beauty).
NOID+color (eg “NOID pink with orange center” or “NOID white with pink-edged leaves”)
Store the Cutting: Place the cutting in a dry, shaded area with good air circulation.
FINAL NOTE
Please provide either a flower from the tree or a photo printout. If you don’t have a printer, click on the button below to send to the organizer. Photo MUST BE FROM YOUR TREE — do not use photos from a website. If the colors of the flowers change throughout the year, provide photos showing the different colorations.
RESOURCES