Patti Poshek is producing Frangipanis the old-fashioned way. She’s growing them from seeds. It took ten months for the pods to open and disperse their seeds.
Patti planted the Frangipani seeds in a pot. The shoots are poking up now. She’ll transplant them in her garden when they are big enough.
This Hoya Carnosa is growing up a Bauhina Orchid tree. It is entwined in orchids which I have attached to the Orchid Tree. The Hoya Carnosa always has blooms on it. After the tall Orchid Tree has finished blooming, there are Hoya Carnosa blooms climbing the tree. It is fascinating to see Hoya Carnosa blooms instead of orchid blooms on the Orchid tree. — Patti Poshek
Irene Nolan’s Canna Lily, possibly a Giant King Humbert
Patti Poshek’s “Cleopatra” Canna Lily
This beauty is blooming in Irene Nolan’s yard. Irene said she had planted the seed years ago and the plant that evolved had never bloomed until now. According to Patti Poshek, the plant is a Canna Lily. “I’m quite certain the heavy rainfall we had this fall led to its ‘first time’ blooming. I have noticed plants go dormant both here and at our cottage in Michigan for years and then a big rainfall brings them to life again. I had a lot of lilies up north that would bloom after 2-3 years of dormancy.
“I suspect the shock of that major rainfall gave your Canna a big burst of energy that produced the bloom. It had enough energy to promote foliage, but needed a “shot” of rain to flower. I have seen these Golden Cannas growing in roadside boggy areas.
“I googled your Canna and think it is a Giant King Humbert since it has the red freckles. That would have been planted as a rhizome. There is also a Golden Canna which is indigenous to wetlands in the southeastern U.S. It is a long-lived herbaceous perennial in the Cannaceae family and grows in bogs, marshes and moist areas.
“Cannas like slow-release fertilizer. They grow in sunlight to partial shade and like moist, well-draining soil and good humidity. Our long summer with abundant rainfall was a blooming catalyst.
*Note: Night blooming Cereus bloomed an extra month this summer, Frangipani
bloomed longer than usual and other plants had subtle changes from the norm. Cannas in pots like to be close to other foliage plants for the humidity. They have no pest problems, but snails and fungus are possible. Depending on the variety, they can be grown from seeds, bulbs and by dividing rhizomes.
“One of my Canna Lilies is pictured under Irene’s plant. It is called Cleopatra. It has some green leaves with black markings, a very distinctive plant. The foliage makes nice arrangements.”
— Patti Poshek
HOW TO PROPAGATE PLUMERIA FROM SEED PODS
Submitted by Patti Poshek
We have been watching this seed pod slowly maturing preparing to release its seeds. I will follow the directions in the article below to capture the seeds in the nylon before
they are released. I have never started Frangipani or Plumeria from seed, just
cuttings. I am surprised that such a young plant has the seed pod already. I have
not seen a seed pod on others which are larger and more mature.
Gardening Know How - https://www.gardeningknowhow.com
Seed Pods On Plumeria – When And How To Harvest Plumeria Seeds
Plumeria [1] are small trees grown in zones 10-11 that are much loved for their extremely fragrant blooms. While some cultivars of plumeria are sterile and will never produce seeds, other varieties will produce seed pods that look similar to green beans. These seed pods will split open, in time, dispersing 20-100 seeds. Read on to learn about harvesting plumeria seed pods to grow new plumeria plants.
Seed Pods on Plumeria
A plumeria plant can take up to 5 years to send out its first blooms. In non-sterile plumeria cultivars, these blooms will be pollinated usually by Sphinx moths, hummingbirds and butterflies. Once pollinated, plumeria flowers will fade and begin to grow into seed pods.
These seed pods will take 8-10 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.
When and How to Harvest Plumeria Seeds
Plumeria seeds must mature on the plant. Removing plumeria seed pods before they have fully matured will stop them from ripening and you will be left with seeds that will not germinate. Seeds mature in long, fat green pods. As these pods ripen, they will begin to look wilted and dry. When they are ripe, the plumeria seed pods will split open and disperse seeds that look similar to maple seed “helicopters.”
Because it is impossible to know exactly when these seed pods are going to ripen and disperse seed, many growers wrap nylon panty hose around the maturing seed pods. This nylon allows the seed pods to absorb sunlight and have proper air circulation, all while catching the dispersed seeds.
Once your nylon wrapped plumeria seed pods have ripened and split, you can remove the seed pods from the plant and use the seeds. Sow these plumeria seeds directly in the soil or, if you are saving plumeria seeds for later, store them in a paper bag in a cool, dry place.
Stored plumeria seeds can be viable for up to two years, but the fresher the seed, the better the odds of it germinating. Plumeria seeds usually sprout within 3-14 days if grown in the right conditions.
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