If You Overfertilize Plumeria, Should You Wash the Soil Out?

Signs of Over Fertilization

• Plumerias with too much fertilizer often appear weak, with many leaves but poor flower production. There are many signs to look for in an overfertilized plant: there may be a crust at the soil surface and leaves may turn brown, yellow, wilt away, or fall off the plant. Excess nitrogen or acidity often results in burnt leaves.

Correcting Overfertilization

• Container plants are especially susceptible to overfertilization because they are less able to drain excess substances from their soil. Flushing the soil with water will remove excess nutrients, but this should be done with care as plumerias are prone to rot. Afterward place the plumeria in a warm, dry place. Overfertilization problems also can be fixed with other methods. For example, gardeners can amend improper pH levels with the addition of pH corrector, such as lime or peat moss.

Proper Fertilizer Application

• A plumeria in vegetative growth with strong leaf growth prefers a high-nitrogen fertilizer. When flowering or fruiting, use fertilizers with high phosphorus content and apply every two to three weeks. When applying phosphorus, soil may become too acidic and damage the roots. This problem, as well as leaf burn from magnesium deficiency, can be amended by applying Epsom salts. Other fertilizing options include fortified bone meal and super phosphate.

Plumeria Care

• Use care when fertilizing plumerias; avoid applying too much slow-release fertilizer in a short time. Horticulturalists recommend the following system: Apply 2 tbsp. bone meal mixed with 2 tbsp. potash. Sprinkle this on top of the soil and water once a week add 1 or 2 tbsp. Epsom salts every four weeks. Stop feeding potash once summer arrives, and stop feedings altogether when cooler weather arrives in fall. Maintain a pH between 6.4 and 6.8 to ensure nutrients are utilized efficiently.