How to Tell If Your Plumeria Is Dormant

Plumerias flower in response to light and day length, so they put on most of their growth and blooms during the summer. The shrubs go dormant as temperatures drop and the day length shortens. Once the plant enters full dormancy, it requires no light. Receiving light early can cause the plant to break dormancy and begin blooming earlier, which isn't harmful to the plant but can pose a problem if you don't have a suitable indoor place to keep a flowering plumeria. Learning the indicators of winter dormancy allows you to move the plant to a suitable storage place before the plant resumes new growth.

Shears

Instructions

- 1
  Bring plumeria plants indoors to a protected area before temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If the plant hasn't entered dormancy yet, it soon will under reduced indoor lighting.
- 2
  Look for leaf yellowing and drop. The plumeria begins to shed its old leaves at the onset of dormancy. Allow the leaves to fall naturally or snip them off with shears once they begin to yellow.
- 3
  Move the plant to a dark area where temperatures remain above 40 F. With no light, the plumeria can remain dormant for the entire winter.
- 4
  Avoid watering during winter dormancy. Shriveled stems are a normal symptom of the dormant period and won't affect the health of the plumeria. Watering dormant plants results in root rot because the plumeria doesn't take in water during dormancy.

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