What To Do About My Tall Lanky Lipstick Plumeria?

Question

I purchased this plant from Costco about two years ago. It has three trunks, but no apparent junction. It is growing tall and top heavy and I’m afraid when we have strong winds it will break. Someone told me it is actually three plants and I should repot and separate them. I attempted to do this, but found there were not three separate plants, but a single one. So I guess the junction is below the soil in this case—? I did repot it this past spring. Although it took quite some time to come out of shock and still hasn’t bloomed (even though it is the end of September) it is a beautiful and healthy plant and I’m very afraid to prune it not knowing the exact details of how and where to do that. The tallest trunk is 4 feet from the soil and is beginning inflo. We are in Vista California in Zone 10a. If I were to cut it off at the top, can I somehow still grow both the top pieces and get the bottom ones to branch? I’m guessing I would want to wait until it is dormant, but how exactly would I go about this? I’m very visual, so photos really help a lot!!

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Answer 1

It hasn't branched much, yet. Usually, you will cut them once they have developed a few branching points.

You can, still, try pruning it. Start with the branch that you could stand to lose, just in case. Cut it back by 1/3. This will, usually, force branching. If this proves successful, then you can do it to the remaining two branches.

Do this in late winter or early spring.

Here is an article that will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/plumeria/plumeria-pruning-info.htm

These shrubs root, quite, easily! This article will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/plumeria/growing-plumeria-cuttings.htm