Plumeria Buds Falling Off? (3 Reasons+Solutions)
Plumeria is the perfect plant for those who want to bring a taste of the tropics to their garden.
With its gorgeous bloom, rich foliage, and distinct, pleasant fragrance, it can liven up any space on its own or work to complement other plants in the garden.
It’s also a very resilient and hardy plant, resistant to heat and drought, and can thrive even with a minimum amount of care.
Still, homeowners who grow these plants will notice that sometimes Plumeria’s beautiful flowers don’t even get a chance to bloom as the buds fall off before they open up and develop.
If you’ve noticed this happening to your plumeria plant, don’t worry – you’re not alone.
Plumeria buds can fall off for a variety of reasons, ranging from environmental factors to pest infestations
Below, I’ll look into the reasons for Plumeria buds falling off and explain what to do when that happens and how to stop it.
So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Plumeria Buds Falling Off – Reasons And How To Stop It
Plumeria buds can fall off the plant for a variety of reasons.
Some have to do with improper care for the plant, some are the result of various diseases and infections, and some are just a part of the natural growing process.
I’ll look closer at each of the most common causes that lead to this and offer a few tips on how to deal with it.
Overwatering
Although many mistake Plumeria for a tropical plant, it actually enjoys less damp conditions and thrives in dry and hot weather.
Therefore, any excess moisture can cause issues, including the plant’s buds falling off.
It’s important to find the right balance and keep the soil moist enough, but not allow it to become overwatered and soggy.
Besides bud dropping, overwatering your Plumeria will also cause leaves to wilt and droop, turning their color into brown and, eventually, falling off.
Waterlogged conditions also create the perfect environment for fungi development and infections that come as a result.
Also, damp soil may cause root rot, which may lead the entire stem to start rotting from the bottom up.
What to Do?
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If you notice that the soil is becoming damp creating waterlogged conditions, you should stop watering your Plumeria immediately.
If there’s mulch around the plant, remove it to allow for better drainage and free water flow.
Make sure that the soil is draining well enough and, if needed, add some Perlite to the soil mix.
Also, treat the soil with fungicides to prevent fungi development and minimize the risk of infection.
Cold Temperatures
While Plumeria handles the heat and scorching temperatures pretty well, it doesn’t do that well in cold weather.
It thrives in warmth and needs plenty of sunlight to live long and enjoy healthy growth. On the other hand, low temperatures, especially overnight, can cause Plumeria’s buds to fall off.
This is particularly the case when the plane experiences sudden and drastic temperature changes.
Before falling off, the buds will usually turn black which is your first sign that something is wrong. This shouldn’t be confused with the normal process that happens in the winter.
When the temperature drops below 40F, Plumeria will go into dormancy for the winter and lose all its foliage and flowers.
What to Do?
To avoid Plumeria buds dropping due to low temperatures, move the plant to an area where it’s warmer and the temperature doesn’t go below 40F.
This is particularly recommended to do in the late autumn as the weather gets colder and the winter approaches.
You can move your Plumeria indoors and place it near the windows to make sure it gets enough light.
Alternatively, you can keep it in the basement, but ensure that it’s under the light for at least 15 to 26 hours a day.
Black Tip Fungus
If Plumeria buds change their color and turn black before falling off, then the most likely cause is the fungal infection called Black Tip.
Plumeria is most vulnerable to this disease when its crowns are exposed to frost or cold morning dew in the winter months and early spring.
Additionally, fungi such as black tip usually thrive in shady, cool, and wet spots.
Younger plants are more susceptible to Black Tip infection and as the plant grows and becomes stronger, it will be more resistant.
While Black Tip fungus will rarely be fatal for your Plumeria, it can still do a lot of damage. Only the most severe cases will lead to plants dying off.
You can recognize early signs of Black Tip fungal infection by the black leaves and flowers.
As the infection progresses, the bases of the Plumeria stems will also go black. Occasionally, you will also notice black mold developing on the leaves’ surface.
What to Do?
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As soon as you notice the first signs of Black Tip attacking your Plumeria, you should react to prevent more serious damage.
Of course, it’s best to take measures to prevent the disease from even occurring. You can do this by providing your Plumeria with as much sunlight as possible.
If you row it indoors, install fans to ensure there’s a sufficient amount of airflow around the plant. Also, avoid misting your Plumeria, especially at night.
In case the plant is already infected, more decisive action is needed.
To prevent the disease from spreading to the entire plant, prune the infected branches, starting a few inches below the visibly infected area.
Also, spray the plant suffering from Black Tip disease with an approved fungicide as soon as you notice the infection.
Also, look for ways you can reduce humidity in the area where Plumeria is planted, such as installing fans around it.
Conclusion
Even though Plumeria is not very demanding when it comes to its maintenance, some effort is still needed to make sure the plant is properly cared for.
This will prevent some of the common issues with Plumeria, such as buds falling off.
Ensure that Plumeria grows in warm and well-lit environments as these are the conditions where it will thrive and grow strong enough to fend off most of the potential diseases.
Be careful when watering the plant as it doesn’t do well when the soil is dumped and waterlogged. If the problem still occurs, learn how to react and take necessary measures as soon as possible.