If you’re looking for the optimal plumeria bloom, do not go to your local gardening shop and buy any random fertilizer. The problem with many products is that you don’t know how bad it is until it’s too late. You want one with good ingredients and a correct NPK ratio.
Using the correct fertilizer can make or break the development of your plumeria. There is no shortage of options. Rather, the hard part is deciding between so many different brands and companies. I’ve put in the hard work to help you pick the best products on the market.
We have plenty of other guides on flowers and ornamentals here on the Green Pinky. We have a comprehensive guide on how to raise plumerias successfully.
Comparing Our Top 3 Choices
At A Glance
- OUR TOP CHOICEGrow More Hawaiian Bud and Bloom
- Earthpods Premium Hisbiscus & Tropical Flower Plant Food – Spikes
- Nelson Plant Food
- J R Peters Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster
- Dr. Earth Exotic Blend
- BR-61 Plant food
All of these use quality ingredients and have great N-P-K ratios to give your Frangipani the highest chances of flourishing. Keep reading more about them below.
Brief Reviews
Grow More Hawaiian Bud and Bloom
Use one teaspoon per gallon for foliar feeding. Feed the foliage in the early morning, late evening or on a cloudy day. Don’t apply foliar fertilization when the sun is shining on the plant. Mix at one tablespoon per gallon when drenching the soil to feed the root system. Use this food as a starter and transplant solution when rooting cuttings and starting new plants. This gentle, yet effective formula is urea free, eliminating many root burning possibilities. This product can be applied weekly, as needed.
Earthpods Premium Hisbiscus & Tropical Flower Plant Food – Spikes
Easy to use capsules, used as spikes to feed Frangipanis and other tropical flowering plants. Push into center of root area at intervals, then water. These can be dissolved into warm water as well. Follow instructions. Organic product with nutrients similar to those found on the floor of the forest. Use as a starter feeding also. Unique, patented design. This food is formulated for use on all plants both indoor and outside.
Nelson Plant Food
A granular product specifically formulated for tropical plants, apply throughout the soil for new plantings or around the dripline of existing plants. This food has five sources of nitrogen which insures consistent fertilization. Nitrogen makes the foliage lush and shiny. This product contains high phosphorus that encourages more blooms. Specially selected ingredients are added with nutrients making flowers brighter and more colorful. Use on palms and ferns for lush greenery and other blossoming tropical plants. This product is the secret of many professional landscapers.
J R Peters Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster
This food produces more flowers with brighter, more colorful blooms. Use as a root feeder and as a foliar spray. It may be used on all indoor and outdoor blooming plants. Mix at one tablespoon per gallon. This Blossom Booster product is rated easy to use on Amazon reviews, receiving many five star ratings. Recommended for use on vegetables, as well. Great results on tomatoes and African violets mentioned.
Dr. Earth Exotic Blend
This exotic blend for tropical plants is perfect for feeding your Plumeria. Mix this organic product into the soil when you first plant tropicals into the ground or into containers. When fertilizing an existing exotic, bury the food into the top layer of soil around the dripline instead of at the base of the plant. Dr. Earth’s blend builds the soil with nutrients making it rich and healthy. This products contain no synthetic chemicals or toxic ingredients. Water following the application. Expect large, lush displays of flowers when using Dr. Earth.
BR-61 Plant food
A specially formulated water soluble that works well as a soil drench for roots and as a foliar spray. It is also recommended for use when starting plants. Another alternative for getting bigger, more colorful blooms. Feed into moist soil when foliage appears in spring, feed regularly as needed.
Make sure to also check out how to encourage your plumerias to bloom.
Raise Healthy Plumerias
Plumeria is a beautiful tropical flowering plant that has a wonderful fragrance.
Frangipani trees grow throughout warm exotic spots around the world. The traditional Hawaiian lei is made from its flowers. Also known botanically as Frangipani, you may grow them in your U.S. landscape if conditions are warm enough.
Some grow them in containers and bring them indoors for the winter so they can enjoy the beautiful, fragrant blooms outside from spring through fall.
This plant makes a wonderful addition to any home and does not necessarily need to be grown in a tropical environment as long as you provide your plumeria the right care and fertilization.
Nutrients Requirements
Frangipani plants require a lot of phosphorus to promote blooms over foliage growth. Fertilizers that have too much nitrogen, it will result in a lot of foliage, but will not result in adequate flowering – this is why we recommend an N-P-K ratio of at least 1-3-1.
Oftentimes, they may benefit from even more phosphorus such as a 1-4-1, 1-5-1, or even 1-6-1.
Acidic Soil that Drains Well
Plumeria do not need to be grown in the tropics, but they do need the correct type of environment.
If possible, have a well-draining soil that is slightly acidic. This way, you can mimic its natural environment as closely as possible. If you are growing your in a pot, make sure that the pot has draining holes so that the roots are not sitting in excess water. Remember, while water is necessary to maintain its homeostasis, too much water can be just as bad for a plant as too little water. Excessive water and watering is oftentimes the reason that owner’s have difficulty keeping their plumerias alive.
Sun Exposure
As you might imagine, plumeria plants require a decent amount of sun exposure. I recommend at least 6 hours of full sun exposure per day. These tropical plants do not tolerate cold very well. For this reason, putting your plant in an area with full sun or in a south-facing window is ideal to allow optimal growth and to promote blooms.
Bottom Line
Again, I recommend buying the Grow More Hawaiian Bud and Bloom. You will get healthier and bigger blooms with optimal nutrients. If you buy any old fertilizer at your local gardening store, you may not realize that your plumerias are not getting the ideal nutrients until it is too late. You cannot go wrong with any of the products above.