Plumeria is one of the most beautiful and fragrant flowers you can have in your garden! Let’s have a look at How to Grow Champa Flower!
You must have seen plumeria dwelling in the gardens and side of the road in India commonly. This is because of the fact that it is easy to grow and looks spectacular with its contrasting blooms and dark green foliage. If you too want to cultivate it, then have a look at How to Grow Champa Flower!
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What is Champa Flower?
Champa Flower is also popular by the names frangipani, red paucipan, red-jasmine, red frangipani, common frangipani, and temple tree. It is a hardy perennial summer plant that belongs to the Apocynaceae family and has various species that differ in their leaf shape and the color of their flowers.
You can grow them anywhere as long as these plants get enough sunlight.
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How to Grow Champa Flower?
Growing Plumeria is very easy with cuttings.
- Take 4-6 inches long cuttings from a healthy plant in summer.
- Dip the end in a rooting hormone and plant it directly in the garden or pot.
- Water well and ensure it gets plenty of bright but indirect light.
- Do not plant more than one cutting per pot.
You can also grow it from seeds but it can be a lengthy process. The best is to get a well-grown plant from a nursery.
Requirements for Growing Champa
If you want the best growth and flowers, then place it at a spot that gets a minimum of 5-6 hours of direct sunlight. It can manage in shade but the plant will not flower as much.
Location is yet an essential factor to keep in mind while growing Champa. Plant it in the ground at least 10 to 20 feet apart from other trees or plants so that its roots have adequate space to grow.
As overwatering can threaten the life of Champa, ensure that the soil is fast draining, like the cactus mix. It should not be too dense or fine. Add plenty of organic matter and vermicompost to the soil along with 2-3 handfuls of sand to the growing medium.
Plumerias require temperatures of at least 20 to 30 C to thrive well. It won’t respond well to extremely cold temperatures and may die.
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Feed your Champa with a high-phosphorous fertilizer, like a 10-30-10, once a month, after diluting it to 1/2 of its strength. This will help the plant to grow well and produce bigger and better flowers.
Pests and Diseases
Because of its fragrance, Champa can attract insects like mites, flies, or aphids. You can apply horticultural oil or insecticide-like malathion to its leaves. Remember to follow the directions on the label for optimum results.