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Plumeria Plumeria, exotic scent of Sicily

of Lukrezia

tropicalization In times of the Mediterranean, it is not uncommon to see some plants tropical gardens and on balconies, fully acclimatized! But the Plumeria (also known as "Frangipani" or "Pomelia") has the scoop, arrived in Europe from the middle of "700 by the hand of the British, has become widespread in Sicily, where it is perfectly acclimatized.

initially arrived in Palermo, in the ancient Botanical Garden, where today there are copies of old, then spread throughout the area of \u200b\u200bPalermo and then be present in all the coasts of Sicily. Imagine walking for the streets of Palermo, a splendid early "900, we were fascinated by their fragrance, sweet, delicate, and citrus notes reminiscent of spice, cinnamon, vanilla, wild rose and jasmine.
There was a noble palace that hosted on balconies overlooking the main elevation of blood vessels "Pomelia ... covered with flowers in summer, soft and fleshy, with a white cream and a ray of sunshine in their hearts! During holidays then, so many kids, sold the noblewomen, who strolled through the center of Palermo, bunches of "Pomelia" packaged with ribbons and lace.

first time this acutifolia variety of flowers began to be characterized by increasingly large, rounded petals and almost fully overlapping to form a closed circle, so we began to identify it as a variety in itself, the Plumeria Palermo.

Today in Sicily are mainly 5 types of diffuse acutifolia "the Palermo-flowered round", the "Palermo large-flowered and pointy petals, the" pink Palermo " acutifolia the small-flowered, white and yellow heart, the average acutifolia bloom, white, yellow and red stripes with hearts on the board.

do not know if the result of genetic mutations through antiquities in some specimens that have resulted in half or whether different lineages of fish .... grown in the Botanical Gardens Palermo.

The Plumeria, the family Apocynaceae, is a shrub originating in the tropics, the Caribbean, Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, Tahiti, where under ideal conditions can reach considerable size 10 meters.

Of his seven species that differ in size, habit, leaf shape and flower color and fragrance of its flowers, only rubra and obtusa have attracted the attention of collectors and breeders that produced more than 300 hybrids, with colors from white to lilac, passing through all the possible combinations in 'Rainbow', just as diverse in size and shape of flowers, 5 or 7 petals, which are wrapped or double-wing butterfly.

Several also the meanings and the various peoples of the attribute: use the Thai plant it close to the tombs and sacred temples, but they are reluctant to hold it in the house considering it a sacred plant. The Polynesians instead see it as a symbol of immortality and good luck, much to use its package of flowers to necklaces to give away (or sell ...) to visitors as a sign of friendship and hospitality.

Growing

It is grown in our latitudes is not binding as long as you have "flow Hand: Sun, a handful of love, and a warm place for winter!
In fact, his Achilles heel is the cold .... that should never be such as to freeze it would die ... . Prefers loose soil and light, that ensure good drainage for excess water, the first source of life but also for trouble! Its stagnation gives him easily rot that attacks with ease its spongy tissues. In a few steps I now list the main cultivation notes for those who wanted to be excited about this plant that brings a touch of the tropics in our house!
Use vases content, shallow and probably nothing that would cause the plastic "baking" of the roots in summer.
Prepare a loose soil Dark with 50% peat and 50% perlite which if necessary can be replaced with a mixture of fine and coarse sand or pumice.
From June to September, but plenty of watering the soil to dry completely between watering and the other one. On waking
vegetative (May-June), use balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer every two weeks in watering. Only when
will have formed a list of at least 3 leaves, replace the fertilizer with a watering the leaves for use with high phosphorus content: 10-30-10 or 10-40-10 or 10-50-10 (use high-titling only on mature plants), this will drive a copious bloom.
From May, if temperatures allow, and then explain in full sun point in August, a position to spare the scorching sun during the middle.
In September or November, when the lowering of temperature follows the yellowing and leaf drop, decrease waterings to suspend them altogether.
In Fall, Thin indoors, in places with temperatures below 15 degrees, dry place, away from heat sources and cold drafts.
winter to prevent rot, treat all parts of the trunk with a broad spectrum fungicide, preferably in powder form, repeat the treatment several times during the entire period.

Diseases, Pests and Remedies

rot caused by excess water. Cut off the diseased part, dry cutting, replant the cuttings in new substrate.
apical root rot caused by a fungus, especially in winter because of cold moisture, cut below the side gear and disinfected with a fungicide.
Attack leaves by spider mite because of poor ventilation, hot and humid air, providing yellowing of the leaves and fall; treated with acaricide.
attack whiteflies (white butterfly) that lay eggs in the ground under the leaves that turn yellow and shrivel due to the larvae that suck the sap; parasite very tenacious, treatable with Confidor every seven days. Aphids rarely
or Cochineal that can be treated with insecticide mixtures and white mineral oil.
Clearly not all subjects were treated and dissected to paucity of space, I still hope that what you said has piqued at least a little bit and that he was to help better understand and love this beautiful plant!