The following is a list of some of the more popular growing mediums used by both novice and professional growers.
Sphagnum Peat Moss – Works great with water retention. Can be used in soil based and soilless growing. Con- acidic in nature. It may need a pH buffer like perlite. An environmental concern for using peat moss is that the bogs from which they are harvested are ecologically fragile. There is a movement to protect these nonrenewable habitats. Peat Moss from different regions may decompose at different rates.
Coco-Coir (Coconut Chunks of Fibers) – Coir is also great for water retention as well as aeration. It’s pH hovers around a 6-6.5 which is pretty good for plumeria. It’s a renewable and organic source! We recommend the unsterilized version of coco coir because it still contains our friendly fungi, the Trichoderma, which have a symbiotic relationship with roots. A con would be that it holds on to moisture so you may want to mix it with some perlite. Also, because of its source (near saltwater), it is high in salt content. Soak your coir at least once before using it.
Perlite – has some major advantages. It is lightweight, stable, reusable, inexpensive, and can retain water very well. Perlite floats so it should be mixed with something or it will float away on you. It is more alkaline at a 7-7.5 pH so it can’t be used to slightly lower the pH.
Organic Soilless Potting Mix – When choosing the right soilless mix, there are a few things to consider. The general rule of thumb is to have a light and fluffy mix. You want to make sure you have proper aeration and water holding capabilities. You want to have and maintain the right pH so the nutrients remain available. When pH is too low or too high, nutrients become toxic to the plant and results in plant death.
The first step to growing Plumeria is a good soil or potting mix!