From the Nursery
On the propagation side, we’re seeing great results with seed germination. This year we used both the paper towel method and the covered tray method. Watching those first little seedlings push through is one of the most hopeful parts of nursery work. It reminds us why we keep expanding the collection — every successful germination is another future tree, another future bloom.
This season we’ve also been focusing on growing our personal Jim Little collection. Those varieties have a quality and character that collectors look for, and we’re pleased with how the trees are settling in and performing here in south Louisiana.
We’ve been enjoying visitors at the nursery this summer. There’s something special about walking the grove with people who love these plants as much as we do — hearing what they’re growing, answering questions, and watching someone fall in love with a bloom they hadn’t seen in person before. If you’ve been thinking about a private visit, we’d love to have you.
Thank you for growing with us.
Kurt & Bonnie
What’s Blooming Now: Boca
This is Boca — not Boca III. The names get mixed up easily, but they are different plants, and this is the one we mean.
Boca is harder to come by, and that is part of why we value it so much. It is also one of our favorites here at the nursery for a simple reason: it blooms. Consistently. Generously. Season after season.
When this one is in full flower, the dark blooms stop people in their tracks. The color is rich, deep, and almost velvety — the kind of dark flower that looks especially dramatic against Louisiana’s bright summer light and green foliage. In our heat and humidity, those blooms take on a depth and intensity that feels luxurious. They don’t just look pretty. They look special.
A lot of dark-flowered plumerias can be stingy or slow to bloom. Boca is the opposite. Here at the nursery it has proven itself a true workhorse: consistent, prolific, and beautiful. The flowers are large, with thick petals and a sweet, candy-like fragrance strong enough to notice from a distance. That combination — scarce availability, striking dark color, heavy blooming, and wonderful scent — is harder to find than you might think.
If you’re looking for a variety that delivers drama without being difficult, this is one of the strongest candidates in our collection. The dark color is gorgeous in our climate, the scent is a bonus, and the flowering is steady enough that you’ll actually get to enjoy it for weeks on end.
Boca is the kind of plumeria that makes people say, “I need that one,” the first time they see it in full color. Because it is not as common as Boca III, we are especially glad when we have it to share. We think you’ll feel the same way once it’s blooming in your own garden.
Seasonal Care Notes: Thriving in High Heat
Mid-summer in south Louisiana is when our plumerias are working their hardest — and when they need a little extra attention from us.
The combination of high heat and humidity is great for strong growth and rich color, but it also means the plants can stress more easily if their basic needs aren’t met. Here’s what we’ve learned works best during the hottest weeks of the year, especially for the plants you’ve brought home from us in Air Pots.
Watering in Extreme Heat
Because we grow everything in Air Pots, the soil dries out much faster than it would in a regular nursery pot. That’s one of the big advantages of Air Pots — excellent drainage and healthier roots — but it also means you’ll probably need to water more often during July and August.
Check the soil regularly. When the top few inches feel dry, it’s time to water. In the peak of summer heat, that might mean every day or every other day for plants in smaller Air Pots, especially if they’re in full sun.
Timing matters. Water early in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Avoid watering in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest.
Also, try to water the soil directly rather than spraying the leaves. Wet leaves sitting in intense afternoon sun can scorch, and we want to keep that beautiful foliage looking its best.
Helping Plants Handle Heat Stress
During the hottest stretches, we like to give the plants a little extra support with organic supplements.
We use Tru Organics products exclusively. A light application of their organic plant tonic or stress-support formula can help plants handle heat better and keep growing strong. We also use their organic magnesium products (similar to traditional Epsom salt but in an organic form) to support nutrient uptake when temperatures stay high for days on end.
A periodic boost during the worst of the heat is usually enough — no need to overdo it.
Fertilizer Adjustments
Once your plumerias are blooming heavily, ease up on high-nitrogen fertilizers. Too much nitrogen at this stage pushes leafy growth at the expense of flowers and can make the plants a bit softer and more vulnerable to stress.
An organic bloom-focused fertilizer or a balanced organic formula used at a lighter rate works well through the main flowering season. We stick with Tru Organics products for consistency and plant health.
Protecting Blooms and Watching for Pests
Strong sun is wonderful for color, but the most intense afternoon rays can sometimes fade or scorch delicate blooms. If you notice flowers looking stressed, a bit of afternoon shade or simply making sure the plant is well-watered can help.
Keep an eye out for common summer pests — spider mites, mealybugs, and the occasional caterpillar. High heat and humidity can encourage them. Catching problems early makes them much easier to manage.
The goal in mid-summer is simple: keep the roots healthy, the soil from staying bone-dry, and the plants supported through the heat. With Air Pots, consistent watering, and well-timed organic support from Tru Organics, your plumerias should sail through the hottest weeks looking strong and blooming beautifully.
If you ever have questions about what you’re seeing on your plants, just reach out. We’re always happy to help.
Heat Brings Out the Best Color
You know one of the things we love most about growing plumerias here in south Louisiana? The heat actually makes them look better.
Once those long, hot, humid days settle in, a lot of varieties start showing richer, deeper, more intense color than they did in the cooler spring weather. Soft pastels become stronger. Gentle pinks turn richer. Some flowers even pick up new tones they weren’t showing earlier in the season. It’s like the heat flips a switch.
We’ve been watching this for years in the nursery, and it’s still fun every summer. A few of our plants put on especially dramatic shows:
KoolAid starts out softer in the spring. Once the real heat arrives, the color gets brighter and more saturated — it just looks happier and more playful, which suits the name perfectly.
Karma might be one of the biggest transformers. The spring blooms are pretty, but lighter. By midsummer the flowers deepen into a much richer color that feels completely different. Side-by-side photos of the same plant in April versus July are pretty striking.
Magic Spell does something similar. Early in the season it’s lovely but softer. Once the heat builds, the blooms take on deeper, more intense tones that make the name feel just right.
We’ve taken pictures of all three in both spring and summer so you can really see the difference. The change is not subtle.
This happens because warmer temperatures and strong light encourage the plants to produce more of the pigments that create deeper color. Louisiana’s heat and humidity give them exactly the conditions they need to show off. Gardeners in milder climates often never see these varieties at their richest.
If you want to help your plants develop the best color, just stick to the basics:
- Give them plenty of full sun
- Keep the watering consistent (don’t let them get bone dry)
- Ease up on high-nitrogen fertilizer once they’re blooming heavily
- Be patient — the strongest color usually shows up after a few solid weeks of heat
So next time you’re sweating through another sticky Louisiana afternoon, take a closer look at your plumerias — especially varieties like KoolAid, Karma, and Magic Spell. That heat you’re feeling is the same heat that’s bringing out some of the most beautiful color of the whole year.
It’s one of the quiet perks of growing these plants in the Deep South.
Nursery News & Upcoming Events
We’ll be out and about in September and would love to see you. Come say hello, smell the blooms, and see what’s looking good right now.
Firefly Under the Sun
Saturday, September 12, 2026
4pm-8pm
Chatsworth Plantation, St Gabriel
Livingston Parish Master Gardener Fall Garden Day and Plant Sale
Saturday, September 19, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Southeastern at Livingston
9261 Florida Blvd
Walker, LA
Rare Plant Show
Saturday–Sunday, September 26–27, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. both days
VFW Hall
Gulfport, MS
If you can’t make an event but would like to visit the nursery, contact us to set up a private tour. We’re always happy to walk the collection with you.
Quick Tip: Cut Leaves Off — Don’t Pull Them
When a leaf is yellowing, damaged, or ready to come off, we clip or cut it rather than pulling or snapping it from the stem.
Pulling or snapping can tear the tissue at the leaf base and leave a ragged wound on the branch. That extra damage takes longer to heal and can create an opening for rot or pests, especially in our humid Louisiana weather.
A clean cut with clean pruners or snips is much kinder to the tree. You get a neat separation, less tearing, and a smaller wound that seals more cleanly. It’s a small habit, but it adds up over a season — healthier branches, less stress, and a tidier-looking plant.
If the leaf is already loose and falling on its own, you can let it drop. But if you’re removing leaves by hand, cut them. Your trees will thank you.
Thank you for growing with Plumeria Fans Nursery.
www.PlumeriaFans.com