When are you getting the seeds, maybe they aren't fresh? They can mold easily, despite liking humidity. Perhaps adding a little peroxide to your mixture might help. check this link out: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/plumeria/msg1023283926835.html

I never watered the seeds, I would mist a few times a day, kept them on a heat mat and under a light, also kept a lid on but it was always open so things didn't get moldy.

I've got 3 seed pods on my inca gold, it should open in a month or two, and I'd be happy to send you some fresh seeds to try whenever it opens.

Use the search function on this site, it is really quite helpful!

Good Luck,
Wendy

Wendy has great advice - her and I were first time seedling growers at the same time so we know what you're going through! I'll be honest, your climate is a challenge but obviously not impossible. The key will be your temperatures and your moisture. As Wendy said, you also need fresh viable seeds.

Your heat mat is essential espaecially if trying to germinate in the winter - what about the ambient temp in the mini greenhouse? I would think it can't be much under about 75-80 degrees for them to be in good sprouting conditions. They do not like to be chilly AT ALL.

As Wendy said, with your moisture it's a very fine line between staying moist and being too moist. We would water them in well in the beginning and then only misting from then on, never letting the soil dry out but trying to keep it from being dripping wet.

All of your starting methods are good, it comes down to that plus your heat, water and light. Please keep us posted and don't give up! - I don't think any of us were successful our first try and we still sometimes lose seeds or cuttings for whatever reasons.

I will also have seeds this spring if you need any..

Good Luck!!

Laura

So how are the flowers pollinated to produce seed pods? I do not know what Plumeria I have only that it is a cream yellow with light purple markings but not on all blooms, like a light air brush markings. I do enjoy trying to start new plants from seeds. One of the pleasures of gardening. Sprouting and sharing are just some of the added blessings I enjoy now that I cannot do much else, helps "old-age" be more enjoyable. Thank you all for your wonderful posts.

Hi Wally! Most plumie flowers are pollinated by small insects I believe - little moths and thrips and the like. Many plumies get self pollinated because the male & female parts are close together. If more plumies are around you may (?) have a better chance of getting a pod that's been cross pollinated.

You're in great comapny here, many of us enjoy growing from seed- it can be so gratifying! Keep us updated on your progress! Thanks for posting, we really enjoy your input!

Last year was my first with plumeria seed. I used the boat method and had absolutely no problems. Every seed germinated in about a week or two.

Here's what I did:

Fill a bowl (preferably glass so that the sprouted roots can be seen without having to handle them) with sterile, room temperature water. Cut out a small square of styrofoam - I used sections cut from cups - for each seed. Cut a small slit large enough for the seed to slide into without being too tight or too loose. Slide seed, winged end up, into the styrofoam and float on water. Sit bowl in bright window and wait. If it takes longer than a week, I'd replace the water and wait another week. Once they've sprouted, pot them up in a mix that has very good drainage.

Are there smaller seeds for plumeria's. I purchased seeds and they rooted, but the head was what I considered normal. I then got plumeria seeds that have a very small head. I am wondering why the difference.