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Is lava rock 'magic' for Plumeria?
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Posted by djopgenort SoCal (My Page) on Tue, Nov 10, 09 at 17:11
| For what it is worth, we put plain old boring red lava rock on top of the generic potting soil her potted plumerias were in and they took off like rockets! They had been malingering along for the better part of two years (bought as cuttings, but took their sweet time doing anything). Within two weeks of the lava "mulch" they were growing enthusiasically, & looking fabulous - large lush green leaves, and lots of blooms a few weeks after that. NOTHING else changed, so I don't know if they had been drying out too much on the top of the soil or if there is something in the lava that they had been lacking. Unfortunately she took them with her last month when she moved, so I don't know how they are doing now. She left one behind, so I'm keeping an eye on it, and of course putting lava rock on top of every other potted plant that I own! Has anyone else done this, and what were your results? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Is lava rock 'magic' for Plumeria?
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started using lava rock about 10 years ago and then switched to Mexican black river rock. I think it has more to due with holding heat in the ground at night than anything in the rock. All my plants in the ground are rocked (abut 6 in lava, about 5 in mixed collected pretty rocks, and about 20 in river rock. be careful to avoid putting rock that will be in the sun next to the stem as the heat may burn the stem. You can clear around the stem or put white rock which resists getting hot.
This is a hedge in 05 where you can see the rock.
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RE: Is lava rock 'magic' for Plumeria?
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RE: Is lava rock 'magic' for Plumeria?
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| Adding a layer of lava rock to the top of the potting soil is like adding a layer of any kind of mulch. Usually in pots the top 1/2 to an inch of soil dries out so often that roots find it a not-so-favorable place to develop. Once you add mulch, all of a sudden that top inch of soil is a great place to grow in! I think your plants may have been responding to your essentially having added an extra inch of growing room. |
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