Can I grow frangipani in a pot?

I rent. Can I still grow frangipani at home?
Frangipani can be grown to a relatively decent size in large tubs, growing somewhat in proportion to the size of the container they are planted in. For example, frangipani will grow to approximately one metre in a 300mm pot size. But in a larger pot, the plant can grow much more extensively. When transplanting from a smaller pot to a larger one, always plant frangipanis at the same depth as in the original container, and keep mulch from touching the stem. This is due to their trunks being prone to fungal decay, particularly in cold, wet weather.

Do I need a particular pot and soil to grow indoor frangipani?
To grow frangipani in containers, use a premium-grade potting mix without added wetting agents or water crystals. Terracotta pots will benefit the growth of frangipani as they are porous, helping drainage and discouraging root rot. In addition, the sturdiness and mass of a terracotta pot can help balance the weight. Terracotta also warms, heating the pot whilst the plant is in the sunshine, assisting frangipanis to succeed.

Do frangipani need special care when in a pot?
To ensure that your plant is healthy and flowers, place your potted frangipani in a location of your indoor environment where it will receive at least six hours of sunlight each day. Before you plant your tree into a terracotta pot, for drainage purposes, we recommend placing large rocks or something that will allow water to flow down through the pot’s drainage holes. Then when you add the soil, we suggest a premium potting mix with no wetting agents and add a high analysis NPK slow release fertiliser with trace elements as per the manufacturers recommendation for flowering shrubs and trees. We also recommend gently loosening the soil and roots before planting to prevent root rot. Because frangipani can tolerate drought conditions, do not overwater them. They do not respond well to being wet and staying wet. When using slow or controlled release fertilisers, once a year is adequate. However, for granular fertilisers you may want to fertilise more regularly in the warm and sometimes wet summer months.

Is there a specific variety that prefers a pot?
Compact dwarf or semi-dwarf frangipani grow well in pots if you are concerned about how much room they will take up. They grow to two metres in Australia. But as you can prune your choice of frangipani to suit your environment, along with the option of variety, standard sized frangipani will still thrive indoors. We have the Dwarf Petite Pink and a number of compact Rubra varieties in our fancy frangipanis collection.

Will my frangipani flower in a pot?
Yes! Your potted frangipani will still bloom as per outside planted frangipani trees. They will flower for months at a time, from November to April, depending on your location in Australia.

To summarise, yes, you can plant frangipani and have it grow abundantly in a pot. It’s nice to know that your beloved plant can relocate with you, when and if you need to move. And when you take care of your potted frangipani, it will give you as much joy indoors as if it were in the ground. If, however, you have any concerns and questions about potting your frangipani or need help choosing a variety, our team at Fancy Frangipanis will be happy to help you.