I live in Sydney and have a frangipani in my garden. It was planted as a 2m tree about 3-4 years ago and has done very well. Beautiful tri-coloured flowers that fade as they age. It's in free-draining soil. My garden is on a sandstone rock-step (if that's a proper term).

Recently I noticed three patches of what look like rot on the central stem. They're not at the ends but on old wood. THe wood is softish and there is a discharge of something that resembles vasoline. In one of the patches the wood has opened up to reveal what I assume is the heartwood.

My hunch is that the whole section of trunk will need to be cut back and sprayed with fungicide, but that will mean the loss of a large proportion of the tree, and will unbalance it, so I want to be sure such draconian measures are necessary.

And help/suggestions would be most gratefully received.

The most common cause of frangipanis dying is by rot. If a potted frangipani plant is watered too much or too often (especially in cooler weather), the soil will remain wet and the stem may start to rot at the base. This known as "wet feet". The rot will travel up the stem and probably end up killing the whole plant. Sometimes rot can start on a branch. Rot can be found in a stem or branch by noticing that it is more wrinkled, soft or black inside. Softness can be checked by squeezing the branch. Piercing a branch or stem will show if the inside contains sap. If the plant is healthy the white liquid will start to flow out and the cut will heal naturally, similar to when an animal or person has a cut and the blood clots.if the stem becomes wrinkled the tree is not well ¡V cease watering and spray leaves with AntiRot. If you notice spongy stems, remove the stem completely to the junction with a main branch. Thinning out 15 to 20 per cent of the canopy of your mature frangipani is good to do every few years; it opens up the branches, allows light in and reduces stem rot.

The best way to care for potted frangipanis is to place them in a location where they get plenty of sunshine. Test the dampness of the soil by poking a finger a few centimetres into the soil. if the soil is dry and the temperature is warm, then give a good watering. It is best not to keep the soil damp continuously so allow the roots to dry out between waterings.
If your frangipani plant is getting sufficient sunshine every day, no amount of water at one time will harm it. However, if you water it everyday and keep the soil moist continuously, your love will surely harm it.