Plants may be evergreen or deciduous with variations in foliage according to species.
Leaves often appear dark green and waxy or glossy.
Outdoor vining species need support.
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Light
One challenge for growing jasmine as a houseplant is providing enough light to induce flowering.
Most need a minimum of six hours of direct sun per day.
Summer blooming species thrive best in full sun, while winter blooming varieties fare better with some shade.
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As expected, jasmine grown in low light produces fewer flowers than those grown in full sun.
Soil
Plant jasmine in organically rich, sandy loam that drains well.
The goal is to keep roots evenly moist.
Use amoisture meterto help you decide if you’re unsure.
Water garden-grown varieties once weekly and more often during hot weather as needed.
Irrigate potted plants twice to three times weekly when the top inch of soil gets dry.
Reduce the frequency of watering for houseplants during the cold season.
These are mostly tropical plants that thrive in warm temperatures, and unfortunately, they will succumb to frost.
But, some varieties like winter jasmine are more cold-tolerant.
Fertilizer
Garden-grown jasmine seldom needs fertilization unless the soil lacks nutrients.
A quality mulch spread across the root zone is often sufficient.
If your plant flowers poorly, try adding fertilizer with higher phosphorous content such as anNPK 7-9-5.
Pruning is best done after flowering.
Always use clean, sharppruners.
Prune trellised vines all the way back to the support.
Shrubs can be pruned back by up to two-thirds of the plant.
Damaged or diseased branches can be removed anytime.
Propagating Jasmine
Jasmine is propagated using several methods, buttaking cuttingsis the easiest method for home gardeners.
This is done in spring and early summer when new green growth is present on the plant.
Take several cuttings to increase chances for success.
When potting a new nursery plant, choose a container three times the size of its current pot.
Choose a container with good drainage and one large enough to accommodate support for vining varieties.
Add bark and moss to the planting mix to help lighten potting soil and increase nutrient uptake.
Choose a potting mix with perlite or vermiculite to ensure adequate drainage.
Pests
Garden-grown jasmine is vulnerable to leaf-chewing caterpillars including budworms, leaf rollers, and webworms.
Budworms are the larval form of a small white moth that eats flower buds.
A curled leaf indicates the presence of leaf rollers and webworms build spidery web-bang out nets.
Be sure toapply horticultural oilat the first sign of pests.
These are mostly tiny insects and are difficult to spot.
Yellowing, wilted or spotted leaves and webbing are signs pests are present.
Try applying insecticidal soap.
In cases of severe infestation a targeted pesticide may be required.
Diseases
Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne fungus difficult to eradicate.
Remove damaged roots and treat remaining roots before replanting.
Fusarium wilt usually appears during warm temperatures.
Rust appears as red discoloration on all parts of the plant.
Copper-based fungicides may control this infection.
Brownish, circular spots on the leaves’s upper surfaces indicate a leaf blight fungus.
Leaves may curl and start to dry up.
Blight is most likely to occur in wet conditions.
Treat with a targeted fungicide.
Bloom Months
Different jasmine species bloom at different times of year according to their USDA growing zones.
How Long Does Jasmine Bloom?
Bloom periods vary according to species and may be as brief as one or two months.
Other species grown in warmer hardiness zones may produce flowers repeatedly all year.
What to Jasmine Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Flowers may be single or double with single blooms usually tubular and star-shaped with five petals.
They appear singly or in clusters of three blooms that each have four to nine petals.
Colors include shades of yellow, white and pinkish white.
Flowers are generally small, about one inch across, but numerous.
The scent of jasmine flowers is valued in aromatherapy and the perfume trade.
Fragrance is light but complex, described as rich, sweet and fruity with a slight muskiness.
Alternatively, slow-release granular fertilizer can be raked into the top one to two inches of potting medium.
For houseplants, eliminate feeding and reduce watering frequency after bloom during the off-season.
Cut flower stems as close to the main stem as possible but avoid damage to foliage.
Deadheading encourages more flowers and keeps leaves and stems healthy and green.
On average many jasmine plants live five to 10 years but can last much longer with good care.
A south-facing window is a good location for an indoor potted jasmine plant.
Plants similar in appearance with fragrant flowers includegardenia,plumeria,andhoneysuckle.
Several plants also commonly called jasmine are not true jasmine but a different genus.
The most popular of these isstar jasmine.
Jasmine is not considered high-maintenance.
However, plants do require attention and care when first planted.
Regular pruning encourages flowering and can extend the life of plants.
University of Minnesota Extension.
