Expert: Will Creed - 11/19/2006

Question
When is it good time to cut back a jasmine tree? And could you give me some basic info. on care. It did well all summer outside.  It has bloomed once since inside and then it began dropping leaves.  We had some nice weather so I put it back outside for a few days.  It is looking better now.  It is getting very leggy.  Thank you. (I live in Phila. PA area)

Answer
Hi Michelle,

Jasmine is not an easy indoor plant, so don't get discouraged if you don't have immediate success.

Light: Lots of bright light, but protect it from hot direct sunlight in midday. Right in an east window is best. Outside on a porch in the warmer months is also good.

Air and temperature: Jasmine does best in fresh air with good circulation. Indoors an open window in the warmer months is good or near a fan that circulates the air. The best temperature range is 60 to 75 degrees, although it will tolerate 50 to 85 degrees.

Watering: Water thoroughly as soon as the soil is dry down about a half inch. Jasmine does not tolerate watering lapses very well. Leaves discolor quickly if the soil is kept moist for too long or allowed to get a bit too dry.

Potting: If you have a blooming sized jasmine it will rarely, if ever need repotting. The roots must be quite potbound for jasmine to bloom. Repot only if the plant dries out within 2 to 3 days following a thorough watering.

Fertilizer: Use a 1-2-1 ratio fertilizer at half strength and only when the plant is healthy and putting out new growth.

Humidity: High humidity is not essential, but it helps.

Pests: Jasmine is a magnet for spider mites. Few jasmine plants escape periodic mite infestations. Check the undersides of leaves regularly for signs of mites and treat promptly and thoroughly with a soap and water spray.

Blooming: Jasmine usually bloom in January. Normally jasmine is cut way back to half its size following a winter bloom and then new growth is kept pinched back to promote fullness until August. Keep the soil moist and fertilize regularly when it is putting out new growth. In August, discontinue the pinching In October; give it completely dark nights and cool temps (40 to 50 degrees) to promote January bloom. Keep the soil a bit more on the dry side and provide lots of sun during the day. It is usually recommended that you do this for 6 to 8 weeks. This will help set the buds. After that normal room temperatures and a sunny window will suffice. This is a difficult regimen to provide. If you can only do this for a few weeks, it is better than not at all. If you cannot do it at all, your plant will remain healthy but it may not bloom quite as much. In any case do not fertilize during the winter months. In the late winter or early spring, prune the entire plant back by half. New growth will soon emerge. Flowers appear only on new growth.

Propagation: Jasmine can be propagated at any time, although early spring is the preferred time. Take tip cuttings with two to three sets of leaves. Strip the lowest leaves off the cuttings and insert the cuttings in a small pot filled with damp, peat-based potting mix. Enclose the pot and cuttings in a clear plastic tent to retain the moisture in the soil and around the leaves. Place the pot in bright but indirect light where it will not get overheated by direct sunlight. Keep it in a warm location (above 65 degrees F.). Allow 6 – 8 weeks for roots to develop, after which you can gradually remove the plastic over the course of a week. Increase the light after that.

I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with all this information. Your Jasmine is probably a bit out of sync with its normal cycle. You probably have not pruned it before and you did say it was leggy, so maybe now is a good time for you to prune it back sharply. Also, I wouldn't risk putting it outside any more until lat spring.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com

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If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.