Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I have been reading this website, and found it incredibly informative.

I was wondering if i could ask you about growing night jasmine (cestrum nocturnum) indoors with the help of growing lights. I was wondering what you considered the ideal light-to-dark ratio for this plant. I am using a growing light in conjunction with sun light (the plant is on an interior windowsill). I control the growing light with a electric timer (currently set to turn ON at 7am and OFF at 11:00pm). The light is a single 17W OTT-LITE natural-spectrum bulb about 10-14 inches away from the plant. Thank you so much for any potential advice that you could provide.

With hopes of green thumbs,
-Anirudh

ANSWER: Anirudh,

It depends on whether you are trying to grow it or getting it to bloom. To grow it long days and short nights like you are giving it are good. To get it to bloom it needs the reverse since it normally blooms in the short days of winter. Below is a website that will give you further information:
http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_8cd3.html

Jasmine should be prunes until the end of August then allowed to grow until it blooms, usually in December or January under natural light. Then when it finishes blooming it should be severely pruned again and pruned monthly until the end of August. Good luc with yours.

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,

Thank you so much for the timely and detailed response. I really appreciate it.

I am asking a follow-up question because I was told and read in numerous sources that cestrum nocturnum (night queen) blooms in spring, summer, and fall. So, I was exposing it to long days to get it to bloom.

One of my main concerns is giving it "too much" light and not enough time to "sleep". Do you think that would be problem under the current regime? What would be signs that the plant needs more time to "sleep".

Thank you again for all your help.

Wish wishes for blooms,
Anirudh

Answer
Anirudh,

There are varieties that do bloom in fall and early winter just as that days are beginning to shorten. The only signs ththat the plant needs more sleep time will be an abundance of foliage and a lack of buds and flowers. It will not damage the plant in any way, it will only cause a lack of flowers to form. If you see no signs of flower buds by now you might want to cut your day length by 60 minutes on a monthly basis until you get buds. Goood  luck.

Darlene