QuestionDear Will,
I purchased a large flowering jasmine tree last summer. It spent 4 months on our terrace in direct southern sunlight and thrived. As I live in New York City, I brought the tree inside for the winter (I didn't think it would survive the cold and snow).
It has been in my bedroom in a north window and does not receive much light. It did go through one more flowering in October. Since then, the leaves are dropping like crazy and some branches are devoid of all greenery.
I did not do any pruning after the flowering. Please advise what I can do to keep this tree happy until I can put it back outside this spring/summer. I water it once a week. There is some new growth, so all hope is not lost. Do I cut back the "dead" branches?
Thank you so much.
AnswerHi Kerry,
When kept as indoor plants, 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.
Yours is a little out of sync because it was outside and then moved inside. I suggest that you prune it back now and give it a bit of a rest. It also will flower more prolifically if it is kept cool and given completely dark nights and the soil is kept on the dry side during this semi-dormant period that typically lasts for 6 to 8 weeks. After that, return it to a warm, sunny location and resume normal watering.
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. New growth will soon emerge and flowers appear only on new growth.
Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC
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