Question
I have a jasmin that I bought around a year ago.  It has never been a great producer of flowers.  I put in a fertilizer stick and have watered it and it is in a sunny location.  I should mention that I live in northern Minnesota.   

The plant started sending out shoots that looked thin and wispy but still hardly any flowers.  I cut back all the little vines back to the original bigger vines.  During the summer I set it outside but it didn't send out one flower.  Now I have brought it back in the house for winter and it has started to flower but once again, these little spindly vines are starting.  

What do I do to take care of this plant properly.  I absolutely love the fragrance and really want to have more blooms...any suggestions for a beginner?   Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

Lynn


Answer
Hi Lynn,

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.

This is not an easy regimen to follow and that is why few people are successful with Jasmine in their homes. But do your best and don't get discouraged.

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

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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