This jasmine plant care article is for people seeking to fill their indoor space with the wonderfully sweet fragrance of jasmine.

By understanding a little background about jasmine and following these easy- care jasmine tips, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of this amazing plant, even if you’re new to indoor gardening.

So first, a little background

Jasmine is a shrub and vine genus from the Oleaceae family. It has approximately 200 species that are native to the warm and tropical regions of Oceania and Eurasia.

It’s very popular because of the stunning flower fragrance. Although it’s commonly grown outdoors, the sweetly-scented plant can be grown indoors as a houseplant too.

It’s important to note that not all varieties have fragrant flowers; this is why some varieties are commonly chosen as houseplants than others.

The flowers usually grow in clusters and each to a 1-inch size in diameter. Their color is usually yellow or white; although occasionally, you can find ones with a pinky / red color.

Although you can grow it indoors, jasmine will greatly benefit from spending some time outdoors, in the summer season. This would ideally be in a partially sunny area. This will help it grow healthy and happy, a bit like a visit to a health farm!

Inside, they prefer a south window and sometimes, trellis or other support because of their climbing nature.

Throughout the active season, it can tolerate around 4 hours of direct sunlight. In the winter, it’s important to lower its exposure to direct sunlight.

With the right care, it can be easy to grow, even if you’re a newbie in the world of gardening.

And, you may love jasmine even more when you learn that it’s pet-friendly according to the ASPCA.

Interesting Facts:

• Did you know that jasmine flowers are worn by South East Asian woman as a hair decoration?
• The light, soft jasmine scent is a natural air cleanser and odour neutralizer; also, the plant can be used for tea! Jasmine anyone?

How to Care for a Jasmine Plant

Light

This is a somewhat delicate issue when it comes to jasmine plant care indoors; however, it’s not unsolvable. The key is to choose an area that’s well lit and has optimal air flow.

Don’t provide it with more than 4 hours of direct sunlight in summer and even fewer hours in the winter. This is why closing the blinds or moving it to a less sun-exposed area is a good idea.

Putting it near a south facing window is a smart choice.

Temperature

Indoors, your jasmine will like to keep cool and have a good air flow. The temperature range should be kept between 60 and 75 degrees F.

Water & Humidity

Jasmine is not particularly needy when it comes to watering.

It needs less water after the blooms decline (early winter to early spring) and will be content in a moist environment throughout the rest of the year.

But, this doesn’t mean it wants a soggy soil, but rather, one that’s damp to the touch.

A good schedule is to water it twice per week and to do it deeply so that it reaches the roots.

In summer to early fall, leave it to dry out between watering, but not too much. Note that it needs more active watering when it’s in the active blooming phase.

Concerning humidity, jasmine likes it 50 percent or above. If it goes below 40 or 30, its roots can decline and leaf loss may occur.

A good way to optimize humidity is by misting; however, this can be quite time consuming as they’ll need regular misting.

Another less demanding option is to place a tray with pebbles underneath and add water until it tops the pebbles.

Soil

Jasmine plants will do best in well-draining, porous soil. And, it’s even better if you add some materials like coir, bark or other organic matter to keep the soil light and airy.

Sphagnum or peat moss is also a good addition as this will absorb moisture and prevent compaction.

If you choose a pre-made potting mix, make sure that it’s free of fertilizer. Therefore, regular feeding is required to give it the nutrients it needs to grow well indoors.

Feeding

You can feed your Jasmine in a number of ways.

Firstly, you can use a diluted houseplant fertilizer the whole growing season or a phosphorus-rich fertilizer when you what to prolong the blossoms.

Always pick a fertilizer that’s water-soluble and made for houseplants.

Do it every 2 or 4 weeks in the spring and early fall.

Pause it during late fall and winter.

Organic matter is always a good idea (leaf mold, aged compost, etc.) to preserve the moisture and enrich the plant with important microorganisms and micronutrients.

Repotting

Leaving a jasmine plant to grow out of control isn’t a pretty sight; so, it’s smart to repot it regularly.

Repot when the roots have started coming out of the drainage holes on the bottom. And, preferably, do it in spring or summer; but never when buds are in formation!

Propagation

Propagating Jasmine is possible and doing it through cuttings is one of the simplest ways. Cut them 3 to 4 inches in length and with 2 sets of leaves on the top.

Put them in an adequate soil and cover it with a plastic wrap (optimizes humidity and growth). And, place it in a warm area.

In 4 weeks or so, the plant will take root and new growth will appear. Remove the bag when this happens and wait until the plant entirely fills the pot.

Best Jasmine Varieties

Jasminum officinale or common jasmine

         

This is a type of jasmine that’s commonly grown indoors.

It’s a woody vine that can reach more than 10 ft in height. If you grow it indoors, you’ll need to prune it to keep it under control.

Jasminum floridum or showy jasmine

       

This variety has shiny blue and green foliage with a mass of beautifully-smelling bright yellow flowers in spring and early summer.

Interestingly, the mature stems become reddish-brown as the season progresses.

Jasminum polyanthum or winter jasmine

       

This is a popular indoor choice; it tolerates slight frosts and it originates from China.

Its unique fragrance, dark foliage and pinkish white flowers, definitely make it stand out from other varieties. You can grow it with a trellis or shape it as a shrub.

Other Jasmine Plant Care Tips

Don’t forget to clean Jasmine foliage every month or so; since indoor plants tend to accumulate dust, sun absorption won’t be optimal and their growth may be impeded.

Although the plant will have natural support indoors by leaning over a wall or a shelf, you can also install trellis.

Pruning jasmine can help keep it in the desired shape and size.

Still, avoid pruning after August as this is the period when it will release flower buds. When pruning, cut off dead foliage or tangled parts.

Trouble Shooting- Common Issues

Problem: it’s not blooming

Cause: not enough cool temperatures.

Solution: Put it near a window facing the south and add a trellis (it will give it additional support for growth).

Problem: flower buds or foliage is going brown

Cause: Under-watering & dry roots.

Solution: Improve the soil’s moisture.

Problem: small, yellow spots on the foliage

Cause: White spider mites.

Solution: After examining the plant and confirming the mites, rinse the plant with water if it’s smaller. If it’s larger, spray it with a hose.

I do hope you’ve found this jasmine plant care article helpful.

If you love sweet smelling, easy to care for indoor flowering plants, you might like to check these out;

Plumeria

Geraniums

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