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Popular Houseplant Profiles: I - P

Jasminum - jasmine

Jasminum officinale ; photo courtesy of Flickr cc/ Elena Regina
Jasminum officinale ; photo courtesy of Flickr cc/ Elena Regina

Jasmine species are grown indoors for their lovely, fragrant flowers. In addition to Jasminum officinale, two of the most popular species include Jasminum sambac (Arabian jasmine) and Jasminum polyanthum (climbing jasmine). With proper cultural conditions, jasmine can remain in continuous bloom for months.

Cultural Requirements

Light:

Jasmine requires bright light with some direct sunlight each day, in eastern or western exposure.

Watering:

Keep soil moist as jasmine can easily wilt. When growth slows in winter, hold back on watering a bit more.

Temperature:

Jasminum officinale 'Grandiflorum' blooms best with a night temperature of 55°F or lower. J. sambac prefers a night temperature above 60°F. Day temperatures are best kept cool as well, below 70°F.

Humidity:

Jasmine enjoys extra humidity and benefits from daily misting, sitting on a tray of moistened pebbles and/or use of a humidifier.

Feeding:

During the growing season, feed once a month with a standard, water soluble fertilizer.

Transplanting:

Move J. polyanthum in summer and J. officinale in spring. Jasmines prefer a fertile, well-drained soil consisting of one part sterilized, houseplant, potting soil, one part peat and one part builder's sand or perlite.

Propagation:

Take tip cuttings just below a node or heel cuttings (from sideshoots with a small section of main stem attached) in midsummer to fall. Grow cuttings in a pre-moistened, light, soil mix with extra humidity. Repot when rooting has taken place and treat them as mature specimens.

Maintenance:

Continue to prune jasmine plants often, as they can be rampant growers.

Special Note:

When plants reach an 8 to 10" size pot, provide an annual topdressing of fresh potting soil.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - kalanchoe

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana; photo courtesy of Flickr cc/John Rusk
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana; photo courtesy of Flickr cc/John Rusk

These compact succulent plants bear clusters of bright pink, red, orange, white or yellow flowers above the foliage. To extend their time of bloom, provide cool temperatures and full sun.

Cultural Requirements

Light:

Abundant sunlight with at least four hours of direct sunlight per day will help to keep the compact growth habit.

Watering:

Water kalanchoe thoroughly when the top few inches of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Temperature:

Kalanchoe grows best when cool temperatures are provided. Night temperatures should be between 50° to 60°F and day temperatures between 65° to 70°F to ensure the longest possible blooming period.

Humidity:

Regular home humidity is acceptable.

Feeding:

When kalanchoe is done flowering, feed with a water soluble liquid fertilizer for flowering houseplants twice monthly during the growing season (March to September).

Transplanting:

Re-pot kalanchoe in the early spring, after flowering, into a rich, well-drained, porous mix of one part sterilized houseplant potting soil, a handful of crushed stones, one part coarse builder's sand and one part organic matter.

Propagation:

Kalanchoes propagate easily by 3" to 4" stem cuttings placed in a moist, light, soil mix. Harden off the cuttings for several days and then use a rooting hormone on the ends before placing them into a light soil mix.

Maintenance:

To encourage branching and produce the most growing tips capable of bearing flowers, prune and shape kalanchoe after flowering. In order to re-bloom the plant for Christmas, give it an extended period of darkness for thirty days. Beginning September 1, cover the plant with a black cloth from 6 pm to 7 am each night until October 1. Under these conditions, the plants will develop flower buds and be in bloom for the holiday season.

Special Note:

If re-blooming is not required for Christmas, kalanchoe will bloom in the spring under normal houseplant growing conditions.

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