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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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Noteworthy Books on Houseplants

  • Book CoverThe Unexpected Houseplant by Tovah Martin; Kindra Clineff (Photographer)
    Call Number: SB419 .M323 2012
    ISBN: 9781604692433
    Publication Date: 2012-08-28
  • Book CoverTempting Tropicals by Ellen Zachos
    Call Number: SB419 .Z33 2005
    ISBN: 0881927325
    Publication Date: 2005-10-06
  • Book CoverPotted History by Catherine Horwood
    Call Number: SB419 .H67 2007
    ISBN: 9780711228009
    Publication Date: 2007-10-09
  • Book CoverHouseplants and Indoor Gardening by Julie Bawden-Davis
    Call Number: SB419 .B3355 2001
    ISBN: 1589230035
    Publication Date: 2001-11-01
  • Book CoverHouseplant Basics by David Squire; Margret Crowther
    Call Number: SB419 .S69 2002
    ISBN: 0806988495
    Publication Date: 2002-03-01
  • Book CoverThe Houseplant Survival Guide by Pat Regel
    Call Number: SB419 .R43 1997
    ISBN: 1561581860
    Publication Date: 1997-04-01
  • Book CoverWhat Houseplant Where by Roy Lancaster; Matthew Biggs
    Call Number: SB419.25 .L35 1998
    ISBN: 0789435225
    Publication Date: 1998-09-15
  • How to Grow Fresh Air by B. C. Wolverton
    Call Number: SB419 .W58 1997
    ISBN: 0140262431
    Publication Date: 1997-04-01
  • Book CoverSuccess with House Plants by Reader's Digest Editors
    Call Number: SB419 .S75
    ISBN: 0895770520
    Publication Date: 1981-07-01

Related Plant Societies

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Subjects: Houseplants
Tags: Amaryllis, Anthurium, Araucaria heterophylla, Begonia hiemalis, Bromeliad, Capiscum, Elatior begonia, English ivy, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Gardenia jasminoides, Hedera helix, Hippeastrum, Jasminum, Kalanchoe, Poinsettia, Rieger begonia, Saintpaulia, Schlumbergera, Solanum, Streptocarpus