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The jasmine plant will add a charming touch to your garden or home. When the flowers bloom, the delicate buds release a delightful fragrance. You can easily grow jasmine by using healthy cuttings from an existing plant. First, trim the branches from a healthy jasmine plant and encourage them to root. Once the cuttings have developed roots, you can plant and care for them.
Steps
Cutting the branches
Select a healthy, mature branch that has grown during the current year. Look for a branch that is green, still producing leaves, and flexible.
- You can take several cuttings from the same plant, as long as you don’t remove more than one-third of the plant.
- Your chances of success will be higher if you take multiple cuttings.
Use pruning shears to cut a 10-15 cm long section of a small branch. It is best to make the cut just below a leaf. The branch will have a higher chance of growing strong roots if you cut it just beneath the leaf node.
- The leaf node is a small bulge from which the leaf grows.
- You can also use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the branch.
Remove the leaves below the branch. Be sure not to bury any leaves in the soil. However, the branch will have a better chance of rooting if a few leaves are left at the top of the branch.
- Leave a few leaves at the top of the branch, but cut off most of the ones below.
- You can either cut or pull the leaves off with your fingers.
- Removing most of the leaves helps balance the development of roots and leaves.
Remove flowers from the branch. This step ensures that your branch will grow healthier. Flowers naturally produce seeds and take nutrients away from the plant. Additionally, fading flowers can develop mold and harm the branch.
- You can either cut or pluck the flowers by hand.
- Do not take branches that are still flowering. Even if the flowers have been removed, the branch may still be in its flowering phase.
Stimulate the branch to sprout roots
Prepare a small pot and fill it with plant soil. Pour nutrient-rich, pre-mixed plant soil into the pot. You can use one pot to root multiple branches, as you will transplant them after they root.
- A small pot around 15-20 cm in size is ideal.
- Choose a pot with drainage holes.
Water the soil to keep it moist. You should avoid watering the branches after planting them, as they don't have roots yet. Instead, moisten the soil before planting the cutting.
- Simply water the soil and wait for the excess water to drain through the holes at the bottom of the pot.
Use a pencil to make a hole in the soil for each cutting. Push the pencil into the soil so that one-third of the cutting is below the surface. Make sure the holes are wide enough so the cutting doesn't touch the surrounding soil.
- Leave enough space so that when you place the cutting into the hole, the rooting hormone is not disturbed.
Dip the cutting in rooting hormone. Quickly dip the end of the cutting into rooting hormone. There's no need to soak the cutting.
- Rooting hormone comes in both powder and gel forms.
- Rooting hormone will help the cutting root faster and stronger.
- Pour the rooting hormone into a clean container, dip the cutting, and then discard the used solution. Never dip the cutting directly into the hormone container, as this can damage the product.
Place the cutting into the prepared soil. Gently insert the cutting into one of the holes made by the pencil, being careful not to dislodge the rooting hormone. Hold the cutting in place until you press the soil around it firmly.
Press the soil around the cutting with your hands. Pack the soil tightly around the cutting, taking care not to disturb its position. The surface of the soil should be compacted around the cutting once you're finished.
Wrap the tree branch with an inflated plastic bag. Twist the mouth of the bag tightly to seal it. This step helps maintain moisture around the branch while it forms roots. Ensure the plastic bag doesn't touch any part of the branch to avoid mold growth.
- Occasionally, you can open the bag to spray water on the branch. Blow more air into the bag before sealing it again.
Place the tree branch in direct sunlight. A great spot to place the branch is a windowsill that receives plenty of sunlight. Jasmine requires a lot of sun to thrive. The branch needs to receive 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.
- It's best to keep the branch indoors.
Wait 4-6 weeks for the branch to root. Once roots have formed, you can transfer the plant to a new pot.
- If the branch hasn't developed roots after 6 weeks, it means it failed to root. Try propagating a new cutting instead.
Replant the rooted cuttings.
Plant the tree branch in a hanging basket or pot. Jasmine grows best when planted in a pot, which can be placed either indoors or outdoors, as long as the plant receives enough sunlight.
- Choose a pot with drainage holes at the bottom.
Fill the pot with loose, well-draining soil for the plant. Leave a small gap in the pot to place the branch. You will bury the bottom of the branch in the soil, similar to rooting a cutting.
- You can purchase potting soil from garden centers or online.
Cover the roots and bottom of the branch with soil. Bury the portion of the branch that was under the soil during the rooting process. Gently tap the soil around the planted branch to ensure it holds the branch firmly.
- Make sure no leaves are buried under the soil.
Water the plant. Water the soil thoroughly to moisten it. Excess water will drain out through the pot's drainage holes.
- Water the plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.
Place the jasmine plant in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Jasmine thrives in full sunlight, especially during spring and summer. Check the planting location to ensure the plant will receive the right amount of sunlight by observing the light levels at different times of the day.
- In winter, jasmine may not require as much direct sunlight as it enters its dormant phase.
- The plant doesn't need 6 continuous hours of sunlight. For instance, it can receive 3 hours of morning sun and 3 hours in the afternoon.
Care for the jasmine plant.
Water your plants daily throughout spring and summer. Jasmine plants thrive under full sunlight during summer, but such intense sunlight can dry them out. It's essential to keep the soil moist during the hot season by watering your plant every morning.
- Water in the morning so that any excess water can evaporate throughout the day.
- It's best to wait for the soil to dry before watering again. You can check this by using your finger to feel the soil. Dry soil will feel loose. If the soil isn't dry daily, you can reduce watering to every other day or twice a week.
Cut down watering to 1-2 times a week during winter. You can let the plant dry out during its dormancy period. With less sunlight and warmth, the water needs will decrease.
Fertilize monthly with a high-potassium fertilizer. You can use either liquid or granular fertilizer based on your preference. Some good options include tomato fertilizer, seaweed fertilizer, or wood ash.
- You can purchase fertilizers at gardening stores or online.
Check for root rot signs. Jasmine plants are prone to root rot. Early signs include stunted growth, yellowing leaves, dead leaves, and weak, blackened roots. If you notice these symptoms, your plant may have root rot. This issue can be treated with fungicide.
- Fungicides for plants can be found at garden centers or online.
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
Protect your plant from mealybugs with natural pesticides. The best options include neem oil, horticultural mineral oil, or insecticidal soap, which should be applied weekly. Jasmine plants are highly susceptible to mealybugs that feed on them.
- If your jasmine plant is outdoors, the best way to prevent mealybugs is by increasing the number of ladybugs and spiders.
- If you spot mealybugs on your plant, you can use 70% isopropyl alcohol to spot-treat the bugs and eliminate them.
Prune small branches to shape the jasmine plant in late spring, right after it blooms. Trim the plant to your desired shape and remove any weak or crossing branches.
- Don’t prune more than one-third of the plant at a time.
- If you prefer the natural shape of the plant, pruning is not necessary.
Prune jasmine in late summer. Use small pruning shears to shape the plant as you like. Cut away any thin, weak branches and any that are crossing each other.
- Make sure not to trim more than one-third of the plant in a single session.
Tips
- Jasmine grows best when planted in a pot and placed outdoors.
- Jasmine is loved for its fragrant scent.
