How to grow and care for jasmine indoors

Jasmine Plant Care

Here are the main care requirements when growing jasmine indoors:

• Place the plant in indirect light.
• Maintain room temperature between 60 and 75 degrees and proper humidity.
• Water regularly when the top half inch of soil feels dry.
• Diluted fertilizer for indoor plants.
• Prune after flowering.

Sunlight

To grow and bloom indoors, jasmine needs at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. You’ll have to find the ideal location—bright, indirect light a few feet from an unshaded south- or west-facing window is ideal.

Temperature and humidity

Although jasmine is a tropical plant, it prefers warm environments.

• Room temperature should be between 60 and 75 degrees, but during the pre-blooming period, jasmine needs temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees for four to five weeks.
• Jasmine plants are susceptible to dry air.
• To maintain humidity, especially when heating your home in winter, use a humidifier, place a tray of pebbles filled with water under the plant pot, or lightly mist the plant once a day.

Sprinklers

Water slowly and deeply whenever the top half inch of potting soil is dry until water drips out of the pot’s drainage hole. Avoid overwatering – jasmine hates soggy soil.

Fertilizer

Jasmine plants need moderate amounts of fertilizer.

• During periods of heavy growth, fertilize the plant every three to four weeks with a houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.
• Alternatively, you can spread a 1- to 2-inch layer of slow-release granular fertilizer into the potting soil.

Cut

Many varieties of jasmine are fast-growing and require annual pruning. This is best done immediately after flowering, as this reduces the risk of accidentally cutting off new flower buds. Prune plants as needed to control their size and maintain their shape.

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Types of jasmine grown indoors

• Pink Jasmine (polyanthum jasmine)Also known as climbing jasmine, it is commonly used as an indoor ornamental plant. It blooms in late winter to spring, usually from late December to March, and requires cooler weather to begin blooming. The pinkish-white flowers have a strong fragrance.
• Arabian Jasmine (Jasmine sambac) has a thick, stiff upright stem of a shrub but is often trained into a vine for climbing trellises. This is an evergreen summer bloomer that blooms multiple times a year. The pure white star-shaped flowers have a sweet fragrance and are classic jasmine.
• Spanish Jasmine (Jasmine Official used to be. Orchid), also known as royal jasmine, is a semi-deciduous jasmine, losing its leaves for a short time before starting new growth. It blooms continuously throughout the year. The large, white, fragrant flowers have narrow petals. This climbing, branching jasmine grows well on trellises or in hanging baskets.

Make jasmine bloom indoors

To keep jasmine blooming indoors, make sure it gets enough light, not too much or too little. Water regularly during periods of heavy growth, but reduce watering during months of slow or no growth.

Pruning after flowering is key to encouraging new growth where flower buds will form. The more you consistently prune summer-blooming jasmine varieties like ‘Maid of Orleans’, the more they will bloom. When pruning, be sure not to cut off any flower buds.

Planting and repotting jasmine plants

1. For potted jasmine, choose a large pot with large drainage holes. Climbing varieties should be potted in a heavy material such as ceramic or clay to prevent the plant from falling over.
2. To ensure the good drainage jasmine needs, add bark and peat moss to the potting soil or use a potting mix that contains perlite or vermiculite.
3. Repot the plant every two to three years when roots begin to grow out of the drainage hole. Use a pot that is one size larger, 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and new potting soil.
4. The best time to repot is in early spring before the plant begins to sprout.

Common problems when growing jasmine indoors

Bugs

Like other houseplants, jasmine attracts sap-sucking insects such as:

While these tiny pests are hard to spot, yellowing, wilting, or mottled leaves and webbing are signs of their presence. Treat them with insecticidal soap—it may take several applications to eliminate the infestation.

Diseases

When grown indoors, jasmine is susceptible to a variety of diseases, largely due to improper care.

• Over watering: This can cause root rot.
• Leaf blight: In warm, humid conditions with poor air circulation, the plant may develop rust or leaf blight, a fungal disease. Leaf blight looks like round brown spots on the upper surface of the leaves.
• Leaves curl or turn brown: Leaves may also curl and begin to wither. Remove infected leaves immediately and adjust environmental conditions to create a drier environment with better air circulation for the plant. If the problem persists, use a fungicide labeled for indoor plants.

stunted growth

Lack of airflow is just as bad for jasmine as strong winds, which can stunt growth. Winter-blooming jasmine will also be stunted if temperatures are too warm before flowering.

Fallen or dry leaves

Overwatering a plant will cause leaves to fall off, while underwatering will cause the leaves to dry out, lose their shine, and eventually fall off.

Jasmine propagation

The easiest method of propagating jasmine is by cuttings in spring and early summer when the plant has new green shoots.

1. Cut several 6- to 8-inch long branches from a healthy plant.
2. Remove all leaves except the top 2 or 3 sets of leaves.
3. Dip the cut end of the cutting into rooting hormone.
4. Fill a 10-inch diameter pot with moist soil.
5. Using a pencil or wooden stick, poke deep, narrow holes in the potting soil, as many as there are cuttings you have.
6. Carefully insert the cutting into the planting hole and pack the potting soil firmly around the cutting so that the cutting stays upright.
7. Cover with a clear plastic bag or dome and place in a warm, indirect light location.
8. Keep the soil in the pot evenly moist.
9. After 4 to 6 weeks, roots will form. Check by gently pulling on the cutting. If they do not shake, roots have formed.

Allow new plants to grow healthy and at least 4 inches tall before transferring to permanent pots.