Types of Jasmine and Indoor Plant Care (+23 photos)

Flowers

Many people think that the shrub blooming in our gardens and the white flowers dried in tea are the same jasmine. After all, both have a strong fragrance, and the flowers are white. But no, the winter-hardy shrub native to our latitudes is a false jasmine, or mock orange.

Today's subject is a graceful evergreen tropical vine that can only thrive in apartments. True jasmine requires greenhouse-like conditions, and if you want to grow this indoor plant, you need to choose a species, which you can choose from a photo or directly from a store, and study it. rules for caring for it.

Characteristics of jasmine varieties and types with photos

True jasmine belongs to the Oleaceae family and is native to the tropical Mediterranean, South America, and Australia. It is an evergreen vine with flexible shoots that can twine around a support so that it is invisible.

The leaves are regular, oblong, and attached to the stem in pairs by short petioles, forming a beautiful branch. The flowers are elegant in their simplicity. Tubular, with six widely open petals, they are gathered in corymbs and grow from the leaf axils. The classic colors of this houseplant are white and cream, but pink and yellow are also available. This is precisely what distinguishes the different varieties of jasmine:

Sambac, or Arabian jasmine, is the easiest to grow indoors. Its stems are covered in fuzz and become woody over time. The ovate leaves are up to 10 cm long, sometimes gathered in whorls of three, and the surface can be either glossy or slightly pubescent. The flowers are large, double or semi-double, similar to camellias. They are highly fragrant and borne in clusters of 3-5. The blooming period is very long: from May to October.
The naked-flowered variety is also quite common. It is distinguished by a small number of small leaves, almost all of which fall off in winter. The shoots are graceful and sparsely branched. The flowers are large, up to 3 cm in diameter, and bright yellow. They bloom singly, not en masse, but along the entire length of the stem, and bloom from January to April, earning the plant the name "winter jasmine."
The large-flowered variety has smooth stems and dark, elliptical leaves with a pointed tip. Flowers grow at the ends of the stems, gathered in umbels of 10, and are snow-white. Blooming is abundant from June to October.
Multiflora – branching vigorously, shoots reach 2 meters. Dark green leaves with wavy edges are arranged alternately on the stem. Flowers are numerous, gathered in inflorescences. The buds are pink, and when open, the flowers become white. This variety has the strongest fragrance, which can be detected from a distance. Flowering period: February-August.
Jasmine Bisa is distinguished by its pink flowers, sometimes darker, sometimes lighter, blooming at the ends of the shoots. It blooms briefly, beginning in May. The leaves are bright green, lightly pubescent.

As we can see, the differences between indoor jasmines are not that significant, but they are enough to help you choose a fragrant plant for your home to suit your taste.

How to propagate and transplant a flower at home?

To achieve the same vibrant blooms of this houseplant as in the photo, not only proper care is important, but also the right soil for replanting and propagation. It's best to buy ready-made soil from a gardening store; it has a balanced composition. However, you can also make your own by combining turf, leaf mold, sand, and peat, ensuring the soil is loose.

Until the plant reaches four years of age, it needs to be repotted annually, slightly enlarging the pot and replanting the plant with the root ball, adding just a little fresh soil. As the plant matures, repotting is necessary every three to four years.

Note!

A spacious pot will be detrimental to the bush, it prefers to take up all the space with roots.

As for propagation, there are three options: seeds, cuttings, and aerial shoots. Seed propagation is more commonly used by breeders, as it doesn't produce true-to-species reproduction. Let's look at the others in more detail.

Cuttings

For planting material, select healthy, semi-lignified shoots and take cuttings with 4-5 buds. The lower end should be treated with a rooting agent—this will significantly reduce the time it takes to produce a new plant. The cuttings are potted in cups and covered with a plastic bag, a transparent cup, or a jar. In short, they are placed in a greenhouse. Keep the seedlings in a bright, warm place, ensuring adequate humidity and ventilation.

An acceptable option is to keep the cuttings in a rooting solution until white roots appear, and only then carefully transplant them.

New leaves will indicate successful rooting. Soon, you can transplant the seedlings into small pots and care for them as you would an adult plant.

Aerial processes

To do this, place a pot of soil near the mother plant, select a healthy shoot, find a woody spot, scratch the bark there, and place it on the substrate. You can also apply some weight, wrap it in sphagnum moss, and cover the pot with plastic wrap. After roots appear in about a month, separate the branch from the new plant with pruning shears, pinch off the other end, and nurture it, cultivating it in the desired conditions.

The secrets and challenges of home care for jasmine

Genuine jasmine is a rare plant for apartments, and for good reason: it requires certain important conditions, especially if you want to see it bloom. It's recommended for experienced gardeners who can spot even minor irregularities and correct them before the flower dies.

Temperature and light

The plant generally tolerates temperatures well—20-25 degrees Celsius (68-77 degrees Fahrenheit) is a suitable range. In summer, temperatures below 16 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) are undesirable, and wintering temperatures vary by species, but most are between 8-10 degrees Celsius (46-50 degrees Fahrenheit). Colder temperatures can kill the plant, while warmer temperatures will result in poor flowering.

Remember!

Jasmine loves light so much that good lighting is required not only during the flowering period, but also during the growing season.

In this case, direct rays are not allowed; it is better to choose eastern or western windows for it, and if only southern ones are available, then a screen for shading is required.

Watering, spraying, air humidity

Balanced watering is crucial: don't let the soil dry out, and avoid overwatering or stagnant water. Reduce watering in winter, as overly wet soil at low temperatures can be harmful. However, reduce the amount of water slowly and gradually.

Water quality is also important. The plant prefers warm tropical rain, so the water should be slightly warm, filtered, or melted, free of tap water additives, as chlorine and calcium salts are particularly harmful. Even with purified water, it's still recommended to water the jasmine several times a month with slightly acidified water and apple cider vinegar added to it—just 5 drops per liter.

Humidity is a crucial aspect of care. A plant will simply wither in dry air. Humidity control is especially critical on hot days. Misting is necessary both during the growing season, using a mist spray, and during flowering, at a greater distance to prevent droplets from falling on the flowers. To make care easier, you can purchase a humidifier or install a wide tray filled with wet pebbles to allow water to evaporate onto the plant.

Important!

In winter, none of these manipulations are necessary if the jasmine grows in cool temperatures. If such a location is unavailable, humidity must be maintained even more diligently than in summer; this is the only way to preserve the plant and hope for flowering.

If a bush has started to wither and drop leaves, it's highly likely the owner isn't keeping the air humid. In that case, you can try this resuscitation method: cover the bush with a cloche to trap humidity and ventilate it daily for several days or even weeks.

Trimming

Jasmine tolerates pruning very well; it's even beneficial, as it encourages more intense bushiness. Pruning is usually done at the start of the growing season, depending on the specific species and its flowering time. Shoots are cut back by a third or even half. Sometimes, intensive pruning isn't necessary if there's support and it's beautifully braided. However, it's often necessary, as most jasmine blooms at the ends of branches, and the goal is to produce more shoots for more intense blooms.

In addition to pruning, it's worth removing damaged branches and dry leaves. If the bush is young, drastic pruning isn't necessary; simply pinching the tips is sufficient.

Wintering

Most jasmine species require a room with a temperature of 8-10 degrees Celsius during the winter. However, this shouldn't be a basement; the plant still needs light.

Humidity can be left unchecked if the first condition is met. However, if the pot is not removed from a heated room, the humidity around the plant will become the owner's primary concern if they don't want to lose their precious flower. Watering during this period is moderate, even sparing.

Diseases and pests of houseplants

Jasmine is also difficult to grow because the slightest deviation in care makes it a good target for insects and diseases.

Diseases manifest as leaf drop, withering tips, stunted growth, shoot and root rot, and various types of mold. In these cases, treatment with medications isn't an option; the underlying issues need to be addressed: check or adjust moisture levels, neutralize alkalization of the soil by using the wrong water, check for drainage, and determine whether repotting is necessary.

Jasmine is often attacked by insects such as:

aphid;
spider mite;
leaf weevil.

They can be removed mechanically, by spraying, or by showering. Folk remedies (such as spraying with a soap solution) and herbal infusions (such as onion peel) can also be effective. Chemical treatments should only be used when the first steps fail. Store-bought products, such as the well-known Antikleshch product, can be used for this purpose. And, of course, it's important to improve the plant's living conditions. Without this, the pests will soon return.

History of flower cultivation and signs

Jasmine is more than just a houseplant; it is so majestic and revered in many countries that legends have been composed about it, and its beauty is clearly visible in photographs.

As one might expect, such a plant was worthy of royal gardens, and was generally found only there. One legend has it that a single bush grew in the garden of a wealthy Italian man, and no one could obtain a sprig from it until the gardener fell in love with a girl and gave her a precious sprig from his master's garden. The girl appreciated the gift and planted the sprigs, bringing jasmine into the spotlight. Since then, it has become a symbol of bold love that knows no bounds.

An Indian legend tells of Princess Jasmine, who fell in love with the sun god. But his love was not reciprocated, and the girl died. After cremation, her ashes were scattered to the wind, and where they fell, fragrant bushes with delicate flowers grew.

Jasmine is considered a powerful aphrodisiac. It also promotes success, develops creativity and confidence, and creates a safe environment for social interactions. It was also used in love spells and other rituals.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Do all varieties of jasmine have a strong scent and can it cause allergies?

Yes, the hallmark of genuine jasmine is its strong scent. While quite pleasant, its intensity is not beneficial. It's not recommended to place this plant in the bedroom; it can cause a headache the next morning. People with allergies may easily develop a reaction to the pollen of this flower, even if it's not in their room, but simply in the apartment. This possibility should be taken into account when purchasing a plant.

Does indoor jasmine shed its leaves for the winter?

Jasmine is an evergreen plant and typically does not shed its leaves. This is partially true for one variety of jasmine, the nudiflora jasmine.

There is a white coating on the leaves and they are drying out, but no living creatures are visible, what could it be?

Most likely, it's powdery mildew mycelium, a fungal disease caused by a combination of low temperatures and high humidity. The affected parts of the plant should be removed, and the rest treated with a fungicide.

What can I do to make jasmine bloom?

It's essential to follow all care instructions perfectly, notice any changes, and, most importantly, arrange a wintering environment appropriate for the specific species. In most cases, this means low temperatures and moderate humidity.

Genuine indoor jasmine is a truly regal flower, judging by its capricious nature. Only a seasoned gardener can manage it and see it bloom. But even a novice florist can grow jasmine—the effort and responsibility will surely be rewarded.