jasmine sambac struggling to bloom.

13 years ago

I have a Jasmine Sambac that is facing a south window in my house, it gets plenty of sun and i try to feed it every once in a while. The problem is, my jasmine always has flower buds on it, but just as the blossoms look like the are about to open, they all shrivel up and die. this keeps happening and i dont know why. I mist it regularly but that doesnt seem to help either. Any advice on what i should do?

Featured Answer

mehitabel

13 years ago

It's hard to figure out the one thing that is causing some kind of problem, plant or human. But it's clear your jasmine doesn't really enjoy living where it does.

But here's what I think: in my experience jasmines only thrive when it's hot and humid and they're getting lots of sun. When it's cooler, they don't thrive as well, and even a south window can't match the July sun. So jasmines pine all winter, more and more as the winter wears on. In this area, they get chlorotic as the winter grinds on and need a good boost of epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) and chelated iron. by Feb or so.

When they are put outside in spring, they put on a huge burst of robust growth only after the nights get warm.

My advice is to move it as close to the window pane as you can get it, position it so it gets as much sun as possible. Keep the shade up and curtains open. Ease it out of its pot and check on the roots-- are they healthy?

I would repot it into a clay pot because overwatering in winter is bad for jasmines, and it's much harder to overwater a plant in a clay pot. Be sure the pot is not too big-- only a half inch or so bigger than the actual root ball.

Be careful to let the top dry out a little before watering. Give it some epsom salts. If you can possibly put it outside next summer, do so.

There is a recent thread here by Khandi, an experienced jasmine grower who grows gorgeous huge jasmines on how to winter a jasmine. It's very good advice. Try to find it.

Comments (10)

meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Along with the good advice above, if you want to see a HUGE difference in your plants growth, go to the pet store or hydroponic store and get a heat matt if you are going to give it all day sun in a sunny window..

There is no escaping the fact that because it will be so close to the window,the roots will get very cold at night, especially in clay..These plants like lot's of diffused or direct sunlight and warmth..The perfect place for these? In a greenhouse all winter...There they thrive, even in winter..

Mike
Related Professionals
Severn Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tempe Landscape Contractors · Williamsburg Landscape Contractors · Bedford Landscape Contractors · Bergenfield Landscape Contractors · Lemont Landscape Contractors · Mastic Beach Landscape Contractors · North Lauderdale Landscape Contractors · Palm Beach Gardens Landscape Contractors · Palos Verdes Estates Landscape Contractors · Pompano Beach Landscape Contractors · Pompton Lakes Landscape Contractors · Oxon Hill Landscape Contractors · Merrifield Landscape Contractors · Conroe Swimming Pool Builders
mehitabel
13 years ago
Mike, you are right about clay pots getting too cold in winter-- I found that out with my orchids. The very features that make them great for cooling roots in summer works against you in winter.

Also, your point about close to the window getting quite cold at night in winter, dito. I measured my windowsills temperature one winter. With the shades up even a few inches, the windowsill area got below 32F on cold nights of 20F or below.

Never thought about the seedling mat for warmth, but definitely! Warm nights is the key to jasmine growth, IMO.
mpetrizzle
Original Author
13 years ago
I managed to find enough room for the jasmine on the very small windowsill. it is now in front of the blinds. I also have a heat mat i used for reptiles that i will place underneath it.
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Yes..

There are some jasmine species that actually need a very cool period to flower and perform well..But this is not one of those, along with Jasmine Duke..Some need very warm temps to produce well...

Jasmine Duke need consistent warm temps, at least the roots above 70 to fully open a flower bud..That is the only I could get mine to stay healthy and grow all winter...Once the heating matt came off too early, I lost all the flowers buds..:-(

Good luck...

MIke
native_son
13 years ago
I have the same problem with my jasmine, but some of the blooms are making it. It's in a classroom window, that has double panes and the temp doesn't drop as much for me at night, so that might be helping. I may be imagining it, but I think I was having more blooms shrivel up when I was just watering it once a week, but now that I'm watering it twice a week I haven't seen as many die. I've got it in a plastic pot, with no heat mat or anything (in Little Rock, AR).
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
We definitely know that if you were to stick your plant into a nice warm humid bright lit green house, the blossoms would open like crazy!

If I can at least keep my plants alive till the spring, I am happy..:-)

Mike
native_son
13 years ago
Some pics - first of a regular bloom (which variety of jasmine is this, by the way?), and then blooms that started out but shriveled up. You can see spaces in the middle of the nascent blooms that shouldn't be there.

{{gwi:812977}}

{{gwi:812978}}
kemistry
13 years ago
That's the Maid of Orleans (Moo)

My moo is having the same problem, though i never got a bud to bloom with a scent since Jan. It is very disappointing since I love this plant.
mansi21c80
8 years ago
Hi

My jasmine doesn't bloom. Even though it has large number of buds.

What should i do?

Propagating its stem in to the new pot will be the or can provide bloom?

When should i prune it?