How to grow climbing shrub jasmine? Methods, precautions and pruning times
Jasmine has emerald-green leaves that never wither throughout the year, blooming continuously in summer and autumn, with jade-like flowers and a rich fragrance that gives people a cool and comfortable feeling. Its scent has long been praised as “the finest fragrance under heaven,” and it has excellent ornamental value. So how should jasmine be grown? Let's take a look at the cultivation methods and precautions for jasmine.
Jasmine originally came from India and the Pakistan region, was introduced to our country and widely cultivated. Jasmine is a type of evergreen shrub, its fragrance spreading in all directions when it blooms, and it has many uses. At the same time, its flower language also symbolizes friendship and love.
Jasmine cultivation methods and precautions
1. Potting soil selection and potting methods for jasmine cultivation
The potting soil for potted jasmine should be rich in organic matter and have good water retention, water permeability and aeration. You can use 4 parts leaf mold, 3 parts garden soil, 2 parts river sand, and 1 part cake fertilizer or livestock and poultry manure mixed together to make the potting soil, or 5 parts leaf mold, 4 parts sandy loam, and 1 part cake fertilizer mixed evenly, and place bone meal etc. at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer.
Potting is best done in March to April before new shoots sprout. After potting, place it in a slightly shaded place to avoid direct sunlight, and after it recovers normal growth, it should be given sufficient light.
Potted jasmine should be repotted once every 1 to 2 years, replacing with new potting soil. When repotting, generally do not remove the roots, but the water should be thoroughly watered, placed in a shaded place to recover growth, and pay attention to loosening the soil.
2. Watering methods for jasmine cultivation
Whether watering is appropriate is the key to whether potted jasmine grows well. If watered too much, the leaves will suddenly turn yellow; if the potting soil is too wet for a long time, it will cause poor soil aeration, leading to root rot and yellowing and falling of leaves, and even the death of the plant.
If root rot is caused by excessive watering, you can move the flower pot to a cool place, stop fertilizing, control watering, and loosen the soil frequently to make the potting soil well aerated and prompt the plant to sprout new roots.
Watering should be determined according to the season and temperature.
In spring, from April to May, it begins to grow branches and leaves, and water consumption is not large, so it can be watered once every 2 to 3 days, preferably around noon; June is the spring flowering period, and watering can be slightly more, once a day;
In summer, July to August is the high-temperature period, and also the peak flowering period of jasmine, so it needs to be watered once in the morning and once in the evening, while also spraying water on the leaves 1 to 2 times a day, and sprinkling water around the flower pot to increase air humidity;
In autumn, gradually reduce the amount of watering, and from September to October it can be watered once every 1 to 2 days;
In winter, watering should be strictly controlled, keeping the potting soil only slightly moist, generally watering once every 5 to 7 days. If the potting soil is too wet, the roots are prone to turning black and rotting, and the leaves turn yellow and fall off.
When you find that the leaves have just begun to turn yellow, pay attention to stopping watering, let it dry for a few more days, and then gradually water appropriately to restore normal growth.
Jasmine prefers slightly acidic soil. If the soil is on the alkaline side, the leaves will turn yellow. During the growth period, water once every 10 to 15 days with 0.2% ferrous sulfate water to keep the potting soil acidic.
3. Fertilization methods for jasmine cultivation
Jasmine has a long flowering period and requires more fertilizer, so the potting soil must be sufficiently fertile. Master the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently, especially during the flower bud formation period when fertilizer must not be lacking. But too much or too concentrated fertilizer can easily cause root rot.
Fertilizing in the evening is best. Before application, loosen the potting soil, and be careful not to fertilize when the potting soil is too dry or too wet. Application when the potting soil is semi-moist gives the best effect.
Jasmine prefers acidic soil, and “alum fertilizer water” can be used as a top dressing. From the beginning of sprouting in spring to late September, apply diluted decomposed cake fertilizer water once every 7 to 10 days, at a concentration of 15% to 20%;
During the flower bud and flowering period, apply thin fertilizer frequently, about once every 5 to 7 days, at a concentration of 10% to 15%. When fertilizing, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. You can add 0.1% to 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate or 0.5% calcium superphosphate solution to the cake fertilizer water to promote flower bud differentiation;
If nitrogen fertilizer is applied too much for a long time and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is insufficient, it is easy to cause the plant to grow excessively, affecting flower bud formation and resulting in no flowering or very few flowers.
From October, fertilization should be stopped to improve the maturity of the branches, which is beneficial for overwintering.
Care of jasmine during the flowering period
Jasmine loves fertilizer very much. As long as it is cared for properly, potted jasmine can bloom three times a year. If fertilizer is insufficient and nutrients are not enough, after blooming once, it will no longer bloom. If management is in place, it can bloom continuously from the end of May to the beginning of November. The key is pruning, sunlight, and the control of fertilizer and water.
Jasmine begins to bloom successively from early summer, and with proper management, it can produce three peak flowering periods.
In early June, jasmine successively produces early flowers. The flower-picking method is to pick off the flower together with the leafy tender branches, prompting new branches to grow again and the branches and leaves to flourish. At this time, apply dilute fertilizer water twice a week and keep the potting soil moist.
From late June to early July is the first peak flowering period. At this time, fertilizer and water management needs to be strengthened, applying thin fertilizer frequently, fertilizing once every 2 days with fully decomposed organic liquid fertilizer, with a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 1:4. Watering should be sufficient, generally once a day. Usually watering is best done in the morning, while fertilizing is best in the evening. Continuing this way until late July, due to sufficient fertilizer and water, the flowers can be made larger and more numerous.
In early August, the second flowering period forms. At this time, fertilization should be slightly more concentrated than before, generally half fertilizer and half water is suitable. To promote better flowering of jasmine, you can also spray calcium superphosphate solution on the leaves. By late August, gradually reduce fertilization to once every 6 to 7 days, while watering still needs to be more frequent, maintaining once every 2 days.
From early September to early October, the third flowering period forms. At this time, fertilization should be stopped, and the amount of watering should also be gradually reduced. Because the weather has gradually turned cool, which will affect the formation of flower buds, the number of flowers in this batch is relatively small. After mid-October, flowering ends, and it is only necessary to keep the potting soil slightly moist.
When to prune jasmine
Jasmine pruning is mainly concentrated in two time periods. The first is the growth period, that is, from spring to autumn, which includes two prunings. The first is around Qingming, before jasmine sprouts; the second is after the flowers fade, in August or September. The second is the dormant period, that is, before spring, cutting off dead branches and diseased and pest-infested branches, letting jasmine rest and recuperate.
How to prune jasmine
Growth period pruning
The first pruning during the growth period should be carried out together with repotting. First use a small wooden stick to dig out the entire jasmine plant, remove part of the old soil from the root system, and cut off the overly dense fibrous roots.
After repotting, cut off or shorten the overly long and overly dense branches, so that the branches are evenly distributed.
After the flowers fade, carry out the second pruning. On the premise of ensuring the jasmine plant's shape is beautiful, remove some leaves to reduce nutrient loss. Keep 3~5 small nodes on each branch, cut off the top shoots, and promote the sprouting of new branches. (After jasmine blooms, it will not grow new flower buds on the original branches. If you do not cut them off, no small ones will grow.)
Dormant period pruning
Carry out before spring sprouting, cutting off diseased and pest-infested branches, weak branches, and excessively vigorous branches. Do not be soft-hearted, just cut it off in one go.
Shorten the top of one-year-old branches, keeping the lower branches at about 10~15 cm.
Remove all the leaves. Although after pruning it looks a bit bare, if you are not ruthless, it will not grow well~ Pruning in this way is beneficial for making jasmine short, sturdy and beautiful.
Prune at any time
Only people who are diligent and not impatient can grow flowers well, and this is even better reflected in jasmine pruning. Diligent people will regularly observe the growth of jasmine and adjust it in a timely manner; rigid people will only care for it step by step. Then this pruning at any time seems very casual, but it is of great help to the growth of jasmine!
For blind branches (branches that do not bloom), excessively vigorous branches, and diseased and pest-infested branches, cut them whenever you see them, improving the plant's ventilation and light transmission.
(Jasmine generally blooms three times) The flower stalks should be cut off, which can promote the next flowering.
Precautions for pruning jasmine
Pruning techniques for newly bought jasmine
For newly bought jasmine that has been repotted, all flower buds and flower buds must be cut off, otherwise it will be very difficult to keep alive. During the cultivation process, withered branches and leaves should be cut off in time. For newly bought jasmine, no matter how ugly the plant shape is, your primary task is to keep it alive, do not rush to shape it.
Only with sacrifice can there be gain
Many flower lovers who grow jasmine often focus on water and fertilizer, neglecting pruning, and even after winter begins they are reluctant to cut off the withered old branches and leaves, resulting in thin branches and narrow leaves. Is this not getting twice the result with half the effort? In fact, pruning is very simple, the key is that you must be ruthless.
In addition, when pruning, since you have cut it, leave no trace, avoid rough cuts, and avoid leaving axillary buds too long, which will affect the growth of new buds.
Cut branches can be used for cuttings
The jasmine branches cut off during pruning can be used for cuttings. Keep two leaves on each branch, requiring that the tender buds in the middle of the leaves grow well, cut off half of each leaf, and then it can be used for cuttings.
Jasmine cultivation methods in winter
The care of jasmine in autumn and winter is key. Whether the care in autumn and winter is appropriate has a great impact on the growth and flowering of jasmine in the coming year. If during this period the care is improper, it may even lead to the death of the jasmine.
1. Strictly prohibit fertilizing
After White Dew, the root vitality of jasmine weakens a lot. After fertilizing, it cannot absorb it, which easily causes fertilizer damage, and ultimately root rot due to fertilizer.
2. Do not rush to move it indoors
Do not rush to move it indoors just because the temperature has dropped. Let the jasmine slowly adapt to temperature changes, so that when winter comes, it will at least have had a process of adapting to low temperatures.
3. Control watering well
The root vitality is weak, and the sunlight is not as strong as in summer, so the watering interval should be gradually and appropriately extended, and keep it on the dry side. This way, the new semi-lignified branches can form lignification as soon as possible before the cold freeze arrives, greatly improving cold resistance.
4. Do not prune branches
During autumn and winter, jasmine is in its dormant period. At this time, nutrient absorption is limited, and the only nutrients needed are maintained by the nutrients stored in the branches, so do not cut off too many branches, as this is not conducive to overwintering.