A Detailed Guide to the Latest Potted Cultivation Method for Star Jasmine
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is an evergreen woody vine in the genus Trachelospermum of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). Its flowers are as white as jade, with 5 petals forming a spinning pinwheel shape that looks romantic and fresh. Star jasmine is not closely related to true jasmine, but its flower yield is even greater than that of jasmine, its flowering period can reach more than 200 days a year, and it grows especially fast, covering a 20-meter fence in just two years. More importantly, star jasmine has a very rich fragrance and is known as "the world's number one fragrance." Today we will talk about how to care for potted star jasmine, with the key point being to keep the care simple and rough.
1. Choose a large flower pot and soil rich in organic matter
Star jasmine has a very strong growth capacity. Not only does it grow fast, but its root system is also fairly well developed. So when we grow star jasmine, we need to leave it enough room to grow, and the soil must be loose, breathable, and highly permeable. The only weakness of star jasmine is that it fears water accumulating in the pot.
1. Flower pot: When planting star jasmine, choose as large a pot as possible. That is, the larger the pot, the more growing space star jasmine has, and the faster it will grow. But when choosing a pot, you cannot focus only on size; you must also pay attention to the pot's water and air permeability. It is best to choose a Qingshan pot or a gallon pot, and the more drainage holes on the walls and bottom of the pot, the better. Here the editor provides a reference plan: if using a gallon pot, we can directly use an extra-large 5-gallon pot.
2. Soil: Star jasmine itself does not have high demands for soil, but its strong growth capacity means it consumes nutrients very heavily. So when mixing soil for star jasmine, it must be nutrient-rich and full of organic matter. It is best to add some long-acting slow-release fertilizer or chicken manure or sheep manure to the potting soil as a base fertilizer. Also, the only weakness of star jasmine is that it fears water accumulating in the pot, so the soil must also have good water and air permeability, preferably with about 30% granular soil.
After choosing the pot and soil, before potting we should also place crushed ceramsite or upside-down tiles at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer. Only in this way can we further ensure dryness and breathability in the star jasmine pot and reduce the probability of water accumulation to a minimum.
3. Provide a support point; a flower stand or fence will do
Star jasmine is a climbing vine with a very strong climbing ability. Only when there is a support point can it grow normally and grow quickly.
For potted star jasmine, we can directly build it a flower stand. Try to choose a larger flower stand and fix the star jasmine branches to it. When fixing them, note that the flower buds should face outward, so that star jasmine will grow outward, bloom on the outer side of the stand, and leave the center of the stand as a hollow tube. This helps with ventilation and air flow, can reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases, and is also fairly helpful for the growth of star jasmine.
If there is a wall or fence at home, then we can also place the star jasmine pot beside the wall or fence, so that star jasmine will climb up along the wall on its own. We can fix the star jasmine branches according to our needs and shape it into the form we want.
3. Star jasmine has strong adaptability to light, and its growth rate can be changed by controlling light
As a general principle, star jasmine is very fond of light. The more light it gets, the faster it grows, the greater the flower yield, and the richer the fragrance. But if it is potted star jasmine, sometimes growing too large can instead become a sweet trouble, and we have to prune it often. So in actual care, we can change the growth rate of star jasmine by controlling light.
If we want star jasmine to grow as quickly as possible and bloom abundantly, then give it as much sun as possible. Even in the hot summer, there is no need to shade it. Under sufficient light conditions, star jasmine will continue blooming and can grow 10 meters in a year.
But if we want to save space and create a shape, and want to control the growth rate of star jasmine, then we can reduce light. As for how much to reduce, we need to determine that according to our own needs. If you want it to stop growing or grow very slowly, then providing one or two hours of light per day will still allow star jasmine to survive healthily, but the flower yield will also decline somewhat.
4. Fertilize simply and roughly, using multiple fertilizers together
The characteristics of star jasmine are fast growth, a large flower yield, and a long flowering period. But when these three characteristics are combined, they cause star jasmine's fertilizer consumption capacity and demand to far exceed those of ordinary flowers. So if we want to grow star jasmine well, we must do a good job with fertilization. When fertilizing, we can be a bit rough: the fertilization frequency should be high, the amount should also be relatively large, and the three types of fertilizer should be used together.
1. Balanced three-element compound fertilizer: Balanced three-element compound fertilizer is mainly used during the growing period of star jasmine, and can also be used year-round. The use frequency is relatively high, once every 10 days. It is best to choose a water-soluble fertilizer, dilute it with water at 1000 times, and directly water star jasmine with it. If you want to enhance the effect of the fertilizer, you can also combine it with a long-acting slow-release fertilizer by scattering the slow-release fertilizer on the surface of the potting soil once every two or three months, letting it seep into the star jasmine potting soil with watering and nourish its root system.
2. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer: Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is fairly helpful for star jasmine to sprout flower buds and for the buds to bloom. So in spring we can apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to star jasmine. The use frequency should be maintained at once every 7 days, but the dilution concentration should also be higher, preferably diluted with water at 1500 times, used both as a foliar spray and as a root drench.
3. Organic base fertilizer: Star jasmine grows fast, its root system bears a heavy load, and its consumption of nutrients in the potting soil is also fairly serious. In order to maintain a healthy growing environment for star jasmine, we should try to add base fertilizer to the potting soil. We can use fermented chicken manure or sheep manure, or we can use plant fertilizers, such as decomposed peanut shells or bean cakes, so as to maintain soil fertility. And even so, we should still repot and change the soil for star jasmine at least once every 2 to 3 years, so as to ensure its root system stays healthy.
Tip: In order to extend the flowering period of star jasmine, we can give star jasmine a little medium and trace element fertilizer every month, such as calcium-magnesium fertilizer. The amount used should not be too large; about 2 grams per month is enough.
5. Do not water too frequently; water thoroughly when the potting soil is almost dry
Star jasmine rarely suffers from pests and diseases, and it can tolerate a low temperature environment of minus 10 degrees Celsius. But the only thing it fears is water accumulating in the pot. So when watering, we do not need to be too frequent. Keeping the soil slightly moist, or waiting until the potting soil is almost dry before watering star jasmine thoroughly, is enough.
Star jasmine plants are relatively large and place a very heavy consumption and load on the soil. So when watering star jasmine, we can regularly use a little rice-washing water to water it once a month. This can prevent the soil from compacting and ensure that the star jasmine root system is not damaged.
6. Pay attention to the placement location
Star jasmine belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), and it has also inherited the toxicity of plants in that family. That is to say, star jasmine is toxic, but there is no real effect when we use it for viewing or touching it. Just be careful not to eat it by mistake. But if there are children or pets at home, then try to grow less star jasmine, or place star jasmine in a relatively high position so that children cannot reach it.
In addition, the fragrance of star jasmine flowers is very rich, but it is different from the fresh scent of jasmine. The more you smell jasmine's fragrance, the more comfortable you feel, while smelling star jasmine's fragrance for a long time can cause symptoms of dizziness and nausea. This is not a sign of poisoning, but is caused by the fragrance being too rich and by the characteristics of the scent itself. So during the flowering period of star jasmine, we should try not to place it indoors, and instead choose a place with good ventilation and sufficient light to grow star jasmine.
Star jasmine has strong growth capacity and excellent adaptability to the environment. Basically, it can be said that star jasmine is not afraid of freezing or heat and does not suffer from pests and diseases, but it alone fears water accumulating in the pot. When choosing a pot, we should choose a large flower pot; when mixing soil, we should pay attention to nutrition, water permeability, and air permeability; we can regulate the growth rate of star jasmine through light; fertilization should be frequent; and finally, the placement location should have good ventilation and air flow, and it should be placed outdoors as much as possible. If you do these points well, your star jasmine can also bloom for more than 200 days a year, with a large flower yield and a strong fragrance.