How to Make a Hydroponic Star Jasmine Bonsai and Care Guide
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is also known as Nai Dong, Shi Long Teng, Wan Zi Hua, and Wan Zi Mo Li. It is an evergreen woody climbing plant native to Shandong, Shanxi, Jiangxi, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu and other places in China. In gardens it is mostly used as ground cover or grown in pots for ornamental purposes. Of course, besides being ornamental, star jasmine also has medicinal value. Its roots, stems, leaves and fruits are used medicinally, with effects of dispelling wind and activating collaterals, benefiting the joints, stopping bleeding, relieving pain and swelling, and clearing heat and detoxifying. It should be noted that star jasmine is a toxic plant, and the entire plant is toxic. Of course, today's focus is on the method for making a hydroponic star jasmine bonsai and the care guide, as follows.
I. Hydroponic Methods
(1) Method One: Cut a robust branch of star jasmine that has aerial roots, insert the branch directly into a transparent container, then add clean water to immerse one third of the root system. After about 10 days, hydroponic roots will grow.
(2) Method Two: Select a robust, well-formed soil-grown star jasmine, dig out the entire plant, rinse it clean, and plant it in a transparent container, then add clean water to immerse two thirds of the root system.
(3) Method Two: From around the root crown of a soil-grown star jasmine, dig out a rooted runner, wash the runner clean, and plant it in a transparent container, then add clean water to immerse two thirds of the root system.
Which method to choose specifically depends on your own actual situation, but no matter which method is used, the water must be changed every 2-5 days.
II. Care Guide
After the star jasmine grows hydroponic roots, it should be cultivated with a comprehensive nutrient solution, replacing the nutrient solution about every 30-60 days, and during this period the potted star jasmine should be placed in a spot with bright, scattered light. In summer, avoid direct sunlight and take shade measures. When the weather is dry, spray the leaves of the star jasmine to supplement moisture. In the cold winter season, move it indoors to a sunny spot for cultivation. Because it is relatively cold-tolerant, it can safely overwinter indoors. At the same time, old branches and overly long branches should be pruned appropriately, which helps promote new branches and increase the number of flowers.
How to Water Variegated Star Jasmine? Can Variegated Star Jasmine Be Grown Hydroponically?
Variegated star jasmine is deeply loved by plant enthusiasts for its colorful leaves, and is often planted indoors for ornamental use. In the care of variegated star jasmine, watering is a very important step in order to maintain its colorful leaf color. So, how do you water variegated star jasmine? Can variegated star jasmine be grown hydroponically? Let's take a look.
Image: Variegated star jasmine
I. How to Water Variegated Star Jasmine?
Variegated star jasmine prefers relatively moist soil, especially during the growing season when the soil moisture should be maintained, but it should not be too wet, as this will cause the leaves of the variegated star jasmine to fall off in large numbers. Under normal circumstances, in summer you can water once every 3 days, in spring and autumn you can water once every 2 days, and in winter watering once about every half a month is enough. Apart from winter, the soil should be kept in a moist state; in winter, the soil only needs to be slightly moist.
Image: Variegated star jasmine
II. Can Variegated Star Jasmine Be Grown Hydroponically?
Variegated star jasmine can be grown hydroponically. Since variegated star jasmine has aerial roots at every node, it is a plant that is very easy to grow in water. For hydroponic cultivation of variegated star jasmine, you can cut a branch with roots and insert it into water, or use the potted plant root-washing method for hydroponic cultivation; it can quickly adapt to the hydroponic environment.
[Editor's Conclusion]Variegated star jasmine prefers a relatively moist environment, so during watering you should try to keep the soil moist. The above has introduced the watering method and hydroponic cultivation of variegated star jasmine for everyone, and I hope it can be helpful to you!
How to Care for and Manage Hydroponic Flowers in Winter
The temperature conditions required for flowers to safely overwinter under hydroponic conditions are consistent with those required for soil cultivation (artificial medium cultivation). For household hydroponic flowers, the foliage and flowering plants used mostly originate from the Latin American rainforests, or tropical high-temperature, high-humidity, shaded valley areas, and belong to non-cold-tolerant flowers. The suitable growth temperature is generally 18°C-25°C. Hydroponic cultivation only changes the cultivation method; it does not change its growth habits. When the temperature drops below 10°C, the growth of some flowers stagnates and the leaf color loses its luster; below 5°C, most foliage plants will suffer varying degrees of damage - scorched leaf edges, yellowing of old leaves, wilting and falling off, or even death, such as pothos, golden pothos, silver-edged grass, dieffenbachia, etc. Understanding the changes in the temperature of your own environment and choosing flower varieties suitable for hydroponic cultivation makes it easier for beginners to succeed.When there are no facilities or ability to regulate the ambient temperature, you might as well choose flowers with a relatively wide temperature tolerance range, such as Philodendron 'Imperial Green', Monstera deliciosa, Syngonium podophyllum, calla lily, English ivy, Agave 'Raytheon', Ornithogalum caudatum, star jasmine, variegated periwinkle, clivia and other flowers for hydroponic cultivation. In addition, you can use discarded foam plastic boards, cut them according to the size of the outer dimensions of the hydroponic vessel, splice and glue them together, and wrap the vessel. When the room temperature is below 10°C, covering the hydroponic flowers with old newspapers or plastic film, or raising the water temperature to 18°C or 25°C, all have very good effects. If you have a tank of tropical fish at home, you can set up a shelf on top of the fish tank and place the hydroponic flowers on it so they can safely overwinter.
When the indoor temperature in winter is below 10°C, most hydroponic flowers enter a dormant or semi-dormant state to adapt to the harsh climatic conditions. At this time, you should stop applying flower hydroponic nutrient solution, use only tap water for cultivation, and change the water on time (when changing the water, appropriately mix in some warm water so that the water temperature is maintained at around 18-25°C), clean the plant's root system, and keep the vessel clean. Generally, change the new water once every 10-15 days. If the water quality is clear and clean, the plant is growing robustly, and there is no root rot, changing it once every 15-20 days or even 30 days will not affect its growth. For those hydroponic flowers that are still growing slowly, such as clivia, calla lily, Senecio stapeliiformis, Philodendron 'Imperial Green', etc., you can apply nutrient solution once every 10-15 days to promote their healthy growth.