How to grow star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)? Remember these care points

1. Suitable for both ground planting and container growing

In the Yellow River basin and areas to its south, it can be grown both in the ground and in containers; in northern regions it can only be grown in containers. Star jasmine is not picky, growing from slightly acidic soil to neutral soil, from sandy soil to light clay, and it can also grow in weakly alkaline soil, just with slightly poorer growth.

2. Watering

Star jasmine likes moisture. During the growing season the potting soil should be kept moist. In spring and autumn water once every two days, in summer water once a day, and in winter water about once every half month, just so the potting soil does not dry out. For container-grown star jasmine placed in a courtyard, be sure to drain accumulated water during the rainy season; ground-planted star jasmine should not be planted in low-lying areas. During the growing season, it is fine to wait until the soil looks dry before watering. In winter, ground-planted star jasmine need not be watered.

3. Fertilizing

Star jasmine likes fertilizer, but is not picky; all kinds of fertilizer can be used. Even without fertilizing for a year it can still bloom, just with fewer flowers. If you want container-grown star jasmine to produce a brocade-like mass of blooms, apply more bone meal and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, and less nitrogen fertilizer. Ground-planted star jasmine only needs one application each of a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer in spring and autumn; do not fertilize in winter and summer.

4. Temperature

Star jasmine likes warmth and light. When ground-planted, it should be planted in a sunny spot; in shady spots it grows poorly, with fewer flowers and a fainter fragrance, or even no flowers at all. When container-grown, it should be placed in a spot with ample sunlight in spring, autumn and winter, and in a semi-shady spot in midsummer, and then it will bloom continuously. Star jasmine is fairly cold-tolerant; in the Yellow River basin and to its south it can overwinter safely outdoors, while in the north it is better to bring it indoors to overwinter.

When growing star jasmine, as long as you pay attention to doing the above four points well, you can make it bloom abundantly. And it can be a brocade-like, brilliantly colorful mass of blooms, because star jasmine does not only produce white flowers, it also produces purple flowers. These are the different types of star jasmine. Below, the editor will tell everyone about the classification of star jasmine.

Care points for the vine plant star jasmine vine

Care, management points and precautions for home bonsai

How to grow bonsai well at home and its care and management

I. Analysis of the placement environment:

(1) First, based on the objective environmental conditions of the home, decide what kind of bonsai to grow. Villas or courtyards can accommodate large, medium and small bonsai. Due to rising living standards and today's changed living environment, most people grow bonsai on apartment balconies. My personal suggestion is that balconies are better for growing small or miniature bonsai. For growing bonsai on an indoor balcony, one should fully understand and make use of the environmental characteristics of the balcony placement site:

① Balcony orientation and length of sunlight vary greatly. Generally, a south-facing balcony is better for growing bonsai, with strong sunlight and a long exposure time.

East- or west-facing balconies only have direct light in the morning or afternoon, with at most 3-4 hours of sunlight a day.

But west-facing balconies get intense afternoon sun in summer, so summer shading and ventilation must be done well (commonly called the west-mountain sun). North-facing balconies have no direct light all day (it is suggested to grow some shade-loving bonsai).

② The temperature around the balcony differs greatly from the temperature at ground level. Because the balcony's cement or tile floor and walls easily absorb the sun's radiant heat, the daytime temperature is higher than the ground temperature (summer shading and ventilation work must be done promptly). At night when the temperature drops, the balcony's cement or tile floor and walls easily release heat again. According to tests, at this time the temperature is more than 2°C higher than at ground level.

③ The air around the balcony is drier to a greater degree. With strong high-altitude winds, the air is inevitably drier than at ground level. Balconies with different orientations all differ in light, temperature and humidity, and the differences are great, especially the difference in sunlight duration. We should choose suitable bonsai plants to grow according to the specific conditions of our own balcony.

1. If sunlight is ample: it is suggested to choose sun-loving and flowering/fruiting bonsai, such as Scotch broom, hawthorn, Chinese juniper, boxwood, fruiting mulberry, ginkgo, golden larch, Chinese elm, pomegranate, tamarisk, Fujian tea, and orange jasmine, etc.;

2. If light is insufficient: it is suggested to choose plant bonsai with a certain shade tolerance, such as serissa, goji, banana shrub, five-needle pine, trident maple, Buddhist pine, broadleaf lady palm, star jasmine, heavenly bamboo, yew, Japanese bush cherry, Buddhist pine, tree of heaven, and creeping juniper, etc.

3. If the home has no balcony or there is basically no direct light in the living room: the living environment is poor, and when growing tree bonsai is difficult, one should focus on making and caring for landscape bonsai. This is because the moss on landscape bonsai can grow as long as there is diffused light; it changes little across spring, summer, autumn and winter, and has a poetic, picturesque quality. Displayed indoors it also has a very good ornamental effect.

4. If the family's economic conditions are good and there is a courtyard, a large open-air balcony, or a detached house with a very spacious yard, a small greenhouse can be built on site according to the conditions. In this case, sun-loving, shade-loving and semi-shade-loving bonsai plants can all be grown.

(2) One should grow suitable bonsai according to one's own specific circumstances. The above briefly introduced the relationship between environmental conditions and the choice of bonsai plants. The final decision on what bonsai to grow must also be based on comprehensive consideration of personal preference, personal cultivation and management skill level, and whether one has spare time for careful care and management. Bonsai materials should be chosen according to personal preference and management conditions. Because everyone's hobbies and aesthetic views differ, not everyone will have the same evaluation of a given plant, so the choice of bonsai plants varies from person to person. When choosing bonsai plants, consider whether the habits of the chosen plant match the existing environment, and also consider one's personal cultivation and management skill level:

If a bonsai hobbyist has high shaping skills and rich care and management experience, they can choose bonsai materials with relatively high cultivation and management requirements, such as black pine, five-needle pine, Chinese juniper, boxwood, and plum blossom, etc.;

If one's management level is average, one should choose bonsai materials that are easy to manage and highly adaptable, such as goji, Scotch broom, serissa, winter jasmine, silverberry, tamarisk, Chinese hackberry, and elm, etc.

If one is a beginner just playing with miniature bonsai and has no foundation at all, it is suggested to grow some miniature bonsai that are easy to keep alive, such as pomegranate, Scotch broom, serissa, winter jasmine, elm, and rue, etc.

II. Sources of bonsai and key factors for growing miniature bonsai well:

1. Bonsai generally can be purchased or collected from the wild. For beginners, it is suggested to buy some semi-finished pieces, which is more suitable. Of course, if you have money and want to be willful, you can buy finished pieces or fine pieces (for buying finished pieces, it is suggested to start selecting from the following: one root, two trunks, three branches, four crowns determine the appearance of a miniature bonsai, and observe the health of the trunk, branches and leaf surface). This is because semi-finished pieces have already been cared for and managed for a period, basically have a shape and are already established in the pot (after purchase, look up their habits online according to the bonsai name). They are not easy to kill, and you can adjust the shape according to your own preferences on the original styling. In a short time you can see the bonsai extend branches, spread leaves, bloom and bear fruit, increasing a beginner's enjoyment, sense of achievement and confidence in bonsai.

2. Caring for and managing miniature bonsai requires not only timely shape adjustment but also promoting normal growth. Because miniature bonsai have small pots and little soil, they truly test the care and management skill level of bonsai enthusiasts. For example, in the hot summer one may need to spray and water 2-3 times a day to keep the plant's branches and leaves from wilting; if one does not have much spare time and cannot manage carefully, it is very easy to cause the plant to dry up and die. The solution is to choose tree species with strong adaptability and appropriately choose deeper containers, or sand troughs, or large purple clay pots for double-potting care.

Watering takes three years to master; watering is key to growing bonsai well, and is one of the most important and most frequent measures in bonsai care and management. When a tree stump is planted in a pot, whether a deep pot or a shallow pot, the soil is always limited and the water it contains is also limited. If water is not replenished for a long time, the tree stump will wither from lack of water. Therefore, one must observe promptly and water according to the wetness or dryness of the soil to maintain soil moisture. Of course, watering must not be excessive either; if watering is excessive and the potting soil stays wet for a long time, it can easily cause root hypoxia and rot. At the same time, how much to water also depends on the specific tree species, seasonal changes, and whether the weather is cold or warm. Generally speaking, in summer or during drought, it is best to water once in the morning and once in the evening; in spring and autumn, water once a day or every other day; in spring when the tree stump begins to sprout, you can also water once in the morning and once in the evening as conditions warrant. During the plum rain season or on rainy days, there is no need to water, and attention should be paid to drainage. Sandy soil can be watered more, while clay soil should be watered less. Watering can be done by spraying the leaf surface or by watering the roots; generally the two are combined, first spraying the leaf surface, then watering the roots thoroughly. Be careful not to give "half water" and cause the phenomenon of a wet pot surface and dry pot interior, and leaf spraying should not be excessive either, as it easily causes excessive growth of branches and leaves. Below is a brief discussion of the key factors for growing miniature bonsai well:

1. Water is one of the key factors:

"Frequent watering" - water and soil are inseparable; "diligence" - too much water is all for nothing.

(1) Water quality is crucial for growing bonsai well. It is suggested to use rainwater, pond water, or tap water that has been left standing. Before watering, first understand and confirm whether the water quality is suitable for watering.

(2) Water must be appropriate. A lack of water in miniature bonsai easily causes leaves to scorch yellow and affects plant growth; severe lack of water causes the miniature bonsai plant to dry up and die. But too much watering easily causes root rot, so watering must be appropriate ["too much watering" generally refers to: watering continuously for several days in a row when the potting soil is not dry, or watering multiple times a day; in general, the main cause of killing miniature bonsai is: drowning by too much water]. If you want to care for miniature bonsai well, I personally think the first step is to look up the habits of the miniature bonsai according to its variety name: first keep it alive, then shape it. The premise is to ensure the miniature bonsai stays alive, and the premise of keeping a miniature bonsai alive is mastering the "six observations" and "one principle" of watering miniature bonsai.

One: observe the plant's habits.

Two: observe the pot used for the plant.

Three: observe the soil used for the bonsai.

Four: observe the plant's leaves.

Five: observe the growing season.

Six: observe the weather of the day.

One principle: [water thoroughly when dry, do not water when not dry].

There have been previous articles on watering miniature bonsai, so I will not say more here. Bonsai friends can refer in detail to the article "Miniature Bonsai Watering, How to Water? When to Water? And Precautions" on the China Miniature Bonsai official account.

If bonsai friends master the above basic principles of watering, then try, observe, experience and summarize with care, I believe you will certainly be able to grow miniature bonsai well, enjoy watching miniature bonsai extend branches and spread leaves, bloom and bear fruit, cultivate your character, and at the same time reap the joy of success.

2. Potting soil is one of the key leading factors:

If the potting soil is well mixed, the miniature bonsai grows well.

Water, soil and all things are the source of life. Soil plays a leading role in the growth of miniature bonsai. According to the different varieties of miniature bonsai, it is suggested to use different soils for care (the soil's pH value, commonly known as the potting soil's acidity and alkalinity). As said before, after buying a miniature bonsai, do not blindly care for and manage it first; first look up relevant information and fully understand its habits to grow the miniature bonsai well. There have also been previous articles introducing this in detail, so I will not say more here. Bonsai friends, please refer in detail to the official account: zgwxpjw "Benefits of Repotting and Changing Soil and Precautions for Repotting Miniature Bonsai".

3. Placement environment is one of the key leading factors:

The placement environment, good or bad, affects whether the plant's quality is good or poor. Placement refers to: the location where it is placed, ventilation, light, humidity, protection, etc. The placement environment also plays one of the leading roles for miniature bonsai; a good environment is more conducive to the growth of miniature bonsai. Miniature bonsai are often displayed indoors, and if they do not see sunlight for a long time, it easily leads to poor growth and development or plant illness, so it is suggested to give appropriate light. Therefore, in the spring and summer growing seasons, it is suggested that the time placed indoors generally not exceed one week; at other times it should be placed outdoors in a semi-shady environment for care, and the light-facing side of the miniature bonsai plant should be appropriately rotated.

4. Fertilizer is one of the leading factors:

With little fertilizer the color is pale and lusterless; with too much fertilizer the plant suffers.

Fertilizer must be appropriate. Excessive fertilizing will cause small branches to grow excessively, and in severe cases will also affect the growth of the miniature bonsai plant. If it is not flushed with water or repotted in time, it will likewise cause the miniature bonsai plant to die. Fertilizing should be done appropriately according to the season and different plants. It is suggested to "apply thin fertilizer frequently". If there is a severe lack of fertilizer, the miniature bonsai leaves will be poor, pale and lusterless; over time, although the miniature bonsai will not die, the plant will show morbid signs and poor appearance.

5. Pruning is one of the leading factors:

Pruning out of season and failing to treat the wound after pruning causes the death of miniature bonsai. Prune and remove buds in time; newly grown long branches should be cut short promptly to maintain an appropriate proportion with the trunk. Repot once every 1 to 2 years; for deciduous types do it before budding in early spring, and for evergreen types do it after budding in spring or when it is cool in autumn. For miniature crowns, fewer branch clusters should be kept so as to reveal as much of the trunk's elegant posture as possible, and the retained branch clusters should be appropriately cut short to make them proportionate to the trunk.

6. Pest and disease control is one of the leading factors:

Failure to control pests and diseases in time, in mild cases affects appearance, and in severe cases causes the death of miniature bonsai. Control pests and diseases in time. When various leaf spot diseases, aphids, red spiders, scale insects and other pest and disease damage are found, apply the right remedy and immediately remove them by hand or spray for control.

7. Daily management is one of the leading factors:

Details absolutely determine success or failure: observe frequently, control promptly, and summarize more. Such as summer shading, watering time, water treatment, objects placed under the pot, spraying frequency, sand trough care, and so on. Example: to prevent leaves from turning yellow and falling off (because miniature bonsai have small pots and little soil), in summer water is often in short supply, so leaves easily scorch yellow and fall off. To avoid yellowing and falling leaves, besides leaving a rim when potting and frequently paying attention to watering and spraying in the hot summer, if care conditions permit you can place it in a sand trough or in a large pot on an indoor balcony for care. If care conditions do not permit, the method to water the miniature bonsai thoroughly: you can place the miniature bonsai in a household basin, with the water level higher than the rim of the miniature bonsai pot [take it out ten or so seconds after the bubbles stop, or place a brick in a shallow water pool, add water until it just submerges the brick surface, then place the small bonsai on the brick to grow].