How to Grow Orange Jessamine (Aglaia odorata)? A Complete Guide to Practical Care Tips
Orange jessamine can be placed in sunlight in all four seasons, with no need for shade. If fertilizer and water are sufficient, it will grow vigorously, bloom profusely, and have a strong fragrance. Repot and change the soil once every 2-3 years, generally in late April to early May, following the same procedure as for other flowers. What fellow gardeners should note is that it must be planted with the soil ball intact, watered thoroughly after planting, and placed in a ventilated spot indoors, then moved outdoors after the last frost.
After the plant has revived, it can be watered normally, following the principle of "water when dry, stop when wet." In summer and autumn, water generally once a day, and fertilize once every 10-15 days at 20% concentration; July-August, during the high-temperature period, is also the peak blooming period, so fertilize once every half month, stopping by the end of September, and water once every 3-4 days.
In late autumn (end of October), move it indoors to a sunny spot, taking care to ensure ventilation; the room temperature should preferably be 10-12°C, and at night it must not go below 5°C, so as not to cause the terminal buds to sprout. In spring, it is best to move it outdoors in mid-to-late April, and in May apply a liquid fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus.
2. Care Tips
When caring for orange jessamine, pay special attention to the following issues:
(1) Heat preservation
When brought indoors in late autumn, the temperature should be kept between 6-12°C, and if it drops below 5°C, heat-preservation measures must be taken. At home, you can place the orange jessamine in a foam plastic container, then cover it with plastic film and poke a few small holes for ventilation; you can also put a small light bulb inside to add warmth, both of which work.
Friends who love growing orange jessamine, don't miss out on these tips!
(2) Avoid cold wind
Except in South China, in winter, even if the sun is good, it should not be taken outside to sunbathe, and you should also prevent cold wind blowing in through cracks from reaching the orange jessamine.
(3) Do not move it outdoors too early
Some fellow gardeners who grow orange jessamine often take meticulous care of it in winter, then as soon as spring arrives take it out to sunbathe, and as a result the orange jessamine dies from "catching a cold." In the Nanjing area, it is safer to move it outdoors in mid-to-late April, and in the north it should be even later, roughly early May. Before moving it outdoors, it is best to have a transition period; in early April, on clear days, you can move it outdoors around noon to sunbathe for 2-3 hours, and after 4-5 consecutive days, once it has basically adapted to the outside environment, then move it outdoors.