Jasmine Vine Care: [Soil, Humidity, Pruning and Problems]

What characteristics does the jasmine vine have?

Jasmine, a famous ornamental plant with fragrant flowers, has a very popular and resistant version that acts as a powerful creeper capable of entangling itself everywhere.

It is an expert climber of walls thanks to its rusticity and high resistance, as is the case with the bush modality.

Her name means beauty. And she does him full justice! It is, therefore, a very noble plant that will never let both expert gardeners and novices down.

There are about 200 varieties, where the main attraction lies in its voluminous and fragrant flowering.

Moreover, if several species are combined in a single garden, the results will be highly favorable. Its flowering occurs between the months of May to September. They have great resistance to cold. Sure, some species tolerate it better than others.

So before planting, we must verify which species is convenient for us to have in the garden. The most popular are Chinese jasmine, royal jasmine, and star jasmine. They are very easy to care for. The Chinese has an exclusively spring flowering, followed by the real one, which in spring and summer give us their beautiful flowers.

Both are strong fragrance. The Estrella, as its name describes, blooms little white stars in summer and its aroma is more subdued. The most resistant to cold is the star jasmine. Perhaps that is why it is so well known.

With certain care, it can reach about 6 meters in height without this meaning that it can behave like an invasive plant that unceremoniously kills its neighbors in the garden. Next, let’s see what are the keys to always have beautiful jasmine.

What soil needs does the jasmine creeper have?

Precisely, one of its greatest benefits or advantages is that it does not require a specific soil to develop fully. No, it is not really demanding, it adapts to any substrate. So much so, that in a pot it will also give beautiful flowers with a delicate perfume.

Any of the climbing species is ideal for decorating walls, pergolas and garden supports in multiple shapes and styles. A jasmine can develop very healthy even in poor soils, lacking in nutrients.

But you don’t have to improvise. Of course not. The ideal thing is to pamper our plant with a good preparation of the land. A universal substrate rich in nutrients will suffice. The big exception: clay soils. They do not survive in them.

This is because it does not tolerate waterlogging, because its roots rot easily. This data is unforgettable and means that it is necessary to create the conditions for constant drainage, both in pots and in the garden.

However, a simple trick to avoid potted root rot is to add a little sand to the universal substrate. That way it won’t get stuck in water.

How to make the vine jasmine grow strong and vigorous?

Climbing jasmine, as with the bushy version, are obsessive lovers of good sun exposure. They love to be in full sun. No more no less.

This most likely occurs because its origin dates back to regions with a warm climate, where the sun predominates most of the time. So they demand a lot of natural light.

If we place it in a place with little lighting, with low solar predominance, then it can develop with some sadness, because it will not bloom. So this aspect is essential to grow happy and beautiful jasmine.

What humidity does the jasmine vine need?

Similarly, another no less important key is given in its resistance to low temperatures, even when it comes from warm lands. That is why it is considered a rustic plant, since it tolerates decreases in temperatures of up to three degrees below zero. (-3ºC). Of course, you should not abuse them.

Once in a while they support it, but if we live in an area with intense frosts, we must protect the jasmine from the inclemency of winter. There are species that need a relative humidity of 60% to live healthily.

If, for example, we have our jasmine in a garden and the weather forecast speaks of the approaching snowfall, we must immediately cover its roots, protect them well to avoid irreparable damage.

A garden blanket (a blanket or padding) is the best company in these times of change or in environmental temperature.

Obviously, you also have to take care of it from intense winds and cold currents, by keeping it in a protected location. Its only great requirement is related to the supply of water through constant and special irrigation in spring and summer, the hottest dates.

But also the months of growth and flowering of most jasmine species. Between these months where spring and summer run, it is essential to water every two or three days.

And it also works to provide moisture with the help of a plate of water under the pot, in the case of varieties grown in pots, only this must be done with little time to avoid rotting of the roots.

And in the cold season, watering will be done exclusively when the soil, the substrate, has completely dried. In the months of development it is also important to pay monthly.

With the specialized help of the case, we can select a specific fertilizer for these cheerful floral species or an organic amendment, which also suits jasmine very well.

A flowering fertilizer that is added to the irrigation water is ideal for our jasmines to always remain spectacular. Those that are rich in potassium and phosphorus on the market are the best.

Is it necessary to prune the jasmine vine?

Regular pruning is not exactly an order to be strictly followed. Rather, pruning applies to remove dry leaves and branches.

What is very important is helping it grow correctly with pruning that gives it structure as it grows and support it with support from tutors that guide its harmonious development.

This is essential if we want her to adopt the position of an athletic and flexible climber. Otherwise, it will tend to fall and behave like a bush.

How often should we prune the jasmine vine?

Depending on the variety, because there are winter and summer species, a maintenance pruning will be carried out.

For example, Jasminum Officinale is a summer species that should be pruned in late winter. This so that their wounds heal with the arrival of growth that is stimulated amid warmer temperatures.

In the same way, pruning can be done after flowering, between March and April in the case of the northern hemisphere of the planet.

In the case of climbing jasmine, pruning is a little more complicated, because the branches always tend to intersect, for which it is suggested to apply the following:

1. Start from the bottom up, previously analyzing where the lower branches are born from.
2. It is necessary to try to untangle those branches that allow it, before cutting them.
3. But those crooked branches that intersect are the ones that must be removed with great care, giving priority to those that grow well.
4. If the growth of the branches has been very large and disorderly and has not climbed enough, it can withstand a more radical pruning to redirect its growth.

How to avoid jasmine creeper pests and diseases?

The jasmine plant can be the victim of diseases of fungal and bacterial origin, which undermine roots, leaves and stems, but it is also susceptible to the unwanted visit of mites and insects.

In this range of discomforts, soil fungi score very negative points for the health of the plant. The Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora and Pythium are some of those responsible for the leaves turning yellowish, until they dry up and fall, dead.

One of the recommendations to avoid these sudden attacks is to keep the soil acidic, because these pathogens generally proliferate easily in alkaline soils.

Applying fresh compost irrigations every three weeks helps a lot. This solution provides many beneficial microorganisms that multiply in the soil, preventing the appearance of pathogens.

Diaporthe gardeniae is another fungus that attacks the aerial parts of the plant, causing brownish cankers on its stems and leaves, until the plant gives way, decays and appears to have holes. This affectation is very common in the Cape Jasmine species.

Essential oils such as Neem or cumin are very effective in preventing these diseases.Aphids, whiteflies and mealybugs are also staunch enemies of jasmine. They produce weakening of the plant, yellowing leaves and deforming growth.

In the specific case of aphids, they cause damage to buds, stems and leaves. They are exterminated with their natural enemies: ladybugs and parasitic wasps. Another way to control them is by applying tobacco extract sprays.

For their part, whiteflies invade the underside of the leaves. They are controlled by introducing Encarsia lahorensis, a parasitoid wasp. On the other hand, mealybugs are eliminated with the help of soapy water spread on the stems of the plant, where they settle significantly.

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