How Do I Care for a Jasmine Plant?

A jasmine plant can grow well indoors, but generally requires a lot of care. To keep these plants healthy, care must be paid to the temperature, moisture, pruning, and light that they receive. If cared for properly, a jasmine plant will produce fragrant white flowers.

When a jasmine plant is first brought into a home, it should be kept in a cool room. The ideal temperature for the plant is 65°F(18°C). Jasmine plants can tolerate two to three degrees cooler, but if they are stored in a room warmer than 65°F (18°C), they usually will not produce flowers.

A dry environment is not the appropriate environment in which to grow a jasmine plant. These plants require a certain amount of humidity to grow properly. A humidifier kept near the plant's pot can provide the conditions that the plant needs. Another solution is to place pebbles in a gardening tray and then fill the tray with water until it is just below the tops of the pebbles. Place the plant's pot on top of these pebbles. Refill the tray with water when it runs low.

The plant needs to be placed in a window or some other place where it can receive bright light, however, it should not receive direct sunlight. Jasmine plants also will not grow well if the soil is too moist. Water the plant sparingly when the top half-inch (1.3 cm) of the soil is dry to the touch. From early spring to early fall, jasmine plants need to be fertilized every two to four weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer. Pruning should be done to keep the plant at a manageable size, but such clipping must generally cease after August 1 in order for the plant to produce flowers.

By early September the plant will be preparing to bud flowers. During this time a jasmine plant needs a lot of sunlight during the day. After sundown the plant must be stored in a room with a night-time temperature of 40 to 50°F (4 to 10deg;C). At night it is important that the plants are kept in darkness and are not exposed to any artificial light.

With careful care, the jasmine plant should bloom in late January or early February. During the winter, while it is flowering, the jasmine plant does not require fertilizer. When the plant is in bloom, continue to water it normally and maintain the humidity level that the plant needs.