Florists grow beautiful, exotic plants. They are able to decorate any interior, make it more original and sweeter. One of these plants is indoor jasmine. How to properly grow such a flower will be discussed later.
Appearance
Speaking of jasmine, we usually mean garden shrub mock-up. But in reality this plant has nothing to do with the true representatives of this family. They called it so for a similar aroma, but this similarity is limited.
The true representative of this species is indoor jasmine (photo below). These are evergreens with fragrant flowers. The plant is a member of the Olive family. Jasmine, which growers grow, has thin and very elastic shoots. They need to be provided with a special support for the formation of the correct bush. These creepers are developing quite actively. They braid the support in a short time, hiding it almost completely.
Leaves have an elongated oval shape. Their tops are pointed. Leaves are placed in pairs. They grow on short cuttings. Flowers differ in a tubular form, can be simple or terry. Inflorescences have wide, open corollas, divided by cuts into 6 petals. White or cream color is considered classic. In addition, flowers can be of a wide variety of shades. There are yellow and pink inflorescences.
Types of Jasmine
Indoor jasmine flower can be of different types. They differ in appearance, as well as features of growth. The following species are grown at home:
- multi-flowered;
- large-flowered;
- holoflowered;
- Indian.
The multiflowered type differs from others in its strong branching. It reaches a height of two meters. It blooms profusely. The buds are interesting for their bright pink color. However, after blooming, they acquire a white color. The most popular multi-flowered appearance makes a wonderful aroma. It is much stronger than all other similar plants. This smell is easily felt even at a great distance.
The large-flowered species in nature reaches ten meters in height. Leaves differ from other plants in a darker color. Their shape resembles an ellipse. The tips of the leaves are pointed, and snow-white fragrant flowers are collected on the tops of shoots in umbrellas. There can be up to ten pieces each. The plant blooms from June to October.
The flower-bearing species differs from its congeners by a weaker branching and a small number of leaves. They have a bright green color. Small leaves usually fall completely for the winter or remain in very small quantities. The flowers are bright yellow and quite large. You can see them from January to April, for which this species is called winter.
View sambac is the simplest and most unpretentious. Unlike other relatives, its shoots are pubescent and covered with a crust of wood. The leaves are ovoid in shape, reaching a length of ten centimeters. There are both glossy and slightly pubescent leaves. Inflorescences are white and large, differ in terry texture and emit a pleasant smell.
Care
Indoor jasmine at home is not easy to grow. This is a typical southern plant, which is capricious and demanding in nature.
Even with very careful care, it can suffer and die. It is often very, very difficult to establish the cause of wilting. To grow this plant at home, you need to make an effort.
Lighting
Indoor jasmine loves a large amount of diffused sunlight and does not tolerate direct rays falling on its leaves. Therefore, it is best to place it on the eastern and western windows. Here he is able to feel good even without shading in the summer.
On the northern windows, sunlight is not enough. This may result in a lack of flowering. If the window faces south, the plant must be rearranged inland, in extreme cases, cover with a cloth in the peak of summer heat. However, it should be remembered that this flower does not like both shading and artificial lighting.
Temperature
Caring for indoor jasmine at home requires a lot of knowledge and skills from a grower. In spring and summer, during the period of active flowering, the plant feels comfortable at ordinary room temperature of 20-26 º. If during this period the temperature drops below 16 º, this can greatly damage it.
In winter, during the resting period, plants need to be kept in a cool place at a temperature of 11-13 º. Otherwise, the plant will not bloom. If it is not possible to lower the temperature in the room, the plant should be sprayed more often to increase air humidity. Warm wintering does not affect the flowering abundance in the sambac species, therefore, the optimum temperature in the cold period for it is 17-23 º.
Air humidity
The most difficult when growing indoor jasmine is maintaining the necessary humidity. These plants do not tolerate dryness, suffer from it from pests and diseases. They do not bloom and gradually die. Therefore, to ensure the necessary humidity, different methods should be combined.
In spring and summer, the flower must be sprayed with soft water every 2 days, and in extreme heat in the morning and evening. In winter, if the air is dry from heaters, and the room temperature is above optimal, spray the plant once every 3 days.
In addition to spraying, air humidifiers should be used or alternative methods should be used - install a pan with moist moss or pebbles under a jasmine pot. Or just put a damp towel on the battery, and put a container of water near the pot.
Watering
In spring and summer, the plant should be watered approximately every three days, as soon as the topsoil dries by 1.5 cm. The substrate must be constantly maintained in a moist state, preventing water stagnation and drying out.
Starting in September, the frequency of watering should be gradually reduced. The humidification procedure is carried out only when the middle layer of soil dries. This happens approximately every six days.
Every second or fourth watering is preferably carried out with slightly acidified water in order to maintain optimal soil parameters. For this, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a liter of water is bred.
Soil and fertilizer
Caring for indoor jasmine also involves maintaining the soil in the required condition. Need loose, well-drained soil with a neutral or slightly acidic characteristics. It is best to plant sambac in a ready-made universal substrate for roses or begonias, and for other species, supplement it with 1/3 of the substrate for azaleas.
For optimal development and abundant flowering of the plant, care necessarily includes fertilizing with liquid fertilizer for flowering plants. This should be done from April to August, and for sambac - from April to the end of flowering.
Pruning a plant stimulates the growth of new shoots and abundant flowering. Spend it in the early to mid-March, before the onset of vegetation. All shoots are cut in half, and dry, damaged and poorly developed - completely.
Plants are transplanted, starting at the age of three, every three years as they grow. Propagate them with cuttings and layering. Cuttings - the most time-consuming method and is more suitable for experienced flower growers. It is more convenient and easier to propagate the plant by layering.
With careful attention and careful care, indoor jasmine will certainly delight with its beautiful flowers and wonderful aroma.