How to Look After Jasmine Plants

Overview

As long as jasmine is properly cared for, it will grace your home with a tropical explosion of long-lasting, sweet-smelling pink or white blooms in mid-winter. With its shiny, deep green foliage that will climb up a small trellis or trail gracefully over the side of a container, jasmine continues to be a delightful houseplant even after the blooms have faded.

Step 1

Place your jasmine plant in a warm room where it will get direct sunlight for at least six hours every day. Keep the plant away from drafts, heat vents, fireplaces and air conditioners.

Step 2

Water jasmine when the top of the potting soil is dry to the touch, but never water so much that the potting soil is soggy.

Step 3

Although jasmine doesn't like wet soil, it will do better in a humid environment. To increase the humidity around the plant, set the plant in a dish of pebbles. Add water to the dish, keeping it below the top of the pebbles so it doesn't come in contact with the bottom of the pot.

Step 4

Fertilize jasmine every other week during spring and summer, using a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer according to the directions on the package, except dilute it to half-strength. Stop fertilizing in early fall, and don't resume until after the jasmine is done blooming in mid-winter or early spring.

Step 5

Move jasmine into a cool room in early autumn, and leave it for 4 to 5 weeks so it can develop blooms. Keep the room's temperature at 65 degrees F. or a little less. Place the jasmine in bright light, but never in direct sunlight. Keep the room dark during the night, with no artificial light. Alternately, place the plant on a sheltered patio during this time, but only if the outside temperature never drops below 40 degrees F. Water the jasmine sparingly.

Step 6

Return the jasmine plant to bright light and normal temperatures when it develops blooms. Resume normal watering.

Step 7

Prune jasmine as needed to maintain a pleasant shape or to control size, but never prune jasmine after August 1, when the plant begins forming buds. Insert a small trellis into the pot to give the jasmine something to climb on, if desired.