Asian Jasmine (Trachelospermum Asiaticum) Care Guide

Asian Jasmine is a hardy plant of the Apocynaceae family that produces fragrant star-shaped blooms, which are creamy white, and evergreen glossy leaves that turn bronze-red in winters.

The plant is also called Trachelospermum Asiaticum and is a favorite among many gardeners due to the vibrance in its foliage and its robust nature.

Keep reading this article where our experts list out tips and tricks to care for, grow and propagate this Trachelospermum genus plant along with some quick-fix and easy solutions to tackle the most common challenges one may face while growing the plant, so read on.

Asian Jasmine Care

Also known as the Asiatic Jasmine, with fragrant pale white blooms, easy to care for and grows in a range of environments. The plant is much sought after due to its hassle-free maintenance and delightful foliage that can become wall climbers, garden floor covers or adorn hanging baskets.

Provide it with well-draining soil, adequate light and enough warmth and the plant will thrive well, producing charming flowers. In this below section we cover each of the care aspects in complete detail so that you get all the information to grow the plant healthily.

Water Requirements

Asiatic Jasmine is a drought-resistant plant and can tolerate long spells of dry conditions. However, what the plant is sensitive to is excessive moisture in the soil.

The ideal requirement of the plant is moderate levels of water that will aid it to grow well, produce adequate blooms, and maintaining its glossy leaves. Thus, set a regular watering schedule such that the soil remains slightly moist against overly soggy soil. 

Under any conditions, you must never keep the roots sitting in water for a long time as the plant will be stressed out. Pools of water at the base can result in less absorption of oxygen by the roots, thereby leading to wilting of foliage and increased risk of fungal diseases. Much as the plant can tolerate dry conditions, avoid letting the soil go completely dry as this can be equally hazardous as well.

Set a watering frequency at twice a week, scaling back in winter or the wet months of fall. Avoid watering the plant at night as at low temperatures, the roots can face mechanical damage.

Light Requirements

The best thing about the Asiatic Jasmine plant is that it can thrive in a range of light conditions. You could choose to place it under full sun for several hours, partially bright or complete shade as well and the plant will manage to not only survive but would also be able to maintain blooms and glossy leaves. So do not worry much and plant it wherever you feel like doing it. 

Soil Requirements

Similar to its light requirements, the Jasmine plant is also tolerant to a range of soil types. It does not have a very complex requirement and it is for this reason it is considered to be a beginner-friendly plant to grow. All that it requires is that the soil should be well-draining and lightly moist. It detests soil that retains water for a long time. 

This is because the plant, as much as it is drought resistant, is also sensitive to extremely soggy soil. The pH of the soil needs to be slightly acidic between 5.5 to 7. 

To make sure that the soil is well draining you could add in some extra wood shavings or orchid bark which will increase aeration and better the drainage. Additionally, throw in some organic ompost to better the nutrient composition of the soil. This should be able to take care of the plant’s health and vibrancy of the foliage through the seasons ahead.

Temperature Requirements

The ideal temperature range needs to be between zero degrees Fahrenheit to 10 degrees Fahrenheit; which estimates that the plant loves a cool temperate climate and even though it enjoys full sunlight, excessive heat and sultry weather are not something it would prefer. 

On the other hand, much as the plant is hardy and robust you must not expose it to sudden fluctuations in temperature as the plant thrives best in a steady and constant temperature range.

Humidity Requirements

The plant thrives with moderate levels of humidity at 50 percent. As mentioned earlier it’s foliage that thrives better in a dry environment in comparison to an excessively moist one. If you are growing your plant in humid conditions, scale back on the watering to once in ten days and never overwater.

In a damp and moist environment, the plant is stressed and it could be hazardous to its overall health and well-being, when the plant stresses from the excess humid conditions, they will damage the health of the plant.

The Jasmine is not tropical thus you have to dry out the soil as well as the air around so that it can sustain its vibrant foliage. Exposure to an excessively humid environment can result in fungal diseases and root rot.

Fertilizing Requirements

The Asiatic Jasmine plant does well when fertilized with a good formula inclusive of an equal proportion of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. The ideal time to fertilize the plant is in early spring and in mid-summer which will stimulate new growth and produce better blooms. 

Avoid fertilizing in the late growing season, such as in fall, and winter when the plant would require less nourishment. Nonetheless, adding the minerals these months could result in salt build-up at the roots.

Fertilizers when used right, encourage blooming and produce new stems and leaves. You could alternatively also use a natural fertilizer or home compost which also works wonders on the plant’s well-being, and the plant will be happier. 

Pruning

The Asiatic Jasmine can grow to a height of about one to two feet and eleven to twelve feet in width. The plant is a moderate growing plant but pruning will help to keep it back in shape. In addition, it also helps to keep plant diseases and pest free, and it will the new branches of the plant to grow in their happy freeways.

Regularly snip away dead, decayed, or diseased sections of the plant. The ideal time to prune is before the growing season to boost fresh foliage growth. Always use sterilized tools before you snip any section to prevent the risk of fungal or bacterial growth.

Propagation

Propagate this hardy plant easily in a hassle-free manner using stem cuttings or an entire section from a mature adult plant. You have to keep just a few basic tools such as garden pruners, potting soil, and a pot or container with proper drainage holes, along with basic gardening skills to create your nascent jasmine plant.

In this guide, our experts list the complete procedure to propagate the plant by both methods to achieve success. You will be able to undertake the entire process on your own after reading the next session and gathering all the information that you need.

– Propagation Method Using Stem Cuttings

Propagate using stem cuttings easily. The ideal time to propagate is in the months of spring, with warmer days and the plant being in its active growing phase. Avoid the colder winter months when growth slows down, thus preventing the plant from healthily establishing its roots.

Firstly, begin by picking a healthy and mature adult plant, and together with the help of sterile garden pruners snip a section of the stem with a few leaves intact. Cautiously detach all leaves at the base of the cutting.

Prepare your potting mix in a clean and sterile pot; You have to dip the cut end of the section in rooting hormone as this will give an initial boost to growth. 

Place the cutting in the pot and allow it to rest in a warm and dry spot. Keep the soil lightly moist. Within a few weeks, this cut section begins to root. It may take a month for the cut section to slowly begin developing its roots. You have now successfully propagated the plant using stem cuttings.

– Propagation Method Using Seeds

You can also propagate the plant using seeds; however, the process is far slower in comparison to other ways of propagation. Begin by preparing a potting tray with a well-draining potting mix inclusive of peat and perlite to increase drainage and aeration. 

Poke tiny holes in the soil and carefully place seeds at a distance from each other. It is recommended you use multiple seeds to increase the chances of germination. Gently cover this with a thin layer of soil and place it in a warm spot. Lightly moisten the soil and let it rest under bright sun for a few hours every day.

In three to four weeks, on average, the seeds will begin to germinate. A couple of weeks more, they would turn into seedlings and begin to establish their roots. However, remember that after this stage, it may be several more months for these little seedlings to grow into little plants. Transplant into individual pots at this stage. 

– Propagation Method Using Section of Mature Adult Plant

This method takes an entire section from a healthy adult plant to propagate another one. It is quite simple and doesn’t take so much effort.

Pick a healthy adult plant from which you will be borrowing a complete section. Dig out the plant in its entirety and snip out a section with leaves, stem, and root section intact. 

Plant this in a pot filled with a well-draining potting mix and place it in a warm spot. Lightly moisten the soil. In a few weeks, this new plant will establish itself well in the soil and begin to grow independently, producing its shoots and leaves.

Problems

This hardy plant comes with its own set of problems such as pest infestations, fungal diseases and mechanical damage issues. In this part, we cover each of these challenges and provide you with some quick-fix solutions to tackle them all. Read on for all the information on Jasmine plant challenges and steps to overcome them all.

– Cercospora Leaf Spot

Cercospora Leaf Spot is a fungal disease caused when the environment is warm and wet. The jasmine prefers to thrive in dry conditions and thus when subject to a wet atmosphere, it becomes easily susceptible to such diseases. You will notice large circular spots on the foliage that are reddish-brown. The spots increase in size as the disease progresses. 

They appear on the upper surface of the leaves and the diseases can spread rapidly, especially during rainy seasons. You will also notice the leaves curl inwards, wilting and eventually dying. Tackle the spread of such a fungal disease by spraying a copper-based fungicide with mancozeb or carbendazim. Repeat spraying once a week until the disease is curbed. 

Additionally, snip away all affected sections of the plant, and discard and destroy them away from the plant foliage. If heavily infected the leaves also turn yellow and then completely brown and necrotic.

Thus you must attend to the infection as soon as possible. As a preventive measure, always sterilize all garden tools and equipment before gardening activities like pruning or propagation.

– Wilting Leaves

Are the otherwise glossy and bright evergreen leaves of your Jasmine plant wilting and looking weak? There are several reasons for this and you will have to examine each one of them to fix the issue.

Inadequate watering or over watering are two conditions that can have an impact on the foliage. The plant is drought resistant to a certain extent, however, it will not withstand a bone dry condition for a long spell. 

At the same time, over-watered soil too can stress the plant out, making it wilt. Fix this problem by correcting your watering schedule. Another reason for the leaves to wilt could be due to the overuse of fertilizers. The plant is a moderate feeder and a light NPK formula in the growing month is adequate to meet its nutritional needs. 

Avoid over-fertilizing it or adding in a formula in winter and this could result in fertilizer burn leading to wilting of foliage.

– Jasmine Leaf Drop

Jasmine leaf drop is yet another condition that occurs due to the stress on the plant. It is a classic reaction to a situation that is not suitable for the plant. One of the main reasons why this can occur in the plant is receiving way too little water. This plant indeed can thrive under low water conditions, however, the ideal way to keep it healthy is to provide it with slightly moist soil.

Another reason why the plant may be shedding way too many leaves is inadequate nutrition. The plant requires a light NPK formula especially during the growing phases to meet its nutritional needs. Alternatively, you could even choose a homemade organic compost to nourish the plant well. Excessive cold weather can also cause leaves to shed before time. 

Keep the plant away from cold drafts and frost conditions. During extreme winters move the plant indoors and place it under artificial grow lights to help it pick up its health.

– Root Rot

Root rot occurs when the roots have been allowed to sit in way too much water. The plant is very sensitive to excessive moisture which puts it under stressful conditions. This makes it susceptible to fungal diseases or in other words root rot. The earliest symptoms of root rot are yellowing foliage and wilting stems. 

The plant will produce fewer blooms, or the blooms or the flowers may end up falling before time. If this is the case and you suspect root rot, the first thing to do is to scale back on the watering. Let the soil dry out before you take the next step. If the damage is not intensive, the plant may limp back to life as the soil dries out.

If you still find the plant looking limp and there are no other problems, consider transplanting it. Gently tap the bottom of the pot and remove the plant in its entirety. Loosen the mud around the roots and inspect for any blackened sections. 

With the help of a sterile garden, pruners snip away affected sections without causing damage to the main plant and transplant them into fresh potting soil that is well-draining, maintaining a proper watering schedule to put the plant back on track.

– Pest Infestations

Much as the plant is hardy and robust and seldom has any sort of insect infestations. There are occasional invaders however who feast on the glossy leaves and buds.

The most common ones are Spider Mites scale insects and mealybugs and these pests leave behind a cotton white sticky substance that attracts insects like the ant that in turn feast on tender leaves and buds. 

On the other hand, pests also suck out the sap from the stems and leave making the plant look weak and over time they turn foliage yellow and wilted; Thus, tackle infestations as soon as you spot them by Isolating the plant and moving them away from other garden foliage to prevent the spread of pests. 

Snip away affected sections, especially where you notice eggs that have been laid in clusters under leaves and buds. Blast a jet of water which will make the pests fall off. Alternatively, treat the plant with an organic neem solution, whose odor repels pests. 

You could also use a commercial insecticide which will prevent the recurrence of these pests. Another popular option is to treat the plant with a solution of potash applied three times a week. Monitor the plant regularly and prune foliage as soon as you notice its presence. Maintain plant hygiene by keeping it dust free and the pests should stay at bay.

FAQ

1. Is Asian Jasmine an Indoor Plant?

Yes, this Jasmine variant can be grown indoors. The plant is fuss-free and easily thrives in closed, partially shaded or shaded spots. So you can choose to place your plant in whichever spot you prefer. It will survive easily.

2. Can You Grow Asiatic Jasmine in Pots?

Yes, the Asiatic Jasmine can be grown in plants. The Plant is typically suited for hanging baskets, as soil covers or for beautiful topiary. Just monitor its care requirements as per our care section and the plant will thrive in a range of pots and soil types.

Conclusion

Having read this one-stop guide on the Asiatic Jasmine you can now easily include this in your home or garden.

Let us summarize all that we have learned in this section below.

• This Jasmine is a delightful plant that produces fragrant blooms and glossy evergreen leaves. The plant is easy to care for as it is robust and hardy and is a favorite of several plant lovers the world over.
• The plant can thrive under low light, partial or complete sunlight. It prefers a dry environment and seldom likes its soil being soggy. Thus always work towards keeping the soil light and well-drained.
• It is a moderate feeder and to sustain its foliage and blooms add in an NPK formula, especially during the growth phase. You could alternatively also use a home-based compost to nourish the soil. 
• Propagate the plant using stem cuttings, seeds, or entire sections from a mature adult plant. All the methods are easy, though propagating through seeds is generally a slower process. Achieve success with just basic gardening tools and skills. 
• The plant can be plagued by pests, fungal diseases, or mechanical damage. However, there are easy ways to tackle the problem by being a vigilante. and preventing stress conditions in the plant. This will keep the plant healthy and thriving. 

After reading this in-depth guide we are sure you now have the confidence to bring it into your life. See? What are you waiting for, just bring it in and let the fragrance and looks charm you and all those around you.