Pink jasmine care guide

Pink jasmine is a fast, twining vine with small, fine leaves. In late winter, it covers itself in pink buds that open into white, star-shaped flowers. The scent fills a room. It is often sold trained around a wire hoop. It needs a cool fall to bloom, which is the step most people miss.

Light

Give it bright light with some direct sun. A south or west window is best. An east window works if it is bright.

In low light, it grows long, thin vines and few flowers.

Water

Water when the top 2 cm (1 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. Keep it moist while it grows and blooms.

In fall, during its cool rest, let it dry a bit more between waterings. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining houseplant mix.

Repot every two years in spring, after it blooms, one size up. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Average room air is fine. Keep it away from heat vents. Hot, dry air makes it drop buds.

Keep it between 16 and 24°C (60 and 75°F) for most of the year.

How to get it to bloom

Pink jasmine sets buds in response to cool nights in fall. Without that cool spell, it grows leaves and vines but no flowers.

In fall, give it four to six weeks at 5 to 10°C (40 to 50°F). A cool porch, a garage with a bright window, or a cold spare room works. If it spends summer outside, leave it out in fall until nights drop to about 5°C (40°F). Bring it in before frost.

Keep it in bright light during the cool spell. When you see buds, move it to a cool, bright spot indoors. It blooms in late winter or early spring.

Feeding

Feed every two weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Stop feeding in late summer. Too much fertilizer makes lots of vines and few flowers.

Pruning and training

Prune right after it finishes blooming. Cut back long vines and thin out tangled stems. Do not prune in late summer or fall, or you cut off next year’s buds.

Wind new vines around a hoop, trellis, or stake. They twine on their own once they start.

Propagation

In spring or summer, cut a stem 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long. Pull off the lower leaves. Push it into moist mix. Roots form in four to six weeks.

Layering also works. Pin a long vine to a pot of soil beside the plant. Once it roots, cut it free.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
No flowers	No cool fall rest, or not enough light
Buds drop before opening	Warm, dry air, or dry soil
Long vines, few leaves	Not enough light
Leaves drop	Dry soil, heat, or a sudden move
Yellow leaves and soggy soil	Too much water
Fine webbing under leaves	Spider mites

Pests

Spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies are the most common pests. Check new growth and under the leaves. Rinse the plant in the shower to knock pests off.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists jasmine, Jasminum, as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Some plants called jasmine are not true jasmine. Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, is toxic to pets. Check the botanical name before you buy.

Varieties

• Pink jasmine, Jasminum polyanthum, has pink buds and white flowers. It is the common indoor jasmine.
• Arabian jasmine, Jasminum sambac, has rounder leaves and white flowers used in jasmine tea. It blooms in warm rooms and does not need a cool rest.
• Common jasmine, Jasminum officinale, has white flowers in summer. It is often grown outdoors in mild climates.