There is a flower, apart from the rose, that represents the maximum when it comes to floral fragrances, so its essence is one of the most used in the manufacture of colognes and perfumes: it is jasmine, a beautiful flower with petals separated, white or yellow, with a sweet and intense aroma.
That pleasant aroma has led to it being used to prepare jasmine tea, which is actually based on green tea. In the species that produce characteristic oil, this is the one used for the creation of perfumes. And in aromatherapy it is used as an analgesic, sedative, aphrodisiac and muscle relaxant. And in South Asia it is very common to see women with jasmine adorning their hair.
In gardening it is also highly appreciated because of its ornamental value and its upholstery capacity, which is why it is widely used to cover fences, walls and fences, as well as on the ground of gardens and parks because it intertwines very well with each other and covers very well. Well the whole space, giving it a showiness of great joy and color.
The so attractive smell of jasmine is defined in different olfactory varieties: animal, liqueur, fruity, warm and floral. Its intensity and peculiarity, with a wide range of sensations on the nose, are what make this flower an essential ingredient in the creators of perfumes in the cosmetic industry, and for this reason it is the most used white flower in this field, for which it is He mainly uses the samba variety of jasmine, from India, which is a climber and produces double yellow flowers in clusters.
Its cultivation and growth have their own needs, and for this reason, as a gardening enthusiast, you will want to have the following tips so that you know how to care for a jasmine with simplicity and clarity.
Plant
Jasmine is a shrub, although it also appears as a climbing plant, from the Oleaceae family, native to tropical and subtropical areas located in Arab countries, from which its common name comes – which comes from Hispanic Arabic and means “gift”. Of God” – and the official Latin, which is jasmine. It has spread throughout the world, and today there are more than two hundred species of this flower.
Among all of them, the common or Moorish, or summer; the yellow or messy, or spring jasmine; Chinese jasmine, Spanish jasmine, false jasmine…
Jasmine officinal is the most common, with its typical presentation of flowers with five separate white petals that are grouped in small bouquets and that bloom from spring until the end of autumn.
Nudiflorum jasmine, or yellow or winter jasmine, is also well known and popular and is widely cultivated. It gives yellow flowers, but without that intense aroma that we associate with jasmine.
The land
Some and other varieties of jasmine require fertile soil, with good drainage so that it does not get waterlogged and that it receives a lot of light in full sun or at least a few hours of full sunlight. The summer jasmine does require a site that is sheltered from the wind, while the winter jasmine better withstands inclement weather and does not have as much light, although it is always advisable not to place it in the north and northeast parts of your garden or patio.
In geographical areas where winters are windy and very cold, it will be necessary to place the winter jasmine plants inside a greenhouse or closed sheds, without heating if it does not go below zero degrees, or if not, with some type of heating to keep the temperature always above 13 degrees centigrade at least, so that the jasmines get ahead.
Nutrients and irrigation
Jasmines require a lot of water in hot weather and when they are growing, while in winter watering should be minimal as it is a time of minimal activity for the plant. Rain will suffice, unless it is very scarce throughout the winter months or the ground is frozen most of the time. In this case, irrigation with warm water will be necessary to keep the jasmine alive.
If you have a potted jasmine, it should have several holes in the base to allow for proper drainage so there is no standing water in the base. That’s why there shouldn’t be a plate collecting all that water, which would rot the plant. You can place several small stones under the soil so that the soil does not seep through the holes in the bottom.
As for the nutrients that jasmine needs, both balanced organic fertilizers and those with high potassium content will be suitable for the plant to grow normally and flourish in the best way, either in the ground or in pots or pots. Fertilizers based on algae or wood ash can also are added to them, so that growth is adequate.
Pruning summer and winter jasmine
It is necessary to prune the stems and leaves to achieve greater flowering and for it to be in optimal health. Summer jasmine can have several pruning throughout the year. It is best to do it when winter is ending and there are no more frosts, leaving it in the best conditions for the flowers to sprout when spring arrives. Then it will have to be pruned again after it blooms, leaving only two or three buds for each bloom so that it continues to flower the following year.
As for the winter jasmine, it has to be pruned after it blooms, to ensure that it continues to bloom with all its vigor in the future. To do this, it will be necessary to cut all the branches and stems that are dead, or look sick or damaged, so that the plant is clean and is not easily exposed to diseases.
You also have to remove the stems that are old and do not give flowers or that are too tangled, so you can take better care of it by comfortably reaching all the parts of the branches and stems that have to be removed or pruned.
As jasmines are usually climbers, it is common to have them on a support, a stick or a wooden grill, etc. Therefore, when pruning them, eliminate those that are coming out of the support, cutting them at the base of the stem. If any stem grows outside the area that we want it to grow, we must cut it by the part that is remaining outside it. You can prune with complete peace of mind, since jasmine grows with certain abundance, so leave only the ones you want to occupy the place you have destined for them. Also, pruning will make them grow stronger in later seasons.
The reproduction
The reproduction and replanting of jasmine is not complicated if it is done properly. Cuttings can be used. If it is an outdoor variety, not very hard stakes will be taken from the plant during the winter, and if it is a greenhouse variety, then segments will be cut between the node and the node of the stem, or stems with leaves, which will have to be cut in spring or in the summer and that will be transplanted so that the roots grow, but inside the greenhouse or similar.
At home
In addition to patios and gardens, jasmine can be grown at home as an indoor plant -despite the fact that jasmines are outdoor flowers, in full sun and air- and thus be able to enjoy their special aroma inside the home. In this case, it must be remembered that not all species of jasmine are aromatic. For interiors, the jasmine polyanthus is widely used, which gives off a great fragrance at night.
It is essential that the jasmine that we grow in a pot, for example, be in a place in the house full of light and sun for hours, especially in the summer. The sun is essential for its good growth, and for this reason even the best place in the summer will be the terrace, taking care that the possible winds that may blow at that point do not give it too much. In any case, it is convenient that the plant is not exposed to direct sunlight for more than four hours during spring, summer and autumn. After spending those hours in the sun, it is better to put it in the shade.
In winter you should not be exposed to frost, but it will not help you to be in a room with temperatures above 10 degrees, something normal because the heating will be at least 20 degrees or more to provide warmth to the human beings who live in the house.
For this reason, in winter the terrace will also be the place chosen to place the jasmine, taking care that it is not there during the night when the hardest sub-zero frosts fall, since the jasmine is very sensitive to frost and will surely die if the suffer. Also make sure it is well ventilated without being blown by the wind. And remember that the jasmine plant is a climber, so it must be tied or attached to a wooden rod or some type of trellis on which to grow and flourish.
Diseases and pests
Jasmine can be attacked by cochineal, something that is detected when kind of cottony balls appear under the leaves, but also by a significant number of beetles, caterpillars, weevils, as well as various fungi and viruses. In some cases the plant can be fumigated with insecticides and fungicides, and in some other cases there is no treatment. It is important to continuously observe the general condition of the plant, stems, leaves and flowers.
