Madagascar jasmine is native to Madagascar. There it grows in a warm and humid environment in plenty of light. It produces beautiful light-scented white star-shaped flowers in cluster form. To grow jasmine at home you need to follow the recommendations that are listed below.
This beautiful plant is perfect to grow indoors and outdoors.
Growing Madagascar jasmine indoors needs a little effort. If you are interested in this plant. All you need to do is buy it and follow our Madagascar jasmine growing guide.
About the Madagascar Jasmine plant
It is a popular plant all over the globe from the Apocynaceae family. Stephanotis floribunda is its botanical name.
If you grow it outdoors then your plant can easily grow more than 10 feet tall. USDA Zones 10 to 11 are perfect for growing them in the outdoor garden.
Whereas the indoor environment of all USDA zones is good to grow Madagascar jasmine.
Note: Because it is a vining plant you need to support it with wireframes or trellises. Otherwise, the plant will fall over the ground.
Growing requirements of Madagascar jasmine plant
To grow a healthy plant with tones of flowers. Read and follow the below growing requirements. For quick access make some notes.
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Light Needs
No doubt that this plant needs plenty of light to produce beautiful flowers and leaves. But remember that when you grow it indoors you have less room for roots to grow. The plant does not achieve its full growth and remains short in size.
Short-size plants need less light and nutrients than outdoor growing tall plants.
The best place for your plant will be near a sunny window. Do not put it on the window sill because container-grown plants cannot tolerate direct sunshine.
If possible, expose your plant to the morning sunlight. After that move the plant to its place.
Remember that the direct high intense sun rays can damage the plant leaves. Also, they make the white bloom brown and burn the plant. Once the plant turns brown you cannot turn it green again.
Potting Soil
The potting soil must be peat-based for the good health of the Madagascar plants. If you know to make potting soils then you can add 2 parts peat and 1 part perlite.
This formula is perfect to grow Stephanotis floribunda. It drains well and only holds a limited amount of moisture that is enough to keep the plant happy. Your normal garden soil is not advised to use in plant pots. Garden soils are heavy. They become soggy when water thoroughly.
The soil-draining power and bottom hole at the base of the plant pot can protect your plants in case of accidental overwatering.
Watering
Water your Madagascar jasmine plant more frequently in summer than in the winter. Once the top 2 inches of the potting soil become dry, immediately give some water to the plant.
Do not wait for the soil to dry completely because this plant is not drought resistant.
It cannot handle dry soil conditions.
Like every other plant, this plant is also prone to root fungus. The extra water in the root zone is the main cause of root rot. If you follow a good watering routine your plants will never face root zone problems.
- Once the plant gets infected by root rot the only possible way to save its life is root cutting.
- Take the plant out of its pot
- Clean the roots with your hands.
- Inspect and cut the infected part.
- Then change the soil and plant it back in the same pot.
Fertilizing
The good news is if you have this plant in your outdoor garden. Then you do not need to fertilize as long as the garden soil is fertile enough.
For indoor growing plants, you should fertilize them once in 15 days with balanced liquid fertilizer.
Before making the fertilizer solution read the instructions on the bottle carefully. Then according to them measure the fertilizer quantity and mix it in the water. After that pour directly into the base of the plant.
Fertilization is beneficial only in their active season means in spring and summer. Remember that when you fertilize plants, they need more water to ingest them.
Do not give an overdose of nutrients. This will make things worse for your plants.
Temperature & Humidity
60 to 80 degrees F is the ideal temperature range for Madagascar jasmine plants. They can tolerate the summer weather but the problem comes in winter.
Because these Plants cannot tolerate cold weather. Once the grows room temperature drops below 50 degrees F. The leaf tissues of the plants start dying due to low moisture. If you give extra this will result in root rot.
Therefore, the best practice is to maintain the right temperature in the room 365 days a year.
As long as humidity is concerned normal home humidity is perfect for it. If you feel that the humidity is low you can use a pebble tray or mist water on the plant leaves.
Repotting
Madagascar jasmine is a slow-growing plant. This means you will not need to repot it frequently. Generally repotting is required after 2 years of growth or when the roots are visible on the top layer of the potting soil.
For repotting use a 1-inch wider pot than the current pot and make sure it has a hole at the bottom. This bottom hole is required to drain excess water from the pot.
At the time of repotting, it is best to change the potting soil. Because the soil in the plant pots becomes less fertile over time. After 2 to 3 years adding fertilizers to it will not make it fertilize again. Spread such soil in your garden or you can use it for germinating seeds.
Propagation of Madagascar jasmine
You have two methods one is starting from seeds which are very hard. The second method is the easiest method, stem cutting.
We will only discuss the easy-to-propagate method (stem cutting).
- Look for a healthy stem that does not have flowers.
- Then cut a 5-inch long stem just below the node.
- Dip the cutting in rooting hormone
- Place the cutting in propagating container
- Keep the soil moist and cover the container with plastic wrap.
- Within a few weeks, your stem cutting will develop new roots.
Once it grows new roots you will also see new tiny leaves on the stem. Let the stem stay in the same pot for some time. Then repot it in the final container in well-draining soil.
Root rot
This is the only disease that can infect your plant but only in the overwatering situation. To prevent it, let the top 2 inches of the soil dry before watering. Also, use neem oil spray twice a month on all indoor and outdoor plants.
It will prevent common pest issues and also prevent fungus diseases. Neem oil is safe to use on plants.
Toxicity
The Madagascar jasmine plant is not toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. You can grow it without worrying about the toxic effect.
But still, you need to protect it from your pets. Because pets like to play with new things, they can destroy your plant.
For more information on the toxic effects of this plant read the ASPCA toxic report.
My jasmine is constantly plagued by mealy bugs. Last winter it lost nearly all its leaves. I wipe them off with isopropyl alcohol, but they return. I have had it 15 or more years, but only recently moved to a colder climate where it needs to be indoors fall to spring, and summers outside. Any suggestions to rid the mealy bugs? Thank you.
Keep the surroundings clean and use neem oil spray twice a month. Low light in grow room increases the chances of pest attacks. place your plant pot near the sunny window. 4 hours of sunlight is necessary for its good health.