Jasmine tobacco

Jasmine tobacco is a moderate-high water needing plant, requiring moist soil especially in hot and dry areas.You should try to keep a consistent watering schedule and make sure that your plant doesn’t dry out for long. This can cause leaves to brown and drop, and succumb to diseases like root rot. During the winter, it needs less water, and over-watering should be avoided as it can quickly lead to a lot of issues.

This species prefers filtered or partial sunlight, so it prospers in sunrooms, windowsills, or balconies as long as they aren’t in direct intense sunlight that could cause it to become over-dried. During the winter, the plant will need an extra boost of light to survive, and so investing in grow-lights can be beneficial. It’s important to remember that indirect sunlight or shade is better than placing it directly in the rays.

Jasmine tobacco thrives in temperatures between 80-90°F/26-32°C, and can tolerate temperatures as low as 50-58°F/10-14°C. It’s important to keep temperatures at optimal levels to avoid its stems from becoming too brittle, and for the flowers to last longer during warmer days of the year.

Jasmine tobacco prefers high levels of humidity, showcasing a glossy and healthy foliage when consistently kept moist. An easy way to raise humidity levels is to lightly mist the foliage occasionally, at least once a week. Alternatively, you can place a humidifier in the space or place the pot inside a tray of water.

Jasmine tobacco plants do best in well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH level. It can tolerate both alkaline and neutral soils, however, will benefit from peat moss or a compost mixture added to the soil to retain moisture, or to offer more nutrients. You should never plant it in soil that is waterlogged as it cannot deal with this type of environment.

Fertilizers are beneficial for Jasmine tobacco, providing it with the extra nutrients it needs to thrive. Fertilize the plant during spring and summer with an all-purpose flowering fertilizer every four weeks. Mix the fertilizer according to the directions on the packaging and spread it evenly around the base of the plant. During winter, you can use an organic liquid fertilizer and mix it with your watering can to apply to the plant monthly.

Like most plants, Jasmine tobacco is vulnerable to pests that can affect its foliage and flowers, affecting their overall health and strength. The most common pests are aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and whitefly. For a mild infestation, you can treat the soil with neem oil spray and then remove them manually. For stronger infestations, seek the advice of a professional who can assess the damage and offer a safe and effective solution.

The size of your pot should depend on the age of your plant. Generally, if they’re young, you can wait a year, and then move it to a medium-sized pot. Older plants can be repotted every two summer seasons to keep up with their growing size. Make sure to use a potting mix with good drainage and that has oregano, compost, or peat moss to give your plant the necessary nutrients.

Pruning is important to keep your plant healthy, and you should do this at least once a year in spring or summer. You’ll need to trim away dead, dying or discolored leaves, as well as remove faded flowers to encourage new and healthy growth. For a fuller and bushier silhouette, prune away the weaker stems and cut the strongest back by the third leaf from the uppermost.

This species does well with mulching because it helps keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from taking over. The best type of mulch is any type of organic matter, such as wood shavings, straw, leaves, or ground bark chips. This should be spread around the base of the plant, covering the top 3-4 inches of soil.

Jasmine tobacco flowers can be propagated from seed, and this is the best method to use when planting indoors. Start this process in early spring and fill a container with fresh potting mix and scatter the seeds over the soil. Do not cover the seeds in the soil, and lightly spray or mist the soil surface with water. The seeds will begin to sprout shortly after, and you’ll need to thin out the seedlings after they start shooting up.

Unlike other tall plants, Jasmine tobacco has fairly strong stems, however, it still may require some extra support. If planted outdoors, you can set up trellises, stakes, or tomato cages to support the stems as they can droop due to their weight. Indoors, you can set up wooden sticks or bamboo stalks in the soil for a similar effect.

Having a rest for your Jasmine tobacco is important during winter, as the plant becomes dormant in the colder season. You should stop fertilizing, pruning and repotting the plant for a couple months, which will make its stems and foliage a lot thinner. Watering should be reduced and kept to the bare minimum, so that the soil is still moist and to help the plant to not suffer down the line.

The Jasmine tobacco plant is not toxic to pets, whether indoors or outdoors, and can, therefore, be placed around animal company without worry.