How to Plant & Care for Jasmine in Containers

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Learn how to plant, care for, and harvest potted jasmine
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Whether grown indoors or outdoors, jasmine makes for a beautiful and aromatic plant. As long as jasmine is grown in well-draining soil and with plenty of sun, humidity, and water, it adapts well to potted environments. Once you've grown potted jasmine, you can use it as a houseplant or harvest its flowers for teas or decorations. With time and plenty of care, your jasmine will thrive as a potted plant!

Things You Should Know

  • Fill a pot that has drainage holes with well-draining soil. Then, insert the jasmine seedling in the soil, covering its roots completely, and water it.
  • Set the potted jasmine in warm spot that stays at least 60° F (16° C) and gets 2-3 hours of shade. Water your plant about once a week.
  • Spray the leaves, stem, and soil about once a month with a potassium-rich fertilizer. Regularly prune off dead leaves and flowers.
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Planting Jasmine in Pots

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  1. Jasmine needs soil with plenty of drainage to grow. Fill the pot with a well-draining potting mix or add loam-based compost to the soil to improve its drainage. [1]
    • Make sure the flower pot you choose has drainage holes to avoid overwatering the plant. [2]
    • To test the soil's drainage, dig a hole about 12 inches (30 cm) deep and fill it with water. If the soil drains in 5-15 minutes, it is well-draining.
  2. Jasmine prefers warm temperatures (at least 60 °F (16 °C)) and several hours of shade to grow. Choose a spot for your jasmine pot that receives sunlight but with around 2-3 hours of shade a day.
    • If placing the pot indoors, choose a place near a south-facing window so it can receive direct sunlight. [3]
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  3. Cover the seed with a light layer of soil. If you're planting a seedling, make sure the crown of the plant is level with the soil. Cover the roots completely. [4]
    • If you're planting a seedling, loosen the roots with your hands to help it adapt to its new environment faster. [5]
    • You can buy jasmine seeds or seedlings from most garden centers or nurseries.
  4. Using a watering can or hose, water your plant until water runs out the drainage holes. When you're finished watering, the soil should be damp but not waterlogged. [6]
    • Watering the flower immediately will moisten the soil and help your plant acclimate to the pot.
    • For best results, use a spray bottle or watering can to moisten the freshly-planted jasmine.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Caring for Jasmine

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  1. Use a hose or watering can to keep the soil moist and the plant hydrated. Water the plant once a week or whenever the soil dries out, depending on the climate. [7]
    • If you're not sure whether to water the plant, poke your finger in the dirt about 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) deep. If the soil is dry, water the jasmine.
  2. Jasmine plants grow best in potassium-rich soil. Buy a liquid fertilizer with a high potassium content and spray the leaves, stem, and soil once monthly.
    • You can find potassium-rich fertilizers at most plant nurseries. For example, a tomato fertilizer is a good option, as it's rich in potassium.
  3. Jasmine plants grow best with plenty of humidity. If you're growing jasmine in a dry climate, use a humidifier or fill a pebble tray with water to mimic the plant's natural environment. [8]
    • If you live in a humid climate, place the pot outside or open a window instead.
  4. Regularly pruning your jasmine plant can keep it tidy and healthy. Pinch away dead leaves, stems, and flowers with pruning shears or with your fingers as you notice them. [9] [10]
    • Avoid pruning more than 1/3 of the plant's foliage at a time.
  5. Jasmine plants produce more flowers if their roots are not crowded (or "root bound"). If the plant's soil dries out after 2-3 days, transfer it to a larger pot or outside. [11]
    • It's also best to transfer your plant if it's been in the same pot for several years. It's normal for plants to outgrow their pot.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Harvesting Potted Jasmine Buds

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  1. Harvest jasmine to make tea. Traditionally, jasmine buds are steeped in teas for a fragrant herbal tea. Although you can grow your jasmine as a strictly decorative plant, harvesting its buds can help you get more use out of it. [12]
    • You can also cut jasmine flower stems with shears and transfer them to a vase as an indoor decoration. [13]
  2. As your jasmine's flower buds develop, wait until they are green but not yet opened. Use your hands or pruning shears to pick as many jasmine buds as you need for your tea or oil. [14]
    • Use the jasmine buds immediately after picking for ideal freshness, particularly if you're making tea. [15]
  3. Place the jasmine buds on a baking sheet and set the oven to 200 °F (93 °C). Keep the buds in the oven for 2-3 hours or until the jasmine buds are completely dry to the touch. [16]
    • You can store the dried jasmine buds in an airtight container to help them last longer.
  4. Steep the dried jasmine buds in water to make herbal tea. Bring a kettle of water to a boil and steep the jasmine in the water for about 2-5 minutes. After steeping the water, turn off the stove and pour the water into a cup to serve.
    • The ratio of jasmine buds to water should be about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) to 8 ounces (230 g).
    • You can also mix the jasmine buds with black or green tea leaves for a stronger flavor.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I grow jasmine on a very shady balcony?
    Ninox
    Top Answerer
    No, jasmine requires light the majority of the day to bloom and develop healthily.
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  • Question
    How fast does the jasmine grow?
    Ninox
    Top Answerer
    It takes roughly 1 year for the jasmine to grow from a cutting to a fully mature plant.
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  • Question
    How is it best to keep the runners under control?
    Ninox
    Top Answerer
    You have to cut the damaged branches after blooming and do a larger cutting every 2-3 years to keep it under control.
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      Tips

      • If you live in a warm, humid climate, you can always transplant your jasmine outside later. Choose a spot that is shaded and gets full to partial sun.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Flower pot
      • Well-draining soil
      • Jasmine seed or seedling
      • Hose or watering can
      • Potassium-rich liquid fertilizer
      • Water
      • Humidifier or pebble tray
      • Pruning shears
      • Baking pan
      • Kettle

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      References

      1. ↑ Melinda Meservy. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 18 August 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/jasmine/growing-guide
      3. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/jasmine/growing-guide
      4. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/jasmine/growing-guide
      5. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/container-gardening/how-to-plant-up-a-container
      6. ↑ https://gardening.org/true-jasmines-full-growing-guide/
      7. ↑ https://gardening.org/true-jasmines-full-growing-guide/
      8. ↑ https://gardening.org/true-jasmines-full-growing-guide/
      9. ↑ Melinda Meservy. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 18 August 2020.
      1. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trachelospermum/growing-guide
      2. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trachelospermum/growing-guide
      3. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996919307549
      4. ↑ https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/how-to-keep-cut-flowers-fresh/
      5. ↑ https://nhb.gov.in/pdf/flowers/jasmine/jas003.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8535958/
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxVvjgI2YWw

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To grow jasmine in a pot, you’ll need well-draining soil and plenty of sun, humidity, and water. Start by filling a pot with well-draining potting mix or add loam-based compost to the soil to improve its drainage. Also, make sure the pot you use has drainage holes to avoid overwatering the plant. You can test the soil’s drainage by digging a hole about 12 inches deep and filling it with water. If it drains in 5 to 15 minutes, then it’s good. Put the pot in an area with partial shade, then place a seed under a light layer of soil. Water your jasmine immediately after planting it to help your plant acclimate to the pot. Once your jasmine is properly planted, water it weekly or whenever the soil dries out. Additionally, add a potassium-rich fertilizer to the pot once a month. Since jasmine grows best in humidity, use a humidifier or fill a pebble tray with water if you don’t live in a humid climate. For more tips from our Horticultural co-author, including how to prune a jasmine plant, keep reading!.

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        Jun 15, 2019

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