Knowledgebase
Growing Arabian Jasmine in Pots in Midlands - Lexington area #845285
Asked August 11, 2023, 3:42 PM EDT
Hi,
I live in Lexington SC and I have been growing Arabian Jasmine (jasminum sambac) in pots for a few years and for the most part they have done really well. Although, I see that in peak summer (June onwards) many of the new buds will change to purple color and would not bloom fully. I have tried searching online and seems like many other gardeners face similar issues. I have tried various suggestions - reduced watering, cutting back, and fertilizing, however, none of these have permanently solved the problem. I have also tried to move the plants to different location, with less afternoon sun and even brought one inside my house in a sunny window, without any success. I am attaching a few pictures of such buds as an example.
Do you have any suggestions on what I should do to prevent such issues and keep my Jasmine blooming? Is it due to too much watering? or too little watering? too little or too much sun/heat? or some kind of nutrient deficiency?
Thanks for your help.
Lexington County South Carolina
Expert Response
Browning flower buds is often a sign of over or under-watering. If you have a tray under your pot, make sure to empty it after the soil has drained. Has the vine been in the same container for a number of years? I would pull the plant out of the container and inspect the roots. If you see black roots at the bottom of the rootball, then it is over-watering. Wash off the soil and prune off any blackened roots and repot in a coarse soil mix.
If the plant is rootbound, it may be lack of water based on less space for water in the soil. To correct, shave off a thin layer of roots from top to bottom and repot into a slightly larger container. Use a coarse soil mix.
