If you love fragrant plants, Night Blooming Jasmine is worth growing indoors!
If you are in the mood to enjoy one of the best natural scents, then plant Night Blooming Jasmine indoors and be ready for the incredible fragrance in the evening and night.
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Night Blooming Jasmine Information
Night Blooming Jasmine, botanically known as Cestrum nocturnum, belongs to the Solanaceae family, commonly known as the potato or nightshade family. This fragrant flower is native to the West Indies and South Asia, including countries like India and Sri Lanka.
This Jasmine type is a shrub that can usually grow up to 10 feet in height with a spread of up to 6 feet outdoors. It boasts dark green, lance-shaped leaves and produces small, tubular, white, or pale yellow flowers. These flowers are tiny but emit an incredibly powerful and sweet fragrance, especially in the evening and at night, which is when they bloom.
Did you know? Night Blooming Jasmine stands out as one of the most fragrant flowers globally. Its alluring scent, especially at night, is renowned, making it a sought-after choice for perfumes, traditional medicines, and essential oils.
The plant has a nocturnal blooming habit. While most flowers open during the day to attract pollinators, this plant’s flowers open in the evening and release their captivating perfume at night. This unique characteristic is thought to attract night-flying pollinators like moths.
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Propagating Night Blooming Jasmine
Buy a small and healthy specimen from a nearby garden center or online, but if you have access to a mother plant–use it to propagate cestrum nocturnum.
For this, select a softwood cutting, any young, flexible, and non-woody stem of the plant about 4-6 inches in length with a node, ensuring it has a couple of leaves on top.
Trim off the lower leaves, leaving only a few at the top. Plant the cutting in a pre-mixed fertilizer-free potting mix. To increase the success rate, cover it with a plastic film or clear box or else use a DIY plant propagator to create a mini greenhouse effect.
Place your cutting in any bright spot that receives indirect sunlight, maybe a windowsill or balcony (if you’re lucky enough 😃). After around 4 weeks, you can see some root development, and wait for 4 more weeks; the plant will be ready for transplant.
You can also grow it easily through division.
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Choosing a Container for Night Blooming Jasmine
If you are starting the plant indoors from a cutting, plant it in a small 5 to 6 inches pot; once it outgrows the current pot, transplant it to a one size bigger container. If you’re buying a plant from a nursery, let it be in the same pot for a month or two to let it acclimate to the new conditions and surroundings. Afterward, replant it to just one size bigger container. For example, if you have bought a plant housed in 8 inches pot, change it into a 10 inches one.
Don’t plant your night-blooming jasmine directly in a large 10-12-inch pot because an overly big container means more volume of soil, and more volume of soil causes moisture retention for a long time, which leads to root rot. Also, by keeping this plant slightly root-bound in a small pot–you’ll be able to achieve more blooms and faster growth.
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Requirements for Growing Night Blooming Jasmine
Location
Before you plan to grow night blooming jasmine indoors, do keep the fact in mind that this plant needs extensive sunlight exposure to grow well and flower. For that, the best location is a south facing window or a door. It can also be a south facing balcony.
South-facing areas usually receive the most consistent and longest duration of sunlight throughout the day. These areas get light from late morning through the afternoon, making them ideal spots for night blooming jasmine that require lots of sunlight.
You can also keep the plant on a west side window, door, or balcony. West-facing parts get strong sunlight in the afternoon and early evening. However, the sunlight here can be more intense but for a shorter period compared to south-facing areas.
While growing the plant, don’t worry about the harsh afternoon sun. It is a pro at handling intense sun and will be more than happy to bask in it!
Pro Tip: It’s important to observe your Night Blooming Jasmine and make adjustments as needed. If you notice signs like pale leaves or elongated stems, it might be an indication that the plant is not getting enough light. On the other hand, brown or scorched leaves could mean it’s getting too much direct sunlight.
Soil
For the ideal night-blooming Jasmine soil mix, combine equal parts of:
- Garden Soil: Rich in nutrients, providing a solid foundation.
- Perlite: Enhances drainage, preventing waterlogging and ensuring aeration.
- Organic Compost: Improves soil fertility, promoting healthy root development.
- Sand: Adds grittiness, enhancing drainage and preventing soil compaction.
Creating a blend with these components ensures your Jasmine plant has the perfect balance of nutrients, moisture, and aeration, encouraging robust growth and vibrant blooming.
Water
Water your Night Blooming Jasmine plant deeply and thoroughly, allowing the water to reach the plant’s root zone. During the active growing season (spring and summer), water the plant whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
When watering, ensure that the soil is moistened to a depth of at least 2-3 inches.
Be cautious not to overwater; soggy soil can lead to root rot. In winter, reduce watering frequency, only providing moisture when the soil becomes notably dry.
Temperature
Jasmine night blooming prefers warm temperatures between 65-90°F (18-32°C) during the day and above 55°F (13°C) at night. Protect the plant from frost and cold drafts, as it is sensitive to low temperatures, which can stunt its growth and flowering.
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Night Blooming Jasmine Care
Fertilizer
Feeding the plant is a right way to make it flower more. The trick here is to fertlize it frequently. How you may ask?
Well, use a balanced liquid fertlizer, but instead is using it once a month on the recommended dose, dilute it to 1/4 of its strength and feed the plant every 7-10 days.
This trick will ensure the plant can absorb these nutrients at a steady rate. A consistent nutrient supply ensures that the plant has what it needs when it needs it, contributing to sustained overall health and resilience against diseases.
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Pests and Diseases
Night Blooming Jasmine can be susceptible to aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Keep an eye out for these tiny pests, especially under leaves, and treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Additionally, watch for fungal diseases like powdery mildew, which can develop in humid conditions. To prevent this, avoid overcrowding plants, maintain proper air circulation and water at the base, and avoid wetting the foliage.
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How to Increase the Chances of Night Blooming Jasmine Flowering Indoors?
- Ensure it gets as much sunlight as possible indoors. If you have a balcony, keeping it daily in the sunlight for 5-6 hours will help. Bring it back indoors again when done.
- Trim back leggy growth and remove dead or yellow leaves and spent blooms. This will redirect the plant’s energy toward new blooms.
- Some plants do bloom more vigorously when they are root-bound – in nature, producing flowers and subsequently seeds is a plant’s way to ensure its genetic legacy. When stressed due to constrained roots, the plant may redirect its energy from vegetative growth to reproductive growth—i.e., producing flowers—as a survival strategy. The trick is to let the plant become moderately root-bound but not to an extreme where it suffers from nutrient and water stress.
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Night Blooming Jasmine – FAQs
1. Can Night Blooming Jasmine Grow in Cold Climates?
This Jasmine is sensitive to low temperatures and thrives in warm climates. It may struggle in cold regions, so providing a warm indoor environment is crucial.
2. How Do I Propagate Night Blooming Jasmine from Seeds?
To propagate from seeds, collect ripe seeds, plant them in well-draining soil, and keep them warm and moist. Germination may take several weeks to months.
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3. Is Night Blooming Jasmine Safe for Pets?
While beautiful, the plant is toxic if ingested by pets. Keep it out of reach to ensure the safety of your furry friends.
4. How Long Does It Take for Night Blooming Jasmine to Bloom After Planting?
After planting, it may take a few months to a year to mature and start blooming. Patience is essential for enjoying its fragrant blossoms.
Armed with the secrets to grow night-blooming Jasmine indoors, you’re well-equipped to transform your home into a scented space. So, why not start on this green journey right away? Secure a pot, gather your supplies, and let the magic begin. Happy gardening!
