Jasmine from Madagascar: care

The one known as Madagascar jasmine is a beautiful climbing plant with white, fragrant, and highly decorative flowers, thanks to which it is tremendously popular in the decoration of gardens and well-lit indoor spaces.

If you want to know how to care for Madagascar jasmine in a pot or outdoors, join us in this guide in which we show you all the care that this plant needs.

Characteristics of the Madagascar jasmine

Its scientific name is Stephanotis floribunda and, as its common name indicates, it is a tropical climbing plant native to the island of Madagascar. Its beautiful leaves, which are perennial and of a lustrous dark green, stand out, as well as its tubular flowers with five petals, white and with a pleasant aroma. And how long does the Madagascar jasmine flower last? These appear in the spring with the warm months and, if the conditions are good, the flowering lasts until the autumn.

In florists and nurseries, it tends to be sold with the stem arranged in the shape of an arch, although in a pot this plant can reach heights of up to 5 meters. In their natural environment, in Madagascar, these vines can grow up to 20 meters.

The fruit of the Madagascar jasmine is not suitable for consumption and is filled with a large number of feathered seeds, although it takes at least a year to reach full maturity.

Jasmine from Madagascar: care - Characteristics of the jasmine from Madagascar

Location for Madagascar jasmine

This plant, due to its tropical origin, needs a large amount of light, not responding well to shady locations or very dark rooms. Of course, in its natural habitat it grows below the tree dome, so it does not tolerate the direct incidence of sunlight, which could burn its leaves and prevent flowering.

Keep your Madagascar jasmine plant in a very bright space but protected from the direct rays of the sun, especially in the hours of greatest intensity at noon.

Regarding temperature, its ideal point is at 18 ºC, although it can develop well in temperatures of up to 30 ºC during warm months. It is important, of course, that the cold months pass below 20 ºC to be able to enter into vegetative rest. Its lower limit is at 10 ºC, so it is a plant that does not tolerate frost under any circumstances. It is also important to give it a location protected from wind currents, both cold and warm air, and it needs air that is clean of fumes and gases.

Irrigation and moisture for Madagascar jasmine

Along with its delicate location, irrigation is one of the most important care for this plant. From spring, it needs very constant and deep watering, maintaining a certain level of humidity in the substrate, although always without flooding, and, if it is in a pot, removing the excess water from the dish after watering.

It also needs high humidity, so in dry environments, it is recommended to spray warm water on its leaves so that they do not dry out. It is important that both the irrigation and the spraying are done with rainwater or, if it is from the tap, that it is allowed to stand for 24 hours before.

Substrate and compost for Stephanotis floribunda

This plant needs soil rich in nutrients and organic matter, in addition to also requiring the best possible drainage to avoid flooding. Because of this, one of the best mixes that we can prepare is with a part of peat, another of coconut fiber, and another of worm castings, to which vermiculite and perlite can be added. This is our most universal mix for plants without very specific needs, as it is light, airy, highly draining, and very rich in organic matter.

In addition, once a year we must transplant the plant into a slightly larger pot so that the plant receives new nutrients and can continue to grow. It is also important to apply compost, either liquid or in the form of humus when the warm months arrive.

Madagascar jasmine: care - Substrate and fertilizer for Stephanotis floribunda

Pruning Madagascar jasmine

At the beginning of its growing season, in spring, the stems of the Stephanotis floribunda should be pruned if we want to keep its growth controlled, but it is important not to prune the stems at their base and plug the cuts that produce latex with cold water.

Madagascar jasmine multiplication

The cuttings stephanotis should be cut just below the knot and an oblique cut, about 10 cm long. The 2 or 3 upper leaves are left, removing the others, and the latex fluid is cut by immersing the cutting in cold water.

After this, the stem is immersed in a rooting agent and it is planted at about 2 cm. In about 8-10 weeks, if the cutting has been successful, the plant will have rooted. After this, we can transplant it to its new location and put a guardian on it.

Madagascar jasmine: care - Multiplication of Madagascar jasmine

Why does my Madagascar jasmine have yellow leaves?

What to do when jasmine turns yellow? Usually, the most common problems with Madagascar jasmine in this regard are that the plant has been watered with calcareous water or that it has been subjected to sudden changes in temperature.

It can also happen that your plant is affected by some plague, the most common being the scale in the Madagascar jasmine. Look for these insects on the stems and the underside of the leaves and, if you find, treat the pest with an ecological insecticide, such as potassium soap or by hand with a little cotton swab soaked in alcohol.

Jasmine from Madagascar: care

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