Odd. I come from a family that was never good with houseplants. My mom killed a fake plant by vacuuming the leaves off accidentally. But, I would often times save a friend's or co-worker's plant, bringing them back from near death. Eventually, I would neglect it and it would die. When I moved out of my parent's house, I wanted to get some houseplants. I was quite taken with Jasimine. I did get one and kept it alive and happy for years. About a year or so ago, I had to rid myself of my Jasmine. I was running out of space for it. I am such a "sap" (no pun intended until after I proofread) for plants that I cannot throw good clippings away. I wanted a Jasmine plant for a long time, and loved the sweet scent and dainty flowers. After I bought a couple, I found that they were terribly infested with aphids. I lost one, but was able to save the other. Each time I pruned it, I would root the clippings and have multiple new plants. I finally got fed up with my inability to simply throw away the clippings that I gave the "mother" and all "baby" Jasmine plants away. Since then, I have heard multiple random people on various occasions complain about how difficult it is to keep jasmine. I was stunned. I'm just a beginner and that wasn't my experience at all. Am I missing something? I know I have a green thumb with houseplants and a brown thumb with outdoor plants, but I am at a loss with hearing this on multiple different occasions. Can somebody explain this to me? What is the difficulty? In my experience, the plant was quite forgiving. I would neglect it at times, hard prune it... Sure, sometimes a clipping wouldn't root, but that was not common (which turned out to be quite problematic for me). I had a south facing, drafty window that got a lot of sun and my aloe also did quite well there. I also had a purple heart that went crazy in that window. (I don't know if that information helps with the type of environment the Jasmine plant seems to like.) After hearing the complaint yet again, I am strongly considering getting another Jasmine. I can't help it. At this point, I feel somebody needs to show love to a plant that, I think, has been unjustly accused of being difficult and has developed an undeserved bad reputation. I volunteer. This coming from a beginner.
I think it was mostly this, "I would neglect it at times..." Most dead house plants were killed with kindness, "overwatered" is the name given to this, rotting of roots by keeping the soil so moist there is no oxygen it. Roots need oxygen and moisture to function. This is also the inspiration for the old wives' tale phrase "likes to be rootbound." What it likes is to not have its' roots rotted.
I really like Jasmin. I like the Jasminum officinale the most. I have been able to keep them for long periods. I have even tried keeping them in the garden, but have not yet been successful. With this warming weather though, who knows...perhaps I shall try again. I would REALLY like to be able to. I find the Jasmine such an incredible romantic plant. It takes me back to when I lived in Granada, Spain. Even walks through the barrow medieval streets in the early evening ...the ancient jasmine bushes spilling over the tall carmen walls and perfuming the steep alleys and streets. Walking arm in arm with my sweetheart, enjoying the picturesque panoramas and sniffing-in that heavenly fragrance of the blooming jasmine. Ach meid....what a wonderful plant that is! Good luck with your jasmine.
Thank you, Purple. I have heard, and committed that mistake of "showing too much love" myself. That could've been the issue. I admit I would neglect my Jasmine a little too much, especially towards the end, but as I said, in my experience, it was a very forgiving plant. Now my heart is breaking for letting it go. Sjoerd, you paint such a beautiful, romantic picture. I am almost there myself. Yes, that is the Jasmine I had. They do prefer warm weather. The only complaint I had was that the flowers would only last a day or two before dropping. I had no more than 4 or 5 at a time, but they were almost constant, and the scent was so strong from just one flower that 4 or 5 were enough. I am also considering getting Winter Jasmine. I'm not sure if there is a scent, but I figure, if I can trellis them together, I will have flowers all year round!
There are a number of plants that have the word "jasmine" in their common name. They are not all in the same Latin family however. You are right about the strong fragrance of jasmine for indoor use; however, for use outdoors, it is not so dominating unless you have large numbers of blooms. It sort of gives you a gentle hint when a little wind eddy captures it and brings it under your nose. I may try keeping one in a container and bring that indoors during the winter. Hahaha... yes, I wax romantic when it comes to jasmine. the fragrance makes my eyelids flutter as well as my heart. I squeeze my sweetie's hand just that much tighter and adopt a distand smile. What am I like. cackle. :-?
I bought Jasminum nudiflorum as a winter-blooming flower for my church. It is said to be one of the true Jasmine plants, but the flowers don't have a scent. Pity. It does bloom in the winter though; yellow flowers on the bare, green branches, and bright green foliage throughout the summer.
That isn't a bad jasmine at all. There are lots of flowers that have little or no smell. I have a really attractive Lonicera, but it has no smell at all. Sometimes the appearance of flowers are enough...or in my case have something to off bees. hahaha. Heck Beeker, if you like it then that's all that matters don't you think?
Very true. In the winter, I don't think I'd be much in the mood to stop and smell them. Even if I wanted to, my nose would probably be too cold to be able to smell anything. The sight of pretty flowers in the winter is enough. But, in the warmer seasons, I do prefer flowers that smell nice.
That's why I've never understood lily of the valley?! Who's on their knees when those bloom? And who wants to bend that far to sniff anything at any time? Had a little patch in OH and didn't even see the blooms usually, not outdoor weather then.
Ah, Lily of the Valley. Love and hate, but more love. I'll start with the fact that it spreads like a weed around here. It can be so annoying. But, the smell is soooo nice. I have it near the sun garden. I just so happen to be on my knees planting and get a whiff. Ah, so nice. If you have enough planted, you don't have to bend. The wind just carries the scent. The trick is to plant it strategically. I check the way the sun falls on the garden for most of my plants, but for Lily of the Valley, that is one you really want to focus on the way the wind blows at that time of year(and/or where you will be working the ground, so you'll be on your knees anyway).
