How to Prune Jasmine
Jasmine is known for its delicate and fragrant aroma, making it a beloved courtyard plant for many gardening enthusiasts. To ensure that jasmine blooms beautifully year after year, mastering scientific pruning techniques is particularly important. This article will systematically explain the key points of pruning and caring for jasmine from four dimensions to help you cultivate lush and flowering jasmine plants.
Golden Rule of Pruning Timing
Spring Sprout Pruning
Around Qingming (March-April), before new buds sprout, retain the main stem at 15-20 cm for pruning to promote the growth of new branches in all directions. At this time, you can also remove the frozen branches from winter, retaining 3-5 main branches to form an umbrella-like structure.
Autumn Shaping Pruning
In late September, when the temperature drops to 25°C, remove diseased and weak branches, crossed branches, and reduce the length of overly long branches by 1/3. Retain enough leaves for photosynthesis to ensure the plant's safe wintering.
Root Care Duett
Repotting Techniques
Every 2 years, replace the potting soil with pruning, using breathable containers like red pottery. After shaking off 1/3 of the old soil, prune the tangled roots, retain the main roots at 8-12 cm in length, and soak them in a fungicide solution for 20 minutes to sterilize.
Soil Improvement
Prepare the growing soil with a ratio of decomposed leaf soil: vermiculite: perlite = 5:3:2, and place a 3cm layer of ceramsite at the bottom for drainage. The new soil should be pre-sunbathed and sterilized to avoid introducing eggs.
Post-Flowering Management Trilogy
Deadheading
Immediately after the flowers fade, cut off the dead flowers and the 2 pairs of leaves below, with the cut 0.5 cm away from the bud point at a 45-degree angle. Use pruning shears that have been sterilized with alcohol to prevent infection.
Nutrient Supply
After pruning, apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (N-P-K=5-10-10), and spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution on the leaves every 10 days to promote secondary flowering.
New Branch Growth Plan
Cutting Propagation
Choose semi-woody branches, retain the top 2 leaves, and cut off half of the leaf surface. Soak the base in rooting powder before inserting it into the perlite matrix, maintain 80% humidity, and it will root in 20 days.
Layering Propagation
Perform ring stripping and layering on drooping branches, wrap them with moist sphagnum moss to promote root growth, and after about 40 days, cut them away from the mother plant to obtain strong new seedlings.
Systematic pruning and care can help jasmine maintain an elegant shape and extend the blooming period. It is recommended to keep a pruning log, recording the plant's response after each operation, gradually forming a personalized care plan. Regularly observe the growth direction of new buds, guide the plant to form an ideal ventilation and light structure through pruning, and let the fragrance of jasmine linger in the garden year after year.