How to Grow Pink Jasmine

Pink jasmine, also called Chinese evergreen jasmine or winter jasmine, is a popular vine for gardeners in USDA zones 8 to 10. The intoxicating fragrant white to light pink, five-petal blossoms will bloom when temperatures drop below 60 degrees F for several weeks, making the pink jasmine ideal for late winter and early spring flowering. Fast growing, a pink jasmine vine can reach 20 feet in one or two growing seasons, and is often used as a screening for decks, patios and fencing. Easily propagated by cuttings, this plant can be invasive if not pruned back.

Things You'll Need
Shovel
Compost (optional)
Water

Instructions

1. Select a spot in your landscape to plant the pink jasmine that will receive six to eight hours of sunlight per day. Although pink jasmine can grow in partial shade, it will thrive in full sunlight.

2. Prepare the soil where you are going to plant your pink jasmine, if it is not already loamy and well-draining. You can dig up the area with a shovel to loosen the existing soil, then add and mix organic compost, like old leaves or decomposed straw, into the soil. This will not only add nutrients to the soil to feed your pink jasmine, but allow the soil to drain better and avoid over-watered, soggy soil that would promote insects, diseases and rot.

3. Dig a hole, using the shovel, that is twice as wide and 1 1/2 times as deep as the root ball of your pink jasmine plant. This will help the root system to integrate into the existing soil around the root ball.

4. Place the root ball and plant in the center of the hole, then fill in around it with soil. When you are finished filling the hole with soil, gently tap down, with your foot, the fill soil to press out any air pockets that might have formed around the roots.

5. Water the newly planted pink jasmine plant thoroughly. Pink jasmines prefer to grow in moist, well-draining soil and love a humidity level above 40 percent. Keeping the soil your plant is growing in moist will help retain a higher humidity level. Water when the surface soil becomes dry, particularly during periods of no rainfall.

6. Fertilize your pink jasmine every two to three weeks during its growing season with a fertilizer blend that is high in phosphorus, which promotes blossoms, like a 15-30-15 formula. Follow the instructions on the container.

7. Cut back new growth with pruners and promote fuller, thicker foliage on the vine. Pink jasmine can be rather scraggly looking, but by cutting back the new growth a few inches you will force the plant to produce more leaves. The removed stems of your pink jasmine can be propagated to start new vines by inserting the cut end into potting soil and keeping the soil moist while roots develop.

Tips & Warnings.

Because pink jasmine is a vine, it should be planted next to something for it to climb onto, like a fence, trellis or post.

Check for spider mites, aphids and scale on your pink jasmine, which may occur if your plant is in partial shade with too much dampness. Use an all-purpose insecticide to rid the plant of pests.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_6698926_grow-pink-jasmine.html

What is Pink Jasmine?

Pink Jasmine is a popular flower used in may gardens across the world. It is valuable both for its appearance and pleasant fragrance, which tends to be one of the strongest in the jasmine family. Gardeners can plant pink jasmine in most mild climates and enjoy its sweet blossoms every year.

Definition
Pink jasmine is an evergreen vine originally grown in China. It has large, deep-green leaves and produces clusters of flowers which are small and star-shaped. There are several different varieties and they may all be referred to as either pink winter jasmine or simply jasmine. It is spread primarily through cuttings and layering.

Uses
Normally, pink jasmine is a very fast-growing vine, and can quickly cover 20 feet of fence or other material. However, gardeners can also choose to aggressively prune back their jasmine and turn it into a shrub. Homeowners tend to plant the jasmine by trellises or in corners where it can easily dominate and become a main landscaping feature. The scent of the pink jasmine is also used in several oils and perfumes.

Soil and Water
Pink jasmine grows best in neutral soils, anywhere from 6 to 8 on the pH scale. It will grow more quickly if it is helped out by fertilizers. The jasmine plant loves water and prefers well-draining soils and a continual source of water, although overwatering will quickly drown it. Owners often administer liquid fertilizers from spring until autumn to encourage growth.

Blooming
Pink jasmine actually produces white flowers: only the hanging buds are pink, before they begin to bloom. In the proper climate the plant will begin to bloom as early as February, although it may be a few months later in colder areas. The warmer the weather, the earlier in summer it will stop blooming, since the plant does not like too much heat. It is important that the jasmine sense the temperature changes of the seasons so it will produce new buds every year.

Location
When it comes to sunlight, the pink jasmine is very resistant to direct heat and prefers full sunlight when possible, although lightly shaded areas also work. Because the vine grows so quickly and easily, it should be planted in a place where it is easy to control and cannot jump fences and invade other gardens.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_6642856_pink-jasmine_.html