Does this Sambac need a bigger pot? - Orchid Board

BrassavolaStars · #1 10-30-2020, 05:21 PM

Hello all,

I have had this Sambac Jasmine for years. It used to look better until it was attacked my spider mites and lost a lot of foliage. I was wondering if it would benefit from either a repotting, a larger pot, or both. I repotted it last 2 years ago. It is currently 4 feet tall and in a ~12 inch pot.

estación seca · #2 10-30-2020, 06:28 PM

I have these in my landscape. Do I see roots exposed? Cover those with soil. They root easily from the stem, so you don't need to plant high like an Azalea or Gardenia.

They flower profusely in 1 gallon or smaller pots when happy. Yours is more than large enough to flower.

For best flowering they need warmth, constant moisture, plenty of fertilizer and as much light as you can give them - in that order. Mine stop flowering when it gets chilly out, and don't resume until it warms up in spring. In a warm greenhouse it would flower all year.

This Jasminum is more forgiving of inadequate watering than other species. If you let it wilt severely it may defoliate, but it will probably survive. Others die if they wilt severely. This one won't flower for a while if you let it wilt at all. So never let it dry out.

The more fertilizer, the more flowers. It's a dramatic difference. I use a tablespoon per gallon of ammonium sulfate for my plants in the ground when I get around to it. If you're growing in potting mix use something like 20-20-20 with micronutrients. If I had time I'd fertilise weekly during warm weather.

This species tolerates 4-6 hours per day of direct Arizona sun. It also flowers well in bright shade. In your climate I'd give as much sun as possible.

I've had severe dieback in frosts into the mid 20s F / -4C.

Remember like most Jasminum it is a sprawler. Stems will grow over 12 feet / 2.5 meters if you let them. It flowers on the most recent growth. If you regularly cut off all new growth you will prevent flowering. It tolerates very heavy pruning if you need to keep it under control. If you cut that plant down to a few inches above the roots it would almost certainly survive - but don't do that unless you need to. It would prevent flowering for months.

Leafmite · #3 10-30-2020, 07:19 PM

I agree. I have the Maid of Orleans and Belle of India (elongated flower form) and I agree that they do not need a bigger pot. I grow mine in fairly small pots and just keep them well watered. I fertilize them when I fertilize my citrus (and I use Osmocote on all my plants, and, every spring, Ironite). Not sure which sambac you have but many of these continually grow and bloom on each spurt of new growth (like the two I have) so they are always in bloom. Mine are indoor plants during the cooler months.

---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:16 PM ----------

No idea how forgiving this is. For me, it is not a difficult plant to grow but I have tried to give it as gifts to many people who enjoy mine when they visit and I do not think anyone still has theirs...and these are people who try hard to grow it.

estación seca · #4 10-30-2020, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafmite

No idea how forgiving this is. For me, it is not a difficult plant to grow but I have tried to give it as gifts to many people who enjoy mine when they visit and I do not think anyone still has theirs...and these are people who try hard to grow it.

I would guess not enough light, especially in winter.

SouthPark · #5 10-30-2020, 08:02 PM

I grow three plants of these, and the flowers smell nice - from a distance that is hehehe.

When I put a white flower up to my nose ...... it puts my nose sensors into over-drive ..... way too strong hahaha.

I grow 1 sambac in regular potting mix, and the other 2 are growing in a propagation sand and soil mix. All doing nicely. Just add some osmocote. Growing in the tropics with good lighting conditions.

BrassavolaStars · #6 10-30-2020, 09:56 PM

It does flower nicely a couple of times a year. It usually goes in flushes. My concern was that it might have gotten too big for its pot/become pot bound.

Last year, one of my Citrus trees outgrew its pot and became exceptionally unhappy until I got it a much larger pot. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t repeat the mistake of leaving it in too small of a pot.

I guess jasmines aren’t as upset at being pot-bound as citrus are. I just want it to keep getting bigger and stronger. I am especially interested in having it get more foliage as it is honestly a bit leaf bare now. It is a Maid of Orleans BTW.

SouthPark · #7 10-30-2020, 11:23 PM

BS ---- the plants don't have brains as such, so they don't get unhappy or happy. If they just happen to run into a situation where their growth requirements for their internal growing systems aren't met or satisfied ------ ie. becomes unsatisfactory for regular system growing operations, then the system runs into issues.

So if it looks like the plant may be root-bound, then probably a good idea to take it out of the pot to check, followed by a repot into a bigger one.

To avoid repeating the mistake you mentioned. The only way to know whether the mistake is 'approaching' or 'coming up around the corner' ------ is observation or checking. So may have to check the roots in the pot by unpotting. The mistake can then be avoided by checking early enough.

BrassavolaStars · #8 10-31-2020, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthPark

BS ---- the plants don't have brains as such, so they don't get unhappy or happy. If they just happen to run into a situation where their growth requirements for their internal growing systems aren't met or satisfied ------ ie. becomes unsatisfactory for regular system growing operations, then the system runs into issues.

So if it looks like the plant may be root-bound, then probably a good idea to take it out of the pot to check, followed by a repot into a bigger one.

To avoid repeating the mistake you mentioned. The only way to know whether the mistake is 'approaching' or 'coming up around the corner' ------ is observation or checking. So may have to check the roots in the pot by unpotting. The mistake can then be avoided by checking early enough.

I guess my problem is that I’m not really sure what it means to be root bound for this plant. I’m not sure how much space a Sambac is supposed to have in the pot.

Leafmite · #9 10-31-2020, 04:30 AM

Logees has a good video on the care of Jasmine sambac as well as information on growing it.

Jasmine ‘Maid of Orleans’ (Jasminum sambac)

I hope that helps. I buy most of my plants from them and I have found their growing instructions to be very helpful.

estación seca · #10 10-31-2020, 04:46 AM

I don't think it cares about being pot bound, but if it's been in that pot for a while, I suggest you change the soil. Wait until you can keep it warm. Don't remove all the soil, but gently remove what comes off easily. It would be heavier if you do this, but consider using real soil from your garden.

I suggest deciding how big you want it to get. Then alternately prune down larger stems hard from time to time, letting others grow. That way you will always have new growth with flowers.