By Riverdee
Cheshire, United Kingdom
My Star jasmine doesn't look like its exactly thriving. Only planted early this year, and it was the last (sorry looking) plant in the nursery. I don't think its dying, but leaves look bit droopy and doesn't look like its got any new growth yet. The summer has been hot and dry but I watered it plenty. Its is near a small tree, so thought it might be extra thirsty, so I have put a funnel in the ground close to it, to ensure the water gets to it! Any advice? Should I give it any special fertiliser, given its near a tree/ bit glum-looking? Looks to me like it was growing along the ground in the nursery, as it has a jumble of branches that I had to lift/help up to the trellis!
- 6 Nov, 2018
Answers
Don't water it any more until it resumes growth, you might encourage rotting roots.
You could thin the branches & lightly tie in the stems with good air circulation in mind. Then use the trimmed parts to make semi-ripe cuttings, the RHS website will have 'how-to' details for trachelosporum
6 Nov, 2018
Have a look at Brentsa's latest blog re fertilizers! Sending encouragement to your jasmine!
6 Nov, 2018
As Bathgate says, don't fertilize at this time of year, its going into dormancy. Trachelospermum jasminoides likes full sun, or as much as it can get (minimum half a day) and they are slow growers initially, they can take up to 3 years to really get going, though more usually two years. Leave it alone for now,, check it in spring and if its still hanging on, fertilize then (where you are, probably in April rather than March, unless the spring is very mild and growth has begun generally in the garden) using a general purpose product such as Growmore.. And don't prune it either, if it really hasn't got many stems nor put on much growth, just leave it be till next spring. You'll probably find some tip burn in spring if we have some very cold spells in winter - just trim back in spring.
6 Nov, 2018
Can be quite temperamental. As said, sunny, protected situation. No pruning and no fertiliser until it starts to put on new growth in the spring. Not willing to put the mockers on it so to speak but most good garden centres have a 3 to 5 year 'Garden Centre Association' guarantee and if you still have the receipt or the original plant label perhaps be prepared to take it back in the spring. After all these plants aren't cheap!
7 Nov, 2018
Thanks all! Have read and understood!
Funny how a bit of sensible feedback can be so reassuring. Will stop worrying.... until spring! Thankyou.
PS my other star jasmine is thriving so fingers crossed.
7 Nov, 2018
If you live in a cold climate, you may have better success with Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum). You seem to be right on the threshold of what Star Jasmine can handle but you should expect some winter die back.
7 Nov, 2018
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Well, since we are in November, do you think it's just going dormant for the season. How would anybody look if sleep deprived? No fertilizer now, wait until it wakes up in the Spring. You can give it a trim now, to get rid of the jumbled branches - just keep 2 or 3 of the strongest leaders, trim off the gnarly bits.
6 Nov, 2018