Yes, we Jasmine plants can certainly grow and even thrive indoors, provided our specific needs are understood and met. While we naturally prefer the great outdoors, with the right care, we can adapt to an indoor environment and reward you with our intoxicating fragrance and beautiful blooms.
From our perspective, light is life. We are sun-worshippers by nature. To truly prosper indoors and produce the energy required for our prolific flowering, we demand a very bright location. A south-facing window is ideal, as it provides the most intense and direct sunlight for the longest duration. An unobstructed east or west window can also be sufficient. Without this high light intensity, our growth will become leggy as we stretch pathetically towards any light source, and we will likely refuse to bloom. You might even consider supplementing with a grow light during the darker winter months to keep us happy.
Our preferences for temperature change with the seasons. During our active growing and flowering period (spring and summer), we enjoy the same warmth you do, between 65°F and 75°F (18°C - 24°C). However, to initiate our precious flower buds, we require a distinct rest period in the late fall and winter. This means you must place us in a cooler spot, around 40°F to 50°F (5°C - 10°C). This cooler dormancy is non-negotiable for bud formation. Furthermore, the dry air of a heated home is challenging for us. We originate from humid climates, so please increase humidity around us by placing our pot on a pebble tray filled with water or by regularly misting our leaves.
We require well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil to prevent our roots from sitting in water, which would lead to a fatal case of root rot. A premium peat-based potting mix is often suitable. When it comes to water, we are Goldilocks; we like it just right. Keep our soil consistently moist but never soggy during the growing season. Water us thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. In our winter rest period, you can allow the soil to dry out more significantly between waterings.
We are heavy feeders when we are actively growing. To support our vigorous growth and prolific blooming, please feed us with a potassium-rich fertilizer (a tomato feed works wonderfully) every two to four weeks from spring until early fall. Do not feed us during our winter dormancy, as we are not actively growing and cannot use the nutrients. Furthermore, we appreciate being slightly pot-bound, which actually encourages us to flower. You will only need to repot us into a slightly larger container every two to three years, preferably in the spring before our growth surge begins.
