In the southern flower market, it is often seen that there is a kind of "jasmine" that looks like a gardenia, it is "crystal jasmine", but it is not a certain variety of jasmine, it has a very local name, called dogtooth flower, florists in order to better sell this plant, of course, give it a nice name.
1, the difference between crystal jasmine and gardenia
Above is potted crystal jasmine
Crystal jasmine is often mistaken for gardenia. Some friends have seen it and will mistakenly think that it is a jasmine flower, its flower form and gardenia are more similar, the flower color is pure white.
Above are the flowers of crystal jasmine
However, these crystal jasmine and gardenia are still very different, if you just look at the petals of crystal jasmine, you will find that its petal edges are wrinkled, gardenia petals are like lotus flowers, very neat, round and full.
Above are gardenias
Above are the flowers of gardenia
Gardenia flowers are relatively large, and the flowers are fragrant, and the flower color is white with a little yellow. The color of crystal jasmine is pure white, which feels like a tofu flower.
In addition, the stalk of crystal jasmine is relatively long, that is, its corolla tube, while the stalk of gardenia is particularly short.
Crystal jasmine is also often used as an ornamental plant, it is suitable for potting, the plant can grow very tall, can also be limited to 80 to 90 cm tall. It has a big advantage, that is, the flowering period is extremely long, from the beginning of summer to the arrival of frost.
If it is in the southern region, it can be seen in the late spring, after it has bloomed a cluster of flowers, it can grow a new cluster of flowers in a few days, it is really a continuous flowering, and gardenia or jasmine flowers bloom one season a year, basically waiting for the next year. The long flowering period is also the advantage of crystal jasmine.
2. Give the right light
The maintenance of crystal jasmine is relatively simple, it likes to have enough light, like to melt the warm and humid environment, which is what we usually call the high temperature, high humidity environment.
Sunny location at home, raising potted crystal jasmine is a good choice, it is best to have more than 6 to 8 hours of direct light every day, if you can raise it outdoors in a full-day environment, it will grow faster.
Some friends raise crystal jasmine leaves grow particularly tender, in fact, due to the lack of light caused, potted maintenance of crystal jasmine, in the summer when the excessive heat, noon or afternoon time can be proper shade, otherwise the leaves are easy to be tanned yellow.
3. Water and fertilize
The new leaves are yellow, which is basically an acid deficiency fertilizer, which can supplement ferrous sulfate
Maintaining potted crystal jasmine in a well-lit environment is basically watering the topsoil in time when it is dry, and do not wait for the soil to dry completely. Because of the abundant light, the water consumption in the soil is relatively fast, and if it is a crystal jasmine planted on the ground, it does not need frequent watering.
Wait until the weather temperature is relatively low, especially if the temperature drops below 15 degrees, it is necessary to gradually reduce watering, and even properly control the water when the temperature is too low. Crystal jasmine is a plant that is more afraid of cold, and the minimum maintenance temperature is best maintained at more than 5 degrees, and it can safely overwinter.
Maintenance potted crystal jasmine want to make it more flowering, it must be thin fertilizer diligent application, can be sprinkled in the spring and autumn in the pot soil once a slow fertilization, which can only ensure the basic fertilizer demand, want to make it blossom brilliantly, but also pay attention to the peak season, especially in the spring, summer and autumn three seasons, the temperature between 18 and 33 degrees, you can add water-soluble fertilizer every other week, you can use the common flower more Than 1 and hua duo no 2 alternate spraying.
If you want to spend more during its flowering period, you can supplement phosphoric acid and potassium hydrogen every other week during the flowering period to ensure better flowering.
4. Environment and potting soil selection
If you want a heat-resistant and sun-resistant ornamental flower that can be raised outdoors, crystal jasmine is also a good choice, the summer temperature is as high as 40 degrees, you can flower normally, if planted, the whole year sun exposure is fine, it is relatively skinny, even with ordinary vegetable garden soil planting can also be said very well.
If you are maintaining crystal jasmine on the indoor balcony, even if it is sufficient, but the ventilation is not good, then you must use some loose and breathable nutrient soil to plant. For example, the common peat soil, coarse coconut bran and perlite, mixed in a 5:3:2 ratio, and then add some slow-release fertilizer appropriately, it can grow very well.
There are basically no pests and diseases in potted crystal jasmine, and during flowering, the flowers have a light fragrance, of course, the fragrance is certainly not as good as gardenia and jasmine.
In the spring and autumn, you can choose some soft wood branches, used for cuttings propagation, each branch is about 12 to 15 cm long, remove the bottom leaves, cut in the loose and drained sandy soil, or directly use coarse sand or perlite cuttings to root.
Keep the environment warm and ventilated during cuttings, have appropriate scattered light (3 to 6 hours), coupled with high humidity, the potting soil is slightly moist, pay attention to regular watering, these crystal jasmine branches with disposable cup cuttings will soon grow new roots, and even sprout flower buds.
5. Insect pest protection
Crystal jasmine flowering, the flowers will occasionally attract thrips, they are active at night, if the flowers are found to be deformed, the petals are rotten, the flowers may be infected with thrips, you can spray imidacloprid in time, pay attention to spray in the evening or night, because the thrips do not come out during the day, the night can easily remove the insect pests.
In the indoor maintenance of crystal jasmine potted plants, if the air is particularly dry, the environment ventilation is not good, there may be breeding red spiders, you can spray water in time to increase the environmental humidity, and enhance the environmental ventilation. In addition, you can spray the common golden branches, pyridoxine or Aika mites, choose two or three of them, spray every three days, basically after 2 to 3 times, you can remove the red spider.