Dear Doctor(s), Do bare with me. I have no green thumb.. but am willing and trying and learning. I received my Jasmine Tree six months ago over the summer. It was a beautiful tree, very full and bushy- with happy leaves. I immediately brought it indoors into my apartment after purchasing it- and have since left it in the same place- close to a window, near a wall and two feet from a wall heater. I watered it regularly- once to twice a week and it seemed to do fine. I live in Montreal, and the winters here are brutal. Over the last month and a half, it began shedding all of its leaves. The leaves fall before they have a chance to brown. Fresh green leaves by the dozens fall at once. Many of the thin green stems that the leaves are on also fall if I touch them. Now it is almost naked- except for a number of green leaves managing to firmly hang on at the top of the tree. I am afraid I may have killed it.. However, two weeks ago- as its leaves were falling- it still managed to bloom for the first time. There were over a hundred and 10 pods of jasmine blooming on an almost naked tree! Today, these flowers have died- but a few new pods continue to erupt for bloom. I am at a loss and thoroughly confused as to how to proceed at this point: I have lost track of how to water it anymore.. tried squirting it with water and showering it with water from above twice/ sometimes three times a week because it felt dry. I tried using one small dose of fertilizer a month ago- to see if that boost would help.. but it seems as though it hasnt changed the rate of falling leaves. Upon closer inspection last month- I also noticed some tiny afid looking things attached under many of the leaves. I gently washed each leaf down individually- which seems to have cured the problem. I know jasmine are sensitive creatures.. who love their sun. Is there anything I can do to revive my tree and provide it with a healthy winter routine? Or is it officially on its way out? Where do I start? Any sound advice about the matter would be thoroughly appreciated PLEASE! Many many thanks. Hajra
I'm assuming it's a Murraya paniculata or 'Orange Jessamine' 'Mock Orange' These are native to Australia and Asia. I dare say the cold has knocked it around. I can't say I have seen them used indoors before but there's a lot of things on this site I've never considered indoor plants because of our climate differences. They are reasonably hardy and you should expect some leaf drop which I guess will be more extreme in your climate. The easiest way to check for signs of life is scratch a tiny bit of the bark away and inspect for fresh healthy material underneath. I'd find the warmest and brightest position you can for it and hold back the watering some while there is little activity. Don't stop all together just less until you see new shoots froming. Give it a good all-round fertiliser in spring (not P sensitive as other Australian natives, High in niotrogen) if it makes it through winter. Here they do drop a little leaf and get get yellowing in the leaf through winter which can be easily corrected with epsom salts.
Wow! Thank you for all this information. I just scratched a bit of the bark and branches and it looks as though it is alive and kicking- green/healthy underneath. I will continue to keep an eye on it- and move it to a sunnier spot.. though the heaters here in winter tend to add an additional dryness to the air. I will water it less for the time being- however, how much water would you suggest it should regularly have in the winter? What should the soil look like before/after a watering? Again, thank you for all this input. Hajra
ps: The flowers bloom in clusters of 4 or 5 and have small white petals. Perhaps this will help in further identifying it.
no useful advice on the matter at hand but 'mock orange \ mockorange' usually refers to Philadelphus species here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock-orange
Thanks again for the link. I forgot about the blessings of Wikipedia.. By the looks of the flowers: My tree seems to be: Jasminum auriculatum. (See photos attached.) These images were taken in Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. I know the climate well. I'm actually from there- and its highly tropical. I will do my best to simulate it here indoors in Montreal's winterwonderland.. Wish me luck! :)
Typical common name issue, I used to cop some seriously weird headscratchers when I worked in nurseries. As for the plant I am not too sure how to handle it, Jasminum are evergren here., ut again hold back watering avoiding keeping it too wet while it is dormant.
Thanks everyone for all your help..and for your renewed hope! I will do as suggested and see how it fairs.
Nah none taken like I said I've had some serious pull out the books try and find something because I've never heard of that and found it to be the most simplest thing thing. Especially when someone moves in from a new area as you would probably know dealing with landscaping.
