Jasmine Plant Not Growing

Water

• Plants use water for many life processes, including photosynthesis, the metabolic process during which plants use sunlight to create the energy required to power growth. While Confederate jasmine can withstand droughts, true jasmines require moderate amounts of moisture in order to grow and thrive. Water jasmine frequently after planting, especially if you plant during the summer. During weeks without rainfall during the summer, provide your jasmine with water to keep it growing.

Soil Fertility

• Jasmine requires moderate levels of soil fertility so that it can access the nutrients needed for various biochemical processes. Poor plant growth may indicate a deficiency in one or more essential nutrients that plants need to grow. Contact your local extension office for information on how to submit a soil sample for testing. Your soil test results will also include a fertilizer recommendation. When Confederate jasmine needs fertilizer, its leaves also turn yellow.

Light

• In order to produce the energy needed to grow, plants must have access to light. While Confederate jasmine grows best in partial sun to shade, true jasmines need more abundant light. You should choose a sunny to partially shady site for your jasmines in order to ensure healthy growth.

  Light especially becomes an issue when growing jasmine indoors as a houseplant. Confederate jasmines require indirect sunlight when grown indoors. In the winter, they need at least four hours of direct sunlight per day. True jasmines require four hours of sunlight per day year-round when grown indoors. If you don't have a sunny window in which to place your jasmine plant, 14 to 16 hours of artificial light per day will meet their needs. (See References 1)

Pests

• Spider mites can infest winter jasmine (J. nudiflorum). These almost microscopic pests drain sap from the leaves, which can stunt the plant's growth and cause a loss of vigor. You may notice tiny yellow dots on the foliage of your jasmine. These dots are caused by mite feeding activity and eventually spread, causing leaves to turn yellow and drop from the plant. After the infested jasmine finishes blooming, cut it back to ground level and provide a dose of fertilizer to encourage new growth.