How do I get this to bloom??????

[lewisjk]

This is Trachelospermum asiaticum - Japanese star jasmine. It has been a root-over-rock bonsai for 10 years. It has never bloomed.

It was taken from a ground cover at my farm in Tallahassee. The one that covered my front yard bloomed every spring and the smell was sheer delight!

Does anyone else grow this and have you managed to get it to bloom? I'd love to know how.

[BillsBayou]

Maybe it's too happy to flower. I've known wisteria and bougainvillea bonsai that refused to flower until they were very well established and nearly root-bound.

How vigorous is its growth?

Have you tried fertilizers for blooming plants?

[lewisjk]

Maybe it's too happy to flower.

I'd thought of that, but it is really jammed into that pot, so if suffering is the criterion it uses for blooms I should have met it.

Others have suggested "bloom buster" fertilizers and I'll give them a look.

[plantmanky]

Maybe it's too happy to flower.

I'd thought of that, but it is really jammed into that pot, so if suffering is the criterion it uses for blooms I should have met it.

Others have suggested "bloom buster" fertilizers and I'll give them a look.

Jim,

I've had this little bugger too and it is for sure a bit shy to flower when it's containerized. I'd just feed it 0-10-10 and reduce the total nitrogen to it, that often does the trick. I'd love to find the other star jasmine, T. jasminoidies as it flowers far more freely and smells just as nice, but alas, it's hard to find here on the east coast. Maybe that means a trip to FL.

ta ta,
Randy

[lewisjk]

T. jasminoides probably would have difficulty surviving in KY. I know it does here.

[plantmanky]

T. jasminoides probably would have difficulty surviving in KY. I know it does here.

Jim,

I'm lucky, I have a greenhouse to keep it in if I can get one.

Randy

[pauline]

Try using super phosphate once a month throughout the growing season. It will prepare the plant for flowers the following growing season. Always works for me.
Pauline Zone 4

[lewisjk]

I'll give it a shot. TNX

jim