GELSOMINO DEL MADAGASCAR STEPHANOTISS

Jasmine Stephanotis comes from Madagascar, it is a evergreen climbing strong and vigorous from thick stems and from fragrant white flowers. The dark green leaves are thick and shiny with an elongated shape and in spring it blooms in many clusters of white star-shaped flowers.

Choose for him a shady but bright place, protected from the wind perhaps close to a wall or a wall, on the balcony or terrace it will be fine.

They are often grown in pots also as houseplants thanks to their compact and climbing structure they take the shape you give them.

It is important that during flowering do not take temperature changes otherwise it could lose all its buds. They can withstand even low temperatures as long as they do not drop below 5 ° C. If you grow it indoors you can place it next to one window facing west or south, making sure you put up a tent

CARE

Use for her a rich and slightly acidic soil, to which pieces of bark and sand will be added. The right drainage to avoid root rot.

From March to October water regularly waiting for the earth to dry slightly, during the winter it requires very little water. Avoid using saucers to avoid stagnation that would make him suffer.

Fertilize twice a week with liquid fertilizer with a high percentage of potassium.

The plant enters the phase of vegetative rest from November to February.

This Jasmine blooms on the branches of the previous year. Prune slightly after flowering to keep the shrub compact. If you want to keep it very compact, prune all branches every year after flowering.

It is possible to rejuvenate the shrub every 5 years, by cutting 2/3 of the shrub. Repeat the operation in the following years. Without pruning, this shrub will reach up to 2.5m in height.

CURIOSITY'

the name Stephanotis derives from the union of two Greek terms: stephanos, crown and otos, ear. The meaning comes from the fact that it came used as a crown by indigenous peoples.