Sacred Jasmine (?) Cuttings

I trimmed what I think is sacred jasmine (bought at Wal Mart I believe- it was a gift and I saw some plants that looked similar when I went to Wal Mart) and put the parts I cut off in water. I did this about a month ago, and they haven't rooted yet. I was wondering if I am doing something incorrectly. They still look healthy and strong- just no roots. Thanks in advance!

I am not sure what a sacred Jasmine is, but I do alot of jasmine propagation and I have never tried putting it in water to start. I was told to always start them in soil with some root gel or whatever you use if not jell, powder, etc. Can you give us a picture of this plant so maybe I can be more specific? Good luck.

It's a common name for Jasminum sambac, hope that helps!

Jasmine Sambac has many different types but I have always started my Sambac in a good medium with a root gel or root tone or whatever you use. I start them in 3 inch pots and make sure they have lots of water and light. I will look up "sacred" sambac and see if there is anything different about it. Jasmine Sambac " Maid of Orleans" is my favorite to propagate. It will grow in a few weeks in soil. I must have 35 or more of them growing now. My stock plant is about 5 ft. tall and gives me lovely cuttings. I even use cutting from my young one year old stock when I trim them and it grows. I will look that up for you and see what I can find.

Thanks for the replies! I have heard a lot about rooting with gels and such, but I don't have any. Can I just pick some up at WalMart or do I have to go to a specialty store?

Hi Redhead:
The sacred Jasmine as known to you is known to me as Jasmine sambac "Belle of India". It is listed here in Dave's Plant list but is a bit hard to find. I did happen to find it and it also has other names. Belle is a cultivar of Sambac. Now that we know what we are talking about, and believe me I do not know half what I wish I did about these wonderful plants, I would certainly think you could get the "gel" or root tone at Walmart. I got some online but then you end up paying the shipping, etc. There are some plant places that carry it, Ace Hardware and farm stores have it. I have no idea what you have up there but I am sure you can get it someplace and it is not expensive. It lasts forever too. Let me know if I can be of any help if you get some. If you do not, give it a try without it, just get good starter soil and put them in it. Take your cuttings and remove all but a few leaves, plant them, keep them watered and warm and watch the fun. Good Luck JB

Thanks a bunch! I will look it up in WalMart next time I am there. :)

You are welcome and please keep me posted.

I root my jasmine sambac in water all the time. You have to be patient with their rooting in water as they could take up to a month to root. Just cut them and stick them in water and sit it by a filtered light area. Forget about it and check back in a month - you'll have roots.

If you're still having problem, just send me a couple of cuttings and I'll root them for you. Of course, you'll have to give me a cutting too. ^_^

edited to say - oops, I didn't see that you were out of the country, guess you can't send me a cutting....

This message was edited Oct 2, 2008 9:08 AM

Hi LiliMerci, that is so interesting. I have never tried to start them in water because I have such good luck in soil. Which one of the Jasmine Sambac do you have cuttings that you start in water? I would like to try it.

I do not know the cultivar name of mine. It was passed around in my family. I'm not even going to try to identify it.

It does root well in soil too, but sometime I cut them back in the fall and I usually root those in the water.

LiliMerci - Hopefully one of these days I will have roots then :) They have been sitting in water for awhile now. Thanks for the input! I could always TRY to send you a cutting. I have had pretty good luck sending seeds in plain letter envelopes across the border, and it doesn't even take that long for them to arrive so I might be able to minimize packing to keep it alive.

OK. Send 2 or 3 and I'll root them for you. If it doesn't work, I'll root you one of mine and send it to you. My address is in the exchange.

Also, have you tried the florist styrefoam? I've heard this is a good way to root a cutting. I've never tried but many people root rose cuttings this way.

I haven't tried the florist Styrofoam. I have heard that it is a good way to root. I will see what mine do in the next couple of weeks or so and let you know if they aren't rooting and I can send you some. :)

I have never heard of the florist styrofoam way of starting. How do you do it? Thanks Elaine

I can't seem to find the thread, but you cut a small piece of florist styrofoam and stick your rooting stem in it and put it in a tray with water, let it soak up the water and then pour water out of the tray. If I find the posting, I will post the link.

THanks. I may try that and see if it will work for me.

I haven't got around to picking up foam or anything, but I think I see roots starting to form! :)

yeah! See, they take a long time and you just have to be patient. I usually just stick them in water and forget about them.

Hopefully now that the roots have started, they will develop quickly :D I think my main plant has spidermites :'(

I have not had spider mites but mealy bug is driving me crazy. It does not get on the real Jasmine, but I brought them in on the Night Blooming Jasmine babies I eventually threw them away along with several flats of houseplants like wondering jew because I could not get them under control. As of now, I am finally seeing a decrease in breakouts. It has been unbelievable. There seems to be no end to them. The pots the flowers I threw out were in I disenfected because they were even under the rims of the Night Blooming Jasmine Pots. I had them outside all summer and they were doing so well until Fall and then it happened. I even destroyed the stock plant because it was infested to the point where I just gave up. I had that planted outside. How do you all control mealy bug? It seems to just pick out certain species.

If you keep an eye out and catch them early, you can take a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol and wipe them off. Once they're really bad that doesn't work as well, but if you keep an eye out for them then you can usually catch it when there are just a few.

I have never used Qtips but I do use Alcohol wipes, they are great and easier for me. I keep them in the greenhouse. I also use Neem Oil and mix it and spray it. I just do not have time to hand wipe every plant in the greenhouse. I find Neem Oil ( a safe organic mix) does a good job and if you catch them early, like you said, it controls them in a few weeks.
I noticed when mixing it the other day, it is also good for spider mites, whitefly and thrip. You mix it with water and dishwasher detergent. It actually smothers the eggs too because it is an oil. I pay about $14.00 for 8 Oz but it lasts forever. You may want to try it.
Have a nice day...it is rainy, cold and very windy here with snow expected in the higher elevations (maybe) Oh gosh, I hate cold wet weather.

Ewww..snow...I want to move to Mexico for the winter! I'm just glad it has been a long fall this year.

I was on the brugmansia thread and lots of people are using Orchid Moss for rooting cuttings and germinating seeds. I bought some yesterday and trying them out. I will let you know if it works, may be you can try that with jasmine cuttings.

Orchid Moss, wow , that is interesting. I will be anxious to see now that works.

Interesting. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.