Jasmine is a creeping vine renowned for its scented flowers. They’re best in the evening, making jasmine the perfect plant for balcony hangout spaces. Of course, their thick foliage is great for privacy, too.
With the right care, jasmine will reward you for decades. Use the following guide to get started growing jasmine on your balcony.
Jasmine Requirements
Jasmine varieties thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-10 depending on the environment and cultivar. Those in colder regions will need winter protection, such as a pot liner. However, jasmine is generally a hardy plant.
There’s no real limit to how much jasmine can spread. You could expect upwards of 30ft. of growth in a decade, and that’s not even including density. But it could also work as a compact hedge depending on how you prune it.
You can get summer or winter flowering jasmines, which can range from white and yellow to pink and red. All smell amazing, though, so have fun picking out the best variety for your needs.
Important Things to Know
Sunlight: Full to indirect sun in a sheltered spot
Grow in pots: Yes – large as possible
Grow indoors: Yes, but don’t expect the same results
Soil type: Well-draining
When to plant: Winter or spring
Growing Jasmine
To grow jasmine on your balcony, you’ll need:
- 20” pot with good drainage
- A trellis (or use your balcony railing)
- All-purpose potting soil
- Trowel
- Watering can
Method
- Add a few inches of soil to your new pot.
- Remove the jasmine from its nursery pot, being careful to not damage the roots.
- Place the plant in its new pot and fill with soil, pressing down slightly.
- Position the trellis where you want to grow the plant and put the pot in front.
- After a few days, water well.
Maintenance and Care
During the first year of growth, it helps to pinch off new trailing stems. Remove the top half-inch but leave the rest alone. It helps the roots establish and results in a thicker, fuller plant.
After that, prune once flowering ends. Of course, this depends on which variety you have, but do it as soon as possible. It gives the vines chance to produce next year’s buds. You only need to take off dead or diseased stems.
You can prune more vigorously if you’re training it into a certain shape. Once the jasmine is established (after the first 2 years), you can prune back very hard to change the plant’s shape.
Feed weekly with a potash fertilizer in the summer, and water at least once a week. Tie trailing stems with twine to encourage growth in certain directions.
Final Thoughts on Jasmine
The best thing about jasmine is its flowers, so make sure you plant it somewhere you can enjoy the scent. Jasmine grows quite quick, making it a great choice for balcony privacy. Whatever your reason for picking jasmine, there’s plenty to appreciate about it.