Cestrum nocturnum Plant: Care & Growing Guide

This plant is sometimes called the “night-blooming jasmine.” It has large white flowers that bloom at night. Its leaves look like tiny stars. There is also a small cactus called Cestrum nocturnum. Nicknamed the ‘lady of the night‘ for its heady fragrance, a single potted Cestrum can fill an apartment with its sweet scent.

The Cestrum nocturnum is a type of plant found only at night. It has large leaves which look like stars. There are two types of Cestrum nocturnal plants. One is the cestrum nocturalis, and the other is the Cestrum diurna. Both kinds of Cestrum noctoralis have white flowers. The Cestrum noctorialis has its flower buds open during the day, but the Cestrum diurnal does not.

Cestrum nocturnum is a plant from South America. The flower looks like an old-fashioned lantern. This plant can be found growing along roadsides, vacant lots, and in gardens. It grows best in full sun to part shade. It does well in average soil but needs good drainage. It will tolerate some drought conditions. It prefers moist soils. It can get too much water during hot weather. If it gets too dry the plant wilts.

Common Name– Lady of the night, Night-blooming jasmine
Botanical Name– Cestrum nocturnum
Family– Solanaceae
Light– Bright indirect
Soil– Garden soil
Water– Soil moist but not wet
Fertilizer– Balanced fertilizer
Problem– Rare
Propagation– Stem cutting
Native Area– South America

Grow Cestrum nocturnum

Cestrum nocturnum grows best at night. This is because it needs light to make its flowers bloom. It also needs darkness to produce seeds. If you want to grow jasmine plants indoors, keep the lights off during the day so the plant can sleep. You will need a lot of space if you want to grow your own jasmine plants.

Night-blooming Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is an easy-to-grow plant, and it blooms at night. It can be grown indoors or outdoors. This plant has long, slender leaves and fragrant flowers.

Care Night-blooming Jasmine

Night-blooming Jasmines are very easy to care for. If you take good care of your plant it will live up to 10 years. It needs only water once every two weeks. If you do not water it regularly, the leaves will turn brown and die. You can also fertilize your plants by adding some composted manure or fish emulsion to the soil. When you put out new plants, make sure to keep them away from other growing things. This will prevent disease problems.

  • Cestrum nocturnum is Latin for “night flower.” It refers to a plant species which blooms at night. It has small white flowers which glow brightly in the moonlight.
  • Organically rich soil, Cestrum nocturnum does well indoors. In a bright, warm, and humid environment. If you live in an arid environment, place them on pebble trays and group them with other plants. They are easy-going plants that add a splash of color to any space.

Pruning Cestrum nocturnum

Pruning is an important part of gardening. It helps plants to get stronger and healthier. Sometimes pruning can help plants look better too.

A common garden plant that needs pruning is Cestrum nocturnum (Night-blooming Cereus). This plant blooms at night. If you cut off its leaves it will stop flowering. You may want to keep your night bloomers healthy by cutting back their growth periodically.

Potting and Repotting

Its flowers bloom during the evening hours. This plant will need repotting every few years. You can use any potting soil mix you want. We recommend using an all-purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10. If your plant has had problems with pests or disease, it might be beneficial to treat it before repotting.

Propagating Night-Blooming Jasmine

This is an easy way to propagate Night-Blooming Jasmine plants from cuttings. You can start any variety of jasmine at any time of year. A good place to plant your cuttings is near a window where you can get plenty of light during the day.

Cuttings should be placed about 1/2 inch deep in moist soil. Keep the soil damp but not wet. When the cuttings begin to sprout roots, transplant them into larger pots filled with potting soil. Water well. After several weeks the new plants will bloom. Propagate by dividing each stem just below a leaf node. Take care not to injure the leaves.

Pests and Diseases

These durable, deer-resistant plants don’t deal with too many problems. Aphids and also caterpillars, nevertheless, can often attack.3 You can sometimes blow up these critters off with a stream of water, as well as insecticidal soaps or neem oil can likewise regulate aphids.

Caterpillars are best picked off your plants by hand, yet some varieties can become stunning cross-pollinating butterflies, so you could not intend to free them from your yard.

FAQ

How much light do jasmine plants need?

Cestrum nocturnum is Latin for “night flower.” It refers to a plant species which blooms at night. It has small white flowers which glow brightly in the moonlight.

How do you take care of the Cestrum nocturnum at night?

It can be easily grown from seed. This plant produces small white flowers at night. The seeds mature after about two months. You can keep them in your garden all year long. If you want to make sure that you get good fruit next summer, you should remove any blossoms that form before they open.

That way you will avoid getting pollen on the fruits. Make sure that you water the plants well during dry periods. After the blooming period is over, you can cut back the stems so that new growth does not occur.

Why does jasmine only smell at night?

Jasmine has no smell during the day because it is growing underground. At night its leaves come above ground to get sunlight. This brings out all their fragrance.