Cestrum – Night Blooming Jasmine

Fact sheet

from David’s Exotic Plants

Watering

Cestrum should be watered thoroughly but then allowed to dry out almost completely before re-watering.  

Note – they don’t like to be over-watered, and in the rest period (winter) they should only be watered when the soil is almost dust dry.   When growing begins in the Spring they should be given phostrogen feed once a week, to encourage new growth.  

Over-wintering in the UK

Cestrum tend to drop their leaves in the winter months.   Simply ensure the tree has plenty of light, ventilation and food, and do not over-water.

They should be kept in a conservatory or greenhouse but not below 5°C. 

Summer months

To ensure the cestrum flowers throughout the year, ensure the plant is kept compact.  This will help encourage flowers rather than leaves to grow! Ensure the specimen has plenty of sunlight and ventilation. Feed once a week with a phostrogen feed to help encourage flowers.  

Potting

They require loam-based compost with either grit or bark chippings to aid drainage.  The optimum pH is 6.5.  Cestrum should be re-potted once a year if/when the plant becomes pot-bound.