Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Wrightia Religiosa

"Sui Mee" or Water Jasmine is one of my favorite plants. It is easy to handle, and practically pest free. All it needs are water and sunshine. Feed some fertilizer (any type, as it is not fussy)  if desired to promote faster growth. The dainty, hanging white flowers are  so delicately scented and the plant blooms perpetually.  One should smell the flowers first thing in the morning, and their fragrance awake one's senses. The leaves are ever green. This plant is a favorite for people keen on bonsai.
My mother gave me my first Sui Mee and since then I have propagated many plants from this plant.  I propagate them from cuttings trimmed off the plant. Not easy, but each time I trimmed the plant, I insert the cuttings in a small pot of well drain soil. It takes about 3 weeks to a month before I know if these cuttings will grow. Trimming the plant makes it grow more 'bushy', so it looks healthy with new leaves sprouting out. Just don't trim the buds.



My mother told me to place the Sui Mei plant at the house entrance so that one can smell the flowers. The plant she gave me was dry and looked rather sickly  as it needed re-potting and more watering. The leaves were small and drying out,  the branches brittle.  I  re-potted the plant in a bigger pot and it flourished in the fresh soil. That was almost 3 years ago. Since then I have again re-potted to an even bigger pot and it remains my favorite plant on the porch.