How To Care For Pikake Plant

Pikake is the Hawaiian name given to a certain tropical flower. It's also called Jasminum sambac, Grand Duke Of Tuscany and Moss Rose Jasmine. The plant grows well in sun or shade, boasting gorgeous white large blooms that resemble cauliflowers in appearance. Pikake is often used as a flavoring in perfumes and jasmine tea. It can be kept as a houseplant or planted outdoors. The plant has long, rigid canes with deep green-colored ruffled leaves. It tends to be slow-growing and compact, and the flowers are solitary. Care for pikake plant to keep it healthy.

Step 1

Trim pikake regularly with pruning shears to keep it bushy in shape. Ignoring it may create a leggy or stringy appearance.

Step 2

Do most pruning in the winter, which is the dormant season. Pruning again while the plant flowers will increase the number of blooms. Trim off 4 to 6 inches of new growth, making clean cuts. Flowers will grow at the ends of those stems in about a month.

Step 3

Keep pikake in a spot that gets at least six hours of sun daily. Make sure the humidity levels are kept steady. The pikake may suffer if the air consistently fluctuates between dry and humid.

Step 4

Seek warmth for the pikake plant. If exposed to chill, pikake will lose its flower bud.

Step 5

Apply a liquid fertilizer to the soil in late summer and January. Use a fertilizer with an even amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, such as 16-16-16 or 8-8-8 fertilizer. The potassium and nitrogen will feed the roots and promote growth. Too much phosphorus, however, can turn the leaves yellow.