2 More Aromatic Houseplants to Freshen the Air

If your family is like most, you probably frequently use air-freshening aerosols or wall plug-ins to keep things smelling good around the house. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, to have natural ways to freshen the air? Consider using one, or both, of these fragrant plants.

Orange Jessamine                                                                                   The small white flowers of orange jessamine have a fragrance that smells somewhat like orange blossoms. The flowers eventually develop into small red fruits which birds enjoy.                                                                                                 When it comes to upkeep, this plant—which is an ornamental evergreen shrub with shiny green leaves—likes full sun and regular watering, but let it dry out slightly in between watering. To fertilize you should use a balanced blend of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (15-15-15), but when the plant stops growing in the winter discontinue its use.                                                                                 If you want to propagate orange jessamine seed germination is the best method, they don’t perform well with techniques like cutting. Seeds from the fruit should be removed from their seed coat and rinsed before you plant them. They tend to germinate quickly without pretreatment.

Wax Plant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This waxy leaf vine yields dome-like clusters of tiny aromatic star-shaped flowers that have white petals and reddish-pink centers. When it comes to light, the wax plant is somewhat fickle. It likes bright, indirect light—but not harsh afternoon light. Too little light, however, will prevent it from blooming. During the plant’s growing season water it regularly, letting the top 2 inches of soil dry between watering. And don’t prune off the plant’s long shoots because it’s where new leaves and flower bunches form.                                                                         Unlike orange jessamine, you can use stem cuttings to propagate the wax plant. Cut off a few stems and dip them into a rooting hormone. Place the cuttings into well-drained soil, like a potting mix that contains sand and perlite, or vermiculite.