The scientific name of Mogra is Jasminum sambac; it belongs to family Oleaceae. Although native to India, it is commonly known as Arabian Jasmine. It is the double flowering types that are known as Motiya or Mogra in India.
Mogra plant is dwarf growing shrub with almost stalk less leaves and wavy margins. The plant can be grown as a short climber too. The heavy scented white flowers are borne in clusters of 3 to 12 and may be single, semi-double or perfectly double. The plant flowers mainly in the summer and rainy seasons, but several other flushes during other parts of the year are quite common.
How to Plant Mogra?
Mogra is propagated by stem cuttings of almost mature wood of old plant. The cuttings are raised in nursery beds and planted in pots after one year. The plant can also be propagated by layering, commonly ground layering.. Plants can easily be grown by root division at the time of re-potting. Seeds are rarely used for propagation.
Once planted Mogra plant will remain in the field for 10 to 15 years. This makes it obligatory to plough the land deeply and prepare it thoroughly by ploughing and harrowing. On the ground, Mogra is planted 75 cm apart in rows spaced 1 m apart.
Best Time To Plant Mogra:
The best time for propagation by either method is the rainy season. The best time for planting in most parts of India is a monsoon.
What is Ideal Soil For Mogra flower?
Mogra plant requires well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Two parts of loam soil and one part well-decomposed cow manure makes an ideal potting mixture.
How Much Sun Does Mogra Need?
The plant requires full sunlight for best blooming. Mogra plant can also thrive very well in partial shade, which makes it a perfect plant for windowsill gardening.
How Much Water Does This Plant Need?
Moderate Watering is good for Mogra plant. It is essential in the flowering season. Mogra cannot withstand water logging and plants will be killed in the waterlogged soil in no time. Watering is stopped during November to enable the plants to rest.
Caring Tips Of Mogra Flower Plant:
Defoliation: Once the watering is stopped, the plants shed the leaves. If it does not happen, all the leaves on the plant should be removed by hand.
Pruning: Defoliation is followed by a light pruning of stems. Branches are pruned one-third of their length.
Manuring: Plenty of well-rotted farmyard manure is added to the potting soil after pruning a plant, along with NPK fertilizers.
Resumption of watering: After application of manures, irrigation should commence slowly, and the frequency of watering is increased after the appearance of flower buds.
Flowering phases of Mogra:
In blooming season of summer and monsoon, the Mogra flowers come in phases. Each phase of flowering lasts for around seven days during which the blossoms appear profusely. There is about a month between one bloom and the commencement of the next. With the close of each flowering phase, watering is wholly stopped for days together till the appearance of fresh flowering buds.
Pests and diseases in Mogra plant:
Mogra is very hardy plant and does not catch any major diseases. Sometimes in very hot and dry climates, the disease caused by Curvularia results in loss of foliage.
Harvesting Mogra flowers:
The plant begins to flower second year onwards after planting. The flowers are harvested in bud stage either in the evening or early in the morning by handpicking.
Flower buds are used for garland making, adorning hair, worshipping, decoration, and extraction of perfume.
