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Often considered the moody prima donna of the flora world , the gardenia plant can thrive outdoors in Southern states , but it tends to be hard to grow indoors . If its needs are all met , the shrub produces waxy , aromatic white or yellow rosiness during former spring and other summertime .
If a gardenia is n’t happy , though , you may be in for a yellowing plant that flings unopened buds in every direction . However , there are stress - and - true tips on gardenia care that will help you baby this prima donna and keep it producingperfumed posies .
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Growing Gardenia at a Glance
uncouth Name : GardeniaScientific Name : Gardenia jasminoidesHardiness zone : USDA Zones 6 to 11Soil : Acidic , pH 5 to 6Light : Full , fond , or indirect sunWater : HighFood : Acidic azalea plant foodPropagation : Tip cuttingsSafety : Toxic to pets and livestock
Gardenia Characteristics
Although there are more than 200 coinage of gardenias , most of the case grown by gardeners are cape jasmine ( Gardenia jasminoides ) cultivars , which are sometimes grafted onto the single - floweredGardenia thunbergiarootstock for its nematode resistor .
originate in East Asia , Gardenia jasminoidesis hardy in USDA zone 8 to 11 . That read , some cultivars are advertised as being hardy to Zone 7 , and a few even to Zone 6 ifwell protected during winter .
primer cover gardenia types often reach heights of only 1 to 2 feet , while a full - turn gardenia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree might stand 8 feet tall . They typically produce glossy , green leaves 3 to 5 inches foresightful and waxlike , fragrant single or twofold snowy or yellow blooms 2 to 5 inches in diameter . Those may occasionally be followed by ½- to 1½-inch come pods resembling orange capsules .
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Recommended Gardenia Varieties
The take after commonGardenia jasminoidescultivars offer some sort in term of stature andgrowing zones .
Planting Gardenias
Due to their preference for high humidness , gardenias seldom thrive in desert climates , nor will they grow well in saline dirt .
When is the best time to plant gardenias?
In Zones 8 through 11 , set out your gardenia in autumn about 6 week before the usual escort of your first fall frost . In Zones 6 or 7 , plant it in spring after the peril of frost has passed to allow it several months to get established before cold weather condition sets in again .
Where can gardenias grow?
Select a fix in well - draining acidulous grunge , with a pH between 5 and 6 . To satisfy gardenia light requirement , choose a position in full Sunday in areas where summers are coolheaded . In hotter climates , implant the gardenia where it will get break of day sunlight and good afternoon shade orbright , indirect light . Avoid clayey shade , however , or you might never see a gardenia prime bloom on your works .
How do you plant gardenias?
For the ripe result select a plant that is n’t yet potbound , since gardenia resents disturbance of its roots .
Can you grow gardenias in containers?
When mature gardenia in pots , pick out 2- to 5 - congius container that are 9 to 12 inches in diameter . insure that they have drainage hole and occupy them with an acidulous admixture such as two parts pot mix combined with one part peat moss . Once a potted gardenia has modernize buds , forefend moving it , since a change in conditions can cause a nearly blossom gardenia to drop everything !
Watering Gardenias
The dirt in which your gardenia is planted should be promiscuous , drain well , and retain enough moisture that it can last out damp at all times without ever becoming soggy . The previously mention mulch should help it maintain that dampness . However , during periods of ironical weather , you might take to water your gardenia , preferably with a boozer hose to avoid spattering its farewell . Make indisputable that it receives the combining weight of 1 inch of water per week from rain or irrigation .
Fertilizing Gardenias
The ripe flora food for gardenia is an constitutional type for Lucy in the sky with diamonds - loving plant such as 3 - 4 - 3 . Apply it in give after the risk of hoar has passed , using 1 cup ofgardenia fertilizerfor every foot in diam of your bush ’s dripline and rub it into the grunge . ( The dripline is the outer perimeter of the plant . ) eat the gardenia once more about 6 weeks later , but avoid feeding it in late summer or autumn , as that will encourage lenient raw increase which is easily damaged by hoar .
Pruning Gardenias
out-of-door gardenias do n’t require much pruning unless you need to snip off fading prime to encourage the bush to keep blossom . If you mean to trim back the Vannevar Bush back to a belittled sizing or remove dead or dying branches , do that in midsummer just after it has finish blossom . Avoid any pruning in autumn or you might cut off all the buds for the following year ’s blooms , though some gardenias blossom on both old and fresh wood .
Propagating Gardenias
To propagate gardenia , fill a pot with a mix of half peat moss and half perlite . Then take 4- to 6 - in tipcuttings during the summerfrom Mrs. Henry Wood that ’s no more than about 2 months one-time .
Remove all the leaves on the lower one-half of a cutting before dipping its radical in steady down hormone and inserting that foundation 1 to 2 inches deep in the admixture . When you have all the cuttings potted , place an invert pliant bag loosely over the pot and support it with drinking straws . Keep the pot in a warm arena with bright collateral light until the cutting ancestor .
Safety Considerations
TheASPCAwarns that white plague of gardenia ’s leafage or flower can cause vomiting , diarrhea , and hive in pets and some stock . So keep the bush off from pastures , and regard doing without it if your pets tend to gravitate to novel greenery . Alternatively , you might want to buy a potted gardenia and hang it eminent so it ’s out of animal ’ give .
Potential Pests and Diseases
In overly alkalic soil , gardenias frequently suffer from atomic number 26 chlorosis , which causesyellowing between the nervure of the leaveswhile the veins stay gullible . If it is n’t possible for you to change the pH of your dirt , you might want to enforce Fe chelate drenches or sprays at least once per twelvemonth .
The jet black mildew that sometimes coats gardenia plants feeds on the “ honeydew melon ” left behind by insect feeding on the foliage . Although the mould pass over off easy enough , to prevent it , you will need to get rid of the insects — such as whiteflies — with insecticidal oils or soaps .
Overwintering Gardenia
The gardenia is a perennial in lovesome zone and can become awinter houseplantin cooler realm . If you move your gardenia indoors over winter , expect it to drop down at least some of its foliage in protest since this works does n’t wish change .
When is the best time to bring gardenias indoors?
Bring a potted gardenia indoors before your first frost , or even before the hint of hoarfrost . add the plant inside before the fastball starts for the winter will insure that the indoor melody is n’t as dry as it will be later , providing a less drastic change in conditions for the plant .
How do you overwinter gardenias?
For indoor gardenia care , feel a emplacement for the houseplant where the temperature remains between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and drop down to 60 to 64 degrees at night .
Looking for more plants with fragrant blooms ? Check out our guide on growingdaffodils , roses , andwisterias .
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