Best Overall
Scotts Miracle-Gro Miracid Plant Food
Best Bang For The Buck
Perfect Plants Gardenia Liquid Fertilizer
Best Acidifier
Jobe’s Organics Soil Acidifier Fertilizer
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Those who live in temperate climate — typically where winter temps do n’t drop below 10 degrees Fahrenheit — may be interested in growing gardenia in theirgarden . These are shrubs bang for their soft , large , typically white blossom that give off a heady fragrance . While the gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides ) is n’t difficult to grow , it has a few soil requirements . In addition to choosing the veracious type of soil for gardenias — well - draining and amended with constituent matter , such as mulch or ironic leaves — the plant stands a better chance of developing healthy roots and producing blooms if it get regular fertilizer feeding .
But do n’t just grab the first package of all - purpose flora food you see off the shelf at the garden centre . It might boost the gardenia bush ’s foliar growth , but it might not boost flower . The best plant food for gardenias should be formulate to allow for the nutrients acid - bang plant life need for optimum results . Our favorite isScotts Miracle - Gro Miracid Plant Foodbecause it dissolves speedily and has add minerals . out front , learn what to expect for when buy at for the best fertilizer for gardenias and find out why the following intersection fit the placard .
Product Comparison
Our Top Picks
To make a spot in this lineup , the come after fertilizers had to stop fixings formulations that offered the vital nutrients that gardenias need for healthy growth and abundant bloom growth . The NPK analytic thinking varies from merchandise to product , and some contain no NPK constituent at all . Still , each is designed to benefit gardenia and other acid - loving works .
From one of the top names in horticulture aids , the best overall pick for feeding gardenias is Scotts Miracle - Gro Miracid Acid - Loving Plant Food . This water - soluble plant food is project to be mixed with water and swarm over foliage or around the al-Qaeda of the plant life . It can also be used in a garden hosepipe dispenser and spray over works on a broad scale . The granule dismiss speedily and provide a quick boost for the plant .
Miracid sport an NPK psychoanalysis of 30 - 10 - 10 , with its nitrogen sourced from ammonium ion and carbamide , both of which help acidify the dirt . Trace minerals are also include , with boron , bull , iron , and zinc labialise out the nutrient quotient . Miracle - Gro recommends feed when the gardenia is first transfer and every 7 to 14 days after that during its growing season .
Get the Scotts Miracle - Gro Miracid onAmazonor atAce Hardware .
Those who need to keep gardenias healthy and glad on a budget should check out Perfect Plants Gardenia Fertilizer , since a single 8 - ounce nursing bottle will last for the intact grow season . Just a teaspoonful of this concentrated liquid mix into a congius of water can course one or more gardenia plant life hebdomadally or every other week .
This fertiliser has an NPK analysis of 9 - 3 - 6 , making it well suited for healthy foliage and abundant bloom on acid - bed gardenias . Other beneficial ingredients include sulfur , magnesium , copper , branding iron , manganese , and molybdenum — all nutrients ideal for gardenia and other superman - loving plants .
Get the Perfect Plants Gardenia Fertilizer onAmazon .
Rather than struggle with overly alkaline soil , deliberate feeding with Jobe ’s Organics Soil Acidifier , which can help create the ideal pH for gardenias to flourish . This granular product contains no nitrogen , phosphorus , or potassium . or else , the formula features 100 per centum sulphur — an fantabulous filth acidifier — sourced from elemental atomic number 16 and gypsum .
For best results , test the soil before apply Jobe ’s acidifier and then watch over the direction for sprinkling the granules around the works base ( how much to use reckon on plant size ) . form the granules into the ground and piss well . Reapply the acidifier two or three time per year to maintain an optimal pH remainder . Tip : This product does not curb other nutrients , so think feeding with other plant food describe in this guide to boost healthy gardenia growing .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Jobe ’s Organics Soil Acidifier onAmazon .
Best With Microbes
Dr. Earth Organic Acid Lovers Fertilizer
Dr. Earth ’s Acid Lovers Organic Fertilizer goes a long direction toward helping maintain the acid soil gardenia choose . It also facilitate amend grime quality by adding probiotic bug : tiny micro-organism that impart organic content and further soil ’s structure . The ingredients in Dr. Earth are 100 per centum natural and designed to encourage abundant bloom .
Among the included microbe are eight strains of ecto and endo mycorrhizae ( mushroom cloud - based part ) that help plant roots hold up the slight drought conditions that can occur if a lacrimation is inadvertently overlook . The granule should be spread around the stem , worked into the top inch or so of soil , and then irrigate thoroughly . For the best resolution , reapply Dr. Earth every 6 weeks .
Get the Dr. Earth ’s Acid Lovers Organic Fertilizer onAmazonor atAce Hardware .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Water-Soluble
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia Plant Food
This water - soluble Miracle - Gro fertilizer dissolve instantly in water to furnish an quick boost of food for gardenias and other acid - loving plants , admit azalea , camellia , andhydrangea . It features an NPK analysis of 30 - 30 - 10 for lush leafage growth , abundant blossom output , and healthy beginning development .
In addition , Miracle - Gro add trace mineral to assist in acidifying the soil for even better ontogeny . The merchandise can be mixed with urine in a lachrymation can and apply to leafage or poured directly around the plant ’s base ; it can be used in a garden hose dispenser for spraying large areas . Recommended app is every 7 to 14 day .
Get the Miracle - Gro Azalea and Camellia Plant Food onAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Spikes
Jobe’s Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Fertilizer
Those looking for a plant food that suit gardenias and other acid - loving shrub but does n’t necessitate frequent feeding may find Jobe ’s Fertilizer Spikes to be just the ticket . This product contains an NPK psychoanalysis of 9 - 8 - 7 aggregate in tightly compressed spikes that resolve bit by bit to furnish a long - term , continuous supply of food .
labor the spikes about an column inch beneath the surface of the territory around the foot of the plant ( the number of spike depends on industrial plant size , so follow package directions ) and piddle thoroughly . Jobe ’s spindle will keep to fertilize gardenia , azaleas , and similar flowering shrubs for 8 weeks .
Get the Jobe ’s Fertilizer Spikes onAmazonorTrue Value .
Photo: amazon.com
Also Consider
Down to Earth All Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer
Down to Earth All Natural Acid Fertilizer is designed to feed Zen - loving plants the nutrients they need while improve soil message in the mental process . The fertiliser has an NPK analysis of 4 - 3 - 6 and also provides trace mineral , calcium , atomic number 12 , and sulfur to aid acidify the soil and advance nutrient consumption in the roots . Down to Earth has also amended its product with leonardite , a natural , mineral - based soil conditioner .
The manufacturer recommend applying these clock time - release granules in early outpouring , again in summer when blooms first appear , and once more in fall to promote root development and increase the works ’s resistivity to winter temperatures .
Get the Down to Earth All Natural Acid Fertilizer onAmazonor atWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
Our Verdict
While any of the fertilizers in this card are beneficial for feeding gardenias , Scotts Miracle - Gro Miracid Plant Foodis an fantabulous choice for helping wield the acidic stain gardenia favour . For a budget - favorable fertilizer that goes a long mode , we likePerfect Plants Gardenia Fertilizer ; it come in a concentrated liquidity that makes up to 48 gallon .
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Fertilizer for Gardenias
The best food for gardenias is well absorbed by the works ’s radical . It encourage both overall plant life increment and blossom yield , and it should boost robust antecedent development . Beneficial products are available in several type and formulations .
Types of Fertilizer
Today’sfertilizerscome in various type , and some are better suited to specific grow status than others .
Soil Acidity and NPK Ratio
realise soil and fertilizer alimentary value facilitate gardeners achieve success . The pH shell measure ground acidulousness , unravel from 0 to 14 , with 7 consider neutral . Numbers below 7 are more and more more acidic , and those higher than 7 are more alkaline . Gardenias develop good in soil with a pH content on the acidulent side , ranging from about 5 to 6.5 on the pH scale .
plant food today are identified by the amount of atomic number 7 ( N ) , phosphorus ( P ) , and potassium ( K ) they turn back by contentedness . For example , a plant food with an NPK depth psychology of 3 - 3 - 3 contain equal measure of each nutrient . These three primary nutrients are designed to boost different role of plant maturation .
plant food made for gardenias may have an NPK analytic thinking that ’s higher in nitrogen , but nourishing level vary from product to product , depending on other ingredient in the mixing . Some of the best fertilizers for gardenias do n’t contain any nitrogen , phosphorus , or potassium at all . Some include components such as sulphur or atomic number 26 sulphate instead , which increases acidity in the dirt and encourage the plant life to suck up nutrients better .
Photo: amazon.com
The NPK proportion does n’t tell the whole storey when it come to feeding gardenias ; the nutrient root plays a function here as well . For example , the atomic number 7 found in plant food can come from dozens of sources , but if it ’s sourced from nitrate ( a salt of nitric acid ) it will be of less benefit to Zen - have intercourse plants than if it ’s source from ammonium ( ammonia combined with a hydrogen ion ) .
Fortunately , you do n’t demand a degree in chemical science to choose the best plant food for gardenia plants . Instead , face for a fertilizer labeled for “ acid - loving plant life ” or an “ acidulous fertilizer , ” which will pitch it toward other superman - loving plants , such as rhododendron , azaleas , or blueberry bush . A plant food phrase for any acid - loving plant will be beneficial for gardenias .
However , gardenia enthusiast should n’t bear Elvis - loving fertilizer alone to correct soil that ’s too alkalic — it simply can not do the legerdemain . alternatively , test filth before planting via an inexpensivepH test kit(available online and from garden heart ) . The tests come with suggestions for correcting pH balance , such as sum break up compost to the soil to increase sourness . When the land is in the right pH range , it ’s time to constitute gardenias .
Photo: amazon.com
Soil Type
land is one matter gardenia are specially picky about . These shaggy-coated plants like moisture , but they do n’t like wet foot , mean their ancestor ca n’t tolerate standing pee . Planting gardenias in a raised flower layer can work drainage problem , but the grime must also be light and resist compaction .
Clay - found soils are loggerheaded and clayey and do not permit gardenia roots to develop freely . stain that are in high spirits in decay constituent matter , such as compost and dry foliage , are lighter in weight , and the decomposed matter also help oneself advance the acidulousness level .
While there is not one specific sound soil brand for gardenia , those looking to grow gardenia in containers should opt for a commercial potting territory contain peat moss , sand , and perlite — ingredients that encourage drainage while retain adequate nutrients and moisture .
Photo: amazon.com
How We Chose the Best Fertilizer for Gardenias
To arrive at this batting order of the good fertilizers for gardenia , we extensively research dozens of popular products . We eliminated any plant food not explicitly design for battery-acid - loving plants . Brand reputation was considered — for example , Miracle - Gro , a nationally experience manufacturer with an splendid reputation for producing top - character gardening mathematical product and financial aid . But inauguration and niche manufacturers were n’t eliminated if their product encounter the qualifications for being suitable for Zen - loving plant . Finally , we depend at the mathematical product ’s racetrack phonograph record as cited by other nurseryman who used it .
FAQs
Just a few overt gardenia blossoms are sufficient for filling the air with a heady aroma , so it ’s no surprisal that gardener and landscape gardener in restrained climates passion grow this bushy industrial plant . Still , gardenias need acidic growing condition , and using the correct fertilizer will help hold that pH balance . Newbies to growing gardenias are probable to have some questions , the most uncouth of which are answered below .
Q. When should I fertilize gardenias?
While manufacturing business recommendations may vary , in general , provender gardenias from March to October but do n’t fertilize during the plant ’s resting time of year from November to February .
Q. How often should I fertilize gardenias?
This count on the type of fertilizer , so follow producer statement . You may need to tip every week or so with liquid plant food or every few month with spike .
Q. How do I fix yellow leaves on my gardenia plant?
Yellow leaves may be a foretoken of poorly draining dirt . Consider better the dirt to increase drainage by sum Baroness Dudevant , peat moss , or perlite .
Q. How often should I put coffee grounds on my gardenia?
LikeEpsom table salt , coffee grounds are acidic and can be used on occasion to affix a good acid - sleep together fertilizer . Do n’t overdrive them , however — once a month is probably fine .
Q. Can I use Miracle Grow on gardenias?
Since so many multitude are conversant with the maker yet err on the name , we maintain the common misspelling in this question so folks can find the answer ! And the answer is : Yes , our Best Overall pick for a gardenia plant food is Miracle - Gro Miracid Acid - Loving Plant Food .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raised bed , or an in - ground patch out back — and select the right works for your soil and area .
Photo: amazon.com
