The gardenia is an evergreen shrub with dark, glossy leaves. Some species can grow up to six feet in the landscape. It has pale yellow to creamy white blossoms and is famous for its scent.
A native to China and Japan, gardenias are an outdoor plant in zones 8-11. Elsewhere in the country, these plants are grown as container or houseplants.
The Great Outdoors
In the landscape, gardenia plants prefer partial shade. An eastern or afternoon-shaded western spot will make your gardenia happy. Gardenias prefer well-drained, acidic soil. Soil pH should be in the range of 4.5 to 5.5. Soggy roots and dry soil are both harmful to the plant.
Gardenias love humidity, but excessive water on the foliage will cause spotting. When positioning a gardenia, make sure it will not have rainwater dripped onto it by other plants. Before watering, make sure that the top inch of soil is dry, and then soak gardenias well.
Fertilize gardenia plants from April to November. A fertilizer appropriate for azaleas will work well with gardenias. Pruning older growth will promote new growth and flowering. Prune every other year in the summer after blooms have faded.
A Houseplant with Needs
Caring for gardenia plants in the home can be a challenge. The good news is that a gardenia is not shy about telling you when it's unhappy. The bad news is that a gardenia will communicate its unhappiness by dropping its flower buds.
An indoor gardenia needs bright, but not direct, light for at least half of the day.
Gardenias thrive in indoor temperatures (65 to 75 degrees). Avoid placing your gardenia close to ventilation ducts, as the dry air will take moisture from the plant.
Gardenias thrive in high humidity. Placing your gardenia pot on a dish filled with pebbles and water will increase the humidity around the plant.
Feed your indoor gardenia every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer. Every three or four months, replace the regular feeding with an acid based fertilizer.
Pesky Pests
Gardenia plants can be prone to infestation from aphids, mealy bugs and spider mites. Common indoor plant insecticides or pest treatments are effective against these infestations.
Gardenia care isn't easy, but it's not as hard as you think it might be. |
Growing gardenias can be a charming pastime. |
Pruning gardenias is a snap, so grab a pair of pruning shears and get started, with these directions. |
Learning how to propagate gardenias will bring these exotic plants to your own backyard. |
