Gardenia Care
Tips on Gardenia Care
Some people are missing out on what might be the most perfumed plant in their garden or home simply because they don’t have information on gardenia care. While there is some maintenance to keep the gardenia healthy and blooming, it will be well worth a little extra effort when it rewards you richly with its beauty and scent.
The ideal location for growing gardenia plants in an outdoor garden are tropical areas, such as Zones 9 and 10. For others, many varieties of gardenia do very well as houseplants. Understanding the plant and its requirements will help you provide your gardenia care that it needs to result in a happy, healthy plant.
Soil is a vital element to gardenia care. This shrub absolutely requires an acidic soil, and will need to receive regular feedings of an acidifying fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks for it to maintain a healthy status. There are commercial preparations, such as an azalea food, that will provide this adequately. When planting a gardenia, use a well conditioned soil mixed with compost and peat moss for the best results. For gardenias planted outside, mulching around the plant will be beneficial as the shallow root system can dry out quickly. The combination of mulch on the surface and the peat moss around the roots will assist in retaining moisture.
The gardenia enjoys a warm and humid environment. The soil should be continuously moist but not overly wet; an underground drip irrigation system is ideal for gardenia care, keeping the roots moist and the leaves dry. When dry conditions prevail, a daily misting using a bottle mister or a mist setting on a hose sprayer will do well.
The highly scented flowers are the true prize when it comes to gardenias. To promote blooming, temperatures are a key component. If daytime temperatures exceed 70° and nighttime temperatures are higher than 65°, flower buds will simply fail to form. When planting in outside gardens, little can be done to control the temperatures; one can only hope. As a houseplant, however, conditions inside can be manipulated to provide the gardenia care in terms of ideal temperatures. Once blooming, deadheading of spent blossoms will ensure continuous bloom.
Pruning is the last element in gardenia care. Each year, in the early spring, the gardenia bush can be pruned back as much as you would like as long as it is done while the plant is dormant, and some of the leaves are left on the bush to continue providing food.
Gardenia care may mean a little more work than some garden plants, but the reward is so much more valuable. The lovely foliage, the display of bright, white flowers and the sweet fragrance that hovers on the breeze are all ways for the gardenia to say “thank you” for your care.