Peter Krumhardt
Gardenias(Gardenia jasminoides) are knownand grownfor their creamy white blooms and intoxicating fragrance.
Where to Plant Gardenia
The quality of your soil is key to success when growing gardenias.
To thrive, gardenias need well-drained, rich, acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5.
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Gardenias also prefer full sun but benefit from having a respite in the afternoon shadeespecially in very hot climates.
Plant them near patios or in east-facing garden spots where they will avoid getting scorched.
To draw in nighttime pollinators, gardenias are known to expend even more fragrance when the sun goes down.
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This may be overbearing for those sensitive to smells if your gardenias are planted near screened windows.
In cooler climates, it may be best to wait for spring to avoid frost damage.
In the hottest zones, its best to find a planting spot with ample morning sun and afternoon shade.
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If you are planning to grow gardenias indoors, they need as much sunlight as possible.
This encourages a good bloom set as well as deep green foliage.
Soil and Water
Gardenias require humus-rich, acidic, well-draining soil.
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If your soil leans more alkaline, you will need to amend the soil or consider a different location.
Despite their fussiness over well-draining soil, gardenias are not drought tolerant.
So, it is important to keep the soil around your gardenia consistently moist (but not wet).
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Gardenias also prefer their ambient humidity levels consistently above 60%.
This makes growing gardenias as a houseplant challenging.
It’s best to use acidic-based fertilizers and also keep in mind that water affects the soil’s acidity.
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you might cut the plant back by as much as two-thirds.
Overly compacted soil may limit drainage and lead to root rot.
Once it is planted, water your gardenia thoroughly.
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Keep the soil consistently moist but be mindful of overwatering.
While it is inside, keep the soil moist, but not wet.
To repot, grasp the base of the plant and remove it from its container.
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Water your newly transported gardenia well and return it to its sunny location.
Pests and Problems
Gardenias can be susceptible to a wide variety of pests and diseases.
Whiteflies, which have small green bodies with white wings, are also found on the undersides of leaves.
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To manage these common pests, use a systemic insecticide.
Gardenias can also be plagued by powdery mildew, anthracnose, leaf spot, and dieback.
Bud drop is another common problem for gardenias.
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This is usually triggered by issues with humidity, overwatering, or insufficient light.
How to Propagate Gardenia
The easiest way to propagate gardenias yourself is via softwood cuttings.
Remove all but the topmost leaves.
To do so, collect gardenia seeds from spent seed pods and allow them to dry for several weeks.
Keep the soil moist until you see sprouts develop.
This will likely take about 4 to 6 weeks.
It is hardy in zones 8-10.
In the spring and summer, it bears richly fragrant white blooms with bright yellow stamens atop emerald-green foliage.
It is considered a true miniature gardenia with blooms measuring approximately 1 to 2 inches wide.
Like gardenias, signet marigolds enjoy lots of sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Like gardenias, perennial salvias prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
This makes them a great plant to place in areas with less protection from the high afternoon sun.
It is normal for gardenia leaves to turn yellow as they age.
If this is the cause, theres no need to worry.
The old leaves will likely drop off to make way for new leaves.
Gardenia blooms naturally turn brown as they age, but overexposure to the sun can speed the process.
Water your plants regularly to prevent the blooms from turning.
Pests, like aphids and mites, can also cause gardenia blooms and buds to wither and darken.
While they may look similar to the untrained eye, gardenias and jasmines are actually quite different.
For one, gardenias grow as shrubs or trees while jasmines tend to grow as vines.
Jasmines belong to the genusOleaceae, which includes olives and lilacs.
Gardenias are named for naturalist Dr. Alexander Garden.
