The gardenia is a familiar plant to many people because of its beautiful white flowers and wonderful scent. It has been enjoyed for centuries in cultures around the world, due primarily to these qualities that make it such an unforgettable smell!
The blooming gardenia is a plant that can be found in both greenhouses and conservatories. They’re relatively easy to grow, but even just one month with this hanging from your house will make it worth adding them as an addition!
Planted in appropriate climates, gardenias can grow and flower within two to three years of planting. If you want your plantings to be more established before blooming (for example if they are being grown from seeds), expect them wait up between five-ten years!
Gardenia Care
Gardenias are the perfect houseplant to brighten up any room in your home. Gardenia plants only grow outside of USDA zones 8-11, but if you live somewhere with warmer temperatures or plan on bringing it inside during spring and summertime there shouldn’t be an issue!
Gardenias are beautiful, fragrant flowers that can be grown in your garden. They prefer rich soil with lots of organic material added to it and also light or medium shade depending on when you want them bloomed at their most colorful stage!
Soil of gardenias should be regularly covered with a thick layer of mulch for best results. Gardenia flowers don’t care much about cultivating and this will help keep weeds at bay!
Your well-tended gardenia will be compact with deep green leaves, and it’ll bloom in early spring to summer depending on the location. It’s essential that you keep an eye out for when nighttime temperatures are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. And daytime temperatures should be between 75 – 82 Fahrenheit.
Growing gardenias indoors is a great way to get fresh flowers all year round. They need an area that will stay around 55 degrees Fahrenheit with 70% humidity, so you’ll want your home’s temperature in this range for them!
Light Requirements
Indoors, gardenia flowers should be bright light but avoid direct sunlight. Outdoors they prefer part shade location with cool to cold temperatures and lots of water!
Soil
Acid loving plants, like gardenias prefer soil with a slightly lower pH. So how do you keep up? The best way is by testing your potting mix for acidity and adding any needed amendments to make ideal for your gardenias!
A teaspoon of agricultural sulfur mixed into the planting hole may also help reduce acidic levels in soils.
Water
The best way to keep your plant from suffering in the winter is by watering it less. In order for soil moisture levels not drop too much, use a method that will prevent wet leaves such as drip irrigation, so you can slowly release water over time instead of all at once!
Temperature and Humidity
Gardenias require temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid cold drafts if the temperature drops lower than this, and they prefer a high humidity level over 60%.
In climates with cool and dry winter air, you’ll need an indoor humidifier so their colors don’t fade away and you keep them healthy.
Fertilizer
For garden plants in warm regions, feed mid-March using an acid fertilizer. Then again late June to ensure the best growth!
For container plants, give your plants the best care and nutrients with an acidifying fertilizer. This will ensure that they have strong colors year-round!
Gardenia Varieties
- Gardenia jasminoides ‘Aimee’ is a large-growing shrub (up to 6 feet) with huge 4″ – 5″ white flowers.
- Jasminoides ‘Fortuniana’ is a large shrub known for its beauty and free-blooming habits, releasing 4-inch blooms from mid spring all the way until midsummer!
- Jasminoides ‘Buttons’ is a dwarf variety, growing 24 to 30 inches tall with 2-inch flowers and they have little purple button shaped petals which give them an exotic look.
- Jasminoides ‘Crown Jewel’ is a dwarf variety that grows to 3 feet tall with 3-inch flowers. It has been found hardy as far north as zone 6, making it perfect for those living in colder climates.
Pruning
Prune the branches of gardenias after they stop blooming, making sure to remove any straggly growth and spent flowers.
Potting and Repotting Gardenia
Gardenias are an exotic flower, but they can easily be grown in your own home. The best way to do this is by planting them in pots with good-quality peat based potting mix and repotting every other spring or when needed!
Propagating Gardenia
Gardenias are best propagated by rooting stem cuttings in early spring. Take a 3- to 4-inch cutting of the plant’s stem, making it just below a leaf node and dip with rooting hormone before planting into potting mix mixed with perlite. Keep your container moist until you see new roots sprouting, then transfer into a 3 inch pot to continue growing.
Gardenias are one of the few plants that can be propagated by seed. The process takes two to three years but produces beautiful flowers in return, so it’s worth the effort! Seeds collected from dried pods should firstly be cleaned and then dried out for 3-4 weeks before they’re ready for planting.
Planting your seeds is easy. Just make sure they’re in a mixture of 1 part perlite and 9 parts peat moss, barely covering them with about 1/8 inch worth of potting mix—and watch out for the light! Keep it moist but avoid direct sunlight until sprouts appear (about four to six weeks).
When the seedlings are several inches tall, transplant them into pots filled with peat-based potting soil and continue growing in a bright indoor location.
Common Pests/Diseases
Gardenias are very popular plants because they thrive in cool, maritime climates. The most common problems for gardenia gardens come from insects like scale or aphids which will ruin your buds if left unchecked.
These pesky bugs love to feast on your plants, but you can prevent them by using various horticultural oils and soaps.
Gardenias are vulnerable to a variety of fungal diseases that can be treated with fungicides. In many instances, affected plants will need to be removed and destroyed in order for them not spread any further damage or take up residence again on another plant’s leafy branches!