Gardenias love a well-drained, humus-rich, acidic soil in a sunny or partly shaded position. Although gardenias can tolerate dry conditions, you should be watering them weekly, and even more in extreme heat. Just be careful not to overwater them as this can cause other problems.
Gardenias use a lot of nutrients to produce so many glorious blossoms. Feed your shrubs by applying an acidic, slow-release fertilizer such as an azalea or camellia fertilizer. For the organic gardener, blood meal, fish emulsion or bone meal work well.
Feeding and mulching Gardenias are fed during the growing season from spring to autumn with a complete fertiliser such as Seasol plus Nutrients Roses & Flowers. Water it in well after application. Plants also benefit from liquid feed such as PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Roses & Flowers during the growing season.
Make sure your Gardenia soil is moist and well-drained. Gardenias need at least 1 inch of rain (or equivalent watering) each week. Keep the soil consistently damp but not soggy. Don't let the soil dry out and don't over-water your Gardenias or the flower buds will not open and may even drop off.
Gardenias usually perform best in full sun but may appreciate shade during the hottest part of the day in the warmest parts of their hardiness range. They seem to grow best in humid areas and don't tolerate drought or arid conditions well.
Outside, gardenia is best grown in a pot so it can be moved under cover in winter to protect from frosts or winds. In areas with favourable conditions year-round, plant gardenia in a raised bed or in the ground.
Yellowing of many older leaves is often a sign of insufficient nitrogen or magnesium. Young gardenia leaves turning yellow is likely from low iron. All can be fixed by giving your gardenia a dose of an acidic nitrogen fertilizer containing micronutrients.
Are Coffee Grounds Good for Gardenias? Don't worry about adding more coffee grounds to your gardenia soil; these flowers absolutely love coffee. In addition to being an excellent source of nitrogen, the acid in coffee lowers the pH of the surrounding soil, stimulating the roots of acid-loving plants such as gardenias.
Gardenias grow very well in containers or pots and can add beauty and fragrance to a patio, front porch or terrace. These evergreen fragrant plants are easy to grow outdoors in containers. They are easy to care for and only require occasional pruning to keep their shape and size.
If leaves yellow into the warmer months, it's likely to be a lack of iron and/or magnesium. Magnesium deficiency first affects old leaves. Sprinkle a teaspoon of Epsom salts around the plant and water in. Iron deficiency first affects new leaves.
It affects a range of plants including gardenias, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, roses and citrus. The solution is to get some Epsom salts. Take half a litre of water, and put in half a teaspoon of Epsom salts, then shake and stir. Either water it on plants or you can foliar spray it.
Because gardenias need all three essential macro-nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and also a good dose of micro-nutrients such as iron and manganese, you should feed them with an organic fertiliser such as Dynamic Lifter. Do this every two to three months from spring through to autumn.
Gardenias love a well-drained, humus-rich, acidic soil in a sunny or partly shaded position. Although gardenias can tolerate dry conditions, you should be watering them weekly, and even more in extreme heat. Just be careful not to overwater them as this can cause other problems.
Osmocote is one of the most popular and well-respected fertilizer brands and when it comes to gardenia fertilizers you can't go wrong with this plant food. What you'll love about this product is that it is easy for beginner gardenia gardeners. All you need to do is apply it once every 6 months.
Though vinegar can be fatal to many common plants, others, like rhododendrons, hydrangeas and gardenias, thrive on acidity which makes a bit of vinegar the best pick-me-up. Combine one cup of plain white vinegar with a gallon of water and use the next time you water these plants to see some amazing results.
Fertilize gardenias lightly in the spring once frost has passed with a well-balanced, extended-release, acid-forming, azalea fertilizer. Fertilize the shrubs again 6 weeks later to encourage extra flowers or faster growth of young shrubs. By well-balanced, this means to look for nutrients in the ratio of 2-1-1.
Gardenias are known to be a bit of a challenge for gardeners. Frankly, the plant is picky and often needs more attention than other flowering shrubs. It prefers fairly acidic soil (a pH of 5.0 to 6.0), likes a tropical climate (but suffers in too much direct sun), and doesn't transplant well.
Add 2 cups of coffee grounds to a 5-gallon bucket of water and allow it to steep overnight. Mixing these two ingredients is one of the simplest ways to make your own homemade fertilizer.
Gardenias perform best when they receive intense morning light and shade from the hot afternoon sun. Sun exposure is necessary for proper flower bud development – with too little sun plants will produce leggy growth and few flowers. On the other hand, too much sun can cause blooms to fade quickly.
Spray frequently with water, repeating as needed, focusing on new growth. Gardenias can also be sprayed with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to control aphids. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil must be sprayed onto the aphids to be effective. Repeat spray three times at 5 to 7-day intervals.
The yellowing is caused by a lack of magnesium. We suggest feeding with Tui Enrich Rose, Camellia, Azalea & Gardenia controlled release fertiliser in early spring and late summer, and applying Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic regularly. Epsom salts will also help when there is a lack of magnesium.