"Gardenia"    

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About the Gardenia

Gardenia is also known as the Common Gardenia or Cape Jasmine . The botanical name is Gardenia jasminoides.

There are over 200 Gardenia species. The main species grown is Gardenia jasminoides, and from it many cultivars have been raised. Gardenia jasminoides is native to southern China and Japan. The genus Gardenia is thought to have been named after Alexander Garden, a doctor from Charleston, South Carolina.

The Gardenia bears beautiful, pure white, waxy, double flowers, 2.75 inches (7 cm) across, at the ends of the branches. The flowers turn to creamy-yellow as they age, and get flatter as they continue to open. The Gardenia flower has a heady, sweet fragrance, which can fill an entire room. The stem length is usually no more than 16 inches (40 cm). Flowers on very short stems are often used floating in shallow bowls indoors. Also used as a corsage. Available in summer.

The best time for the purchase of a Gardenia flower is when the outer petals have opened, but are not yet too separated from the stem, the inner central petals still being closed. Even with good care Gardenia flowers have a very short vase life of no more than 2-3 days once open. Hence it is important to buy at the right stage of development.

In the home, Gardenia flowers must be placed in a cool spot, and frequently misted with water. A Gardenia flower bruises easily, and needs careful handling. When bought the blossom is backed by leaves to protect it from damage.

Care of Gardenia Pot Plants

Gardenias must have a rich, acid soil (pH of 4.5 - 5.5), which drains well. You can use a prepared, acidic, potting soil as used for Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azaleas. Use a plastic pot to retain moisture.

To keep your Gardenia healthy and flowering well it is essential to keep the soil constantly moist, but avoiding soggy conditions. Don't stand the pot in water or allow the soil to dry out. Large variations in soil moisture will cause bud and leaf drop. The watering aspect of Gardenia care is critical because it largely determines the number of flower buds that remain on the plant to maturity. If water stress occurs in a heavily budded plant, many buds will fall before opening.

It is best to avoid using tap water, which is often alkaline and can cause chlorosis (yellowing) in the leaves. Use soft, tepid water, rain water or water from defrosting your refrigerator. Chlorosis can be remedied by applying iron sulfate or iron chelate to the potting soil once or twice a week for a month, until the plant recovers.

Gardenias need high humidity. So stand a tray of water next to the plant to raise humidity levels, but don't stand the pot in the water.

Keep Gardenias in bright light, but not direct sunlight in summer. The ideal place is a south facing window with a light curtain for shade. However with dull weather over several days, extra lighting may be needed to prevent bud drop.

Apply a water soluble, acidic fertilizer monthly while the plant is in active growth.

It is essential to keep to a rigid temperature range when a Gardenia is developing flower buds. Gardenia flower buds do not form if temperatures are over 70 deg F (21 deg C) in daytime, or over 65 deg F (19 deg C) or less than 60 deg F (15 deg C) at night. The ideal temperature range is 65 to 70 deg F (19-21 deg C) during the day, and 60 to 62 deg F (15-17 deg C) at night. Also there must not be any sudden changes in temperature, or drafts. Such sudden changes can cause the buds to drop. Premature bud drop can also be caused by low humidity, overwatering, underwatering, and insufficient light.

For a Gardenia plant to survive indoors, its basic needs are warm days, cool nights, and moist, humid conditions. Repotting will be required every 2-3 years.

You can obtain Gardenia pot plants here. Just click on powerfully scented Gardenia pot plants.

Care of Gardenia Plants in the Garden

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub, which can grow up to 6-8 feet (2-2.6 m) tall. Spread is about the same. They have glossy, leathery, dark green leaves, 3-6 inches (7-15 cm) long. The waxy, white Gardenia blooms are borne from mid-spring to early summer, a number of flowers opening over a fairly long period. There are both single and double flowering cultivars.

The Gardenia shrub needs an acid (pH 5-6), moisture retaining, but well-drained soil. They like a soil containg much organic matter, so the addition of peat moss, leafmould, or well- rotted compost or manure is advantageous. Plant in full sun. Some light shading from the hot afternoon sun is beneficial in summer, especially so in hot areas. They also need protecting from strong winds. It is a good idea to mulch the plants with 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) of chopped or composted bark, wood chippings, or compost to keep the soil cool and moist. The Gardenia plant resents root disturbance, and cultivating around it can damage its shallow root system.

Water regularly, as necessary. Keep the soil moist, but not sodden. Drip-irrigation is beneficial, for it keeps the foliage dry discouraging disease.

Feed Gardenias every month throughout the growing season using a fertilizer suitable for acid loving plants such as for Rhododendrons or Azaleas. In alkaline soils, chlorosis (yellowing leaves) can be a problem, and you may need to apply a chelated iron feed. Do not apply fertilizer in the fall. This can stimulate fresh growth that is not frost hardy.

After flowering cut back straggly branches to keep a neat shape.

Gardenia grows well in southern USDA Zones 8-10. They are slightly frost hardy down to 30 deg F (-1 degC). During severe winter weather the branches can be killed completely, and the plant may grow back up from the roots in spring.

Gardenias can suffer from attack from scale insects, thrips, gray aphids (on leaf undersides), spider mites, white-flies, sooty-mold, cottony cushion scale, mealy bugs, nematodes (especially in sandy soil), and root rot (in poorly drained soils). Sooty mold is a black fungus growth that feeds on the honeydew excreted by whiteflies. This can be removed by washing the leaves.

There is more Gardenia information available. Please check out the links on the left at the top of the page. Click here for more Gardenia Information.

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