Has anyone kept Gardenias?

Hurley

Hurley

aka Bunny13
Oct 2, 2005
1,644
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Baltimore, Maryland
www.freewebs.com
I bought a potted Gardenia about 2 weeks ago and I am already having trouble with it. I have been keeping the soil moist but I have gotten different reports on how much light they need. The problem I am having is that the leaves are turning brown and dry. Any ideas what is causing this?

Thanks!!!!
 
Hey Bunny, gardenias are my favorite flowers!!! They need water, (duh) but most people keep them too moist. Also they are acid loving plants, so get some Miracid give it periodic little doses. They can thrive in fulll sun as long as they have enough air/space around them. Not the easiest bush to keep as a potted, but it's worth the trouble. Hope this helps!! And enjoy the fragrance (my great-aunt lived in Athens, GA, and had a YARD full. My sister and I would hang out on the screened porch drawing and drinking sweet tea and luxuriating in the heavy heady aroma!!) :)
 
Hi Bunny
Gardenias are fairly difficult to grow in pots because they like cool roots and pots tend to heat up during the day. White or light coloured pots dont get as hot as dark ones, and try to place it in part shade, not too sunny but not full shade if you want lots of flowers.
I think the leaf problem youre having is due to root die-off because of either over watering, under watering (probably not) or over heating.
A thick layer of mulch such as wood chips or straw will help keep the soil cool and moist. I also wouldnt fertilze it untill it starts showing signs of new growth.
Hope that helped
 
My mother-in-law keeps gardenias here in Florida. They love the sun and have no problems with the heat. Her trick is mulch,mulch,mulch.

Good Luck
 
budrecki said:
My mother-in-law keeps gardenias here in Florida. They love the sun and have no problems with the heat. Her trick is mulch,mulch,mulch.

Good Luck
Click to expand...
We are in Florida and also have two of them on either side of the garage. They get full sun for half of the day, and we don't water them much at all. They are doing great...

I think the browning of the leaves could be from too much water.



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