How to Grow Gardenia - Planting & Caring

By Sharon & Team   /   Bush Category   /   2023

Gardenia, a common name for Gardenia jasminoides and other members of the genus Gardenia, is a flowering plant native to Asia. Gardenias are known for their strong, sweet fragrance and their beautiful, white flowers. Gardenias are popular houseplants, and they make excellent cut flowers.

How to Grow Gardenia - Planting & Caring

Growing Easiness

Is it easy to grow Gardenia plant? The reason that Gardenia is not considered an easy plant to grow is because it requires special care. Gardenias need to be kept in a warm environment, out of drafts, and in acidic soil with good drainage. They also require regular watering, fertilization, and pruning. If you can provide the proper care, a Gardenia can be a beautiful and fragrant addition to your home.

Plant Size

How big can it be? Common ly, Gardenia plants are from 40 cm to 1 m in height. They are beautiful, bushy plants that can add a touch of elegance to any garden. Gardenias are also known for their strong, sweet fragrance.

Growth Rate

How fast is the growth? known to grow in USDA zones 8-11, Gardenias are popular ornamental plants. They are known for their large, white flowers and glossy green leaves. Gardenias require full sun to partial shade and well-drained, acidic soil. They are susceptible to root rot, so it is important to plant them in an area with good drainage. Gardenias are also susceptible to pests and diseases, so regular monitoring and treatment is necessary.

Gardenia Basic Knowledge

Plant Form Bush
Family Rubiaceae
Origin China, Japan, Taiwan, India

Lifespan, Perennial or Annuals

How long is the lifespan? The average lifespan of a Gardenia plant is about seven years. With proper care, a Gardenia plant can live up to 10 years. Gardenia plants are relatively easy to care for and only require basic maintenance.

Ideal Temperature

What is the ideal temperature? The summer temperature should be 71.6 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit and in winter it should be 57.2 to 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

Humidity

What about the humidity? Because Gardenias come from tropical and sub-tropical regions, they like a lot of humidity in the air. They will do best if you can provide them with enough humidity to keep their leaves from turning yellow and dropping off. One way to do this is to put the pot in a tray of wet pebbles so that the bottom of the pot does not touch the water. Another way is to spray the leaves with soft water once or twice a day.

Light Requirement

What amount of light this plant needed? Since this plant hails from tropical and sub-tropical regions, it does best with bright, indirect light. You can grow gardenias indoors near a south-facing window. Just be sure to provide some shading for the plant if the sun is direct.

Soil Composition

What is good soil for Gardenia? So, il with acidity pH 4.5-5.5 is the best for Gardenia plant. If the soil is not ready, it is possible to take equal parts of peat, humus, turf and sand to make the soil. Also, one part of the land from under the coniferous forest can be added. It is mandatory to use drainage.

Watering Time

How much I must water Gardenia? Common gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides), a native of China, Japan, and Taiwan, is one of the most popular evergreen shrubs in the South. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, with glossy, dark green leaves and fragrant, white flowers that bloom from late spring to summer. Gardenias prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade. They need moist, acidic soil with good drainage and regular feeding. Gardenias are relatively easy to grow, but they are susceptible to a number of problems, including root-knot nematodes, scale, whiteflies, and gardenia yellow mottle virus.

Fertilizing and Nutritient

About fertilizer. Because Gardenias are such beautiful, fragrant flowers, many people want to grow them. The best way to have success with Gardenias is to give them the proper care, which includes fertilizing them. Gardenias should be fertilized from spring to autumn every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer without lime. You can use a fertilizer that is made specifically for orchids.

Reproduction

How to reproduce Gardenia? Sometimes, you can use semilignified apical cuttings that are 10 cm long. It's best to do this from July to September, and cover the cutting with polyethylene. You can also root the cutting in water. After it has rooted (which takes about a month), plant it in a separate pot.

Bloom

Why Gardenia won't bloom? Common ly, the Gardenia plant will have white fragrant flowers that will eventually change colors to yellowish-beige. They have an abundant amount of flowers from May to November. Some varieties of Gardenia plants even have the ability to bloom during winter.

Transfer or Repotting

How much I must water Gardenia? Eventually, your Gardenia will outgrow its pot. When this happens, you'll need to transfer it to a new, larger pot. The best time to do this is in the spring, as Gardenia plants are quite sensitive to root disturbance. Gardenias also like to be slightly pot-bound, so don't be in too much of a hurry to transplant them. A good rule of thumb is to transplant them to a pot that is only 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the current pot.

Caring The Gardenia

How to care the plant? So, It's easy to take care of a Gardenia plant, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, drafts and sudden temperature changes can damage the plant, so try to keep it in a stable environment. Secondly, don't put the pot in a tank of water—the roots need air to stay healthy. Finally, the low temperature in winter allows you to achieve abundant flowering, so don't be afraid to let the plant experience a little chill. Also, it's useful to cut weak shoots in spring and pinch the tops of branches for better branching. With a little care, your Gardenia will thrive and provide you with beautiful flowers for years to come.

Pests & Challenges

What is the challenge when caring Gardenia plant? Sometimes, despite all your efforts, the plant still languishes. The leaves turn yellow, the buds and flowers fall off. What to do in this case? First of all, you need to identify the reason why the plant is sick. It is possible that the leaves turn yellow in too acidic soil or, conversely, as a result of watering with cold and hard water. The edges of the leaves darken and dry because of insufficient or excessive watering or because of the dry air. Dark spots on the petals appear due to improper watering. Affected spider mites, scale insects, aphids, scale insects, thrips and whiteflies. Flowers and buds can fall due to sudden temperature changes, or, if you just turn the plant. If you find that the plant is sick because of spider mites, scale insects, aphids, scale insects, thrips or whiteflies, you need to take immediate action to save the plant. You can use various insecticides to fight pests, but it is better to resort to folk remedies. For example, you can prepare a decoction of tobacco or garlic and spray the plant with it. If the plant is sick because of sudden temperature changes, you need to try to create all the conditions for its normal growth and development. For example, if the plant is in a room with a draft, you need to move it to a more protected area. As you can see, there can be many reasons why a plant is sick. Therefore, if you want to save the plant, you need to carefully observe it and take timely action.

Toxic & Poisonous Type

Are Gardenia poisonous? Unless you have a strong stomach, it is best not to eat Gardenia plant. This is because the Gardenia plant is toxic and can make you very ill. If you do eat Gardenia plant, you may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. In severe cases, Gardenia plant toxicity can lead to death.