Learn how to care for this timeless Southern shrub ahead.
No plant expresses the grace of the South better than gardenia.
Intenselyfragrant white blossomscontrast beautifully with shiny, leathery dark green leaves.
Credit: © Santiago Urquijo / Getty
The double forms make for classic corsage flowers.
Note that all parts of gardenias are known to be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Also, you should try not to disturb these plants once in place.
Gardenias do well in large pots on decks and patios.
Gardeners in cold-winter areas can grow them in cool greenhouses.
Unfortunately, they make poor houseplants as they attract mites, mealybugs, and whiteflies.
Cooler temperature regions can use a site with full sun.
Water
Although gardenias enjoy sunlight, they can’t go too long without proper watering.
Gardenias need an inch of water per week to stay happy.
Gardenias can’t tolerate cold temperatures below 15oF and may get damaged or die if these cold temps linger.
Fertilizer
Fertilize gardenia in early spring, after the last frost of the winter.
Feed plants every three to four weeks during the growing seasonuse an acidic, slow-release fertilizer.
Fish emulsion, blood meal, or even coffee grounds will also work.
Feed potted plants just as often and test soil pH levels to maintain good health.
Avoid pruning in the winter when buds are forming.
Propagating Gardenias
The best time to propagate gardenias is in spring.
Cutting gardenia will help control the size of your bush to your liking, ensuring a neat look.
For first-time potting, use a container slightly larger than the one from the nursery that has drainage holes.
Like growing gardenias in the ground, acidic, well-draining, evenly moist soil is required.
But for containers, use basic potting mix, which is slightly acidic and well-draining.
Add an acid plant fertilizer to the soil, and continue to feed once a month.
Repot gardenias every two to three years.
Overwintering Gardenia
Gardenias will experience cold damage when temps drop below 15F.
Toprevent cold damagefrom occurring, we recommend adding mulch around your gardenia shrubs for insulation before winter begins.
Outdoor container-bound gardenias should be moved to a covered, insulated area for the duration of the cold snap.
This is a good solution for an area that occasionally drops in temperature.
Be sure not to overwater your gardenia, however, keep the plant moist.
Mist gardenia daily and keep it moist and away from direct airflow.
Try using an insecticide rinse to wash away the residue left behind.
This damage typically occurs from overwatering or another fungus in the soil, such as powdery mildew.
We recommend using neem oil or another organic fungicide to treat it on your gardenia.
How To Get Gardenias To Bloom
Maintaining healthy gardeniasencourages more blooms.
When temperatures, specifically the humidity, drop, it can harm the gardenias.
This will kill the insects, which will also knock out the moldy honeydew.
Acid soils have plenty of available iron.
Alkaline soils do not.
Apply garden sulfur to the soil to acidify it or feed with an acid-forming fertilizer like Espoma Holly-tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gardenias can live up to 50 years with proper care and maintenance.
It is an attractive shrub that can live for many decades.
You cannot move a ground-planted gardenia as easily.
Gardenias are perennials that should come back every year with good care and an ample dormancy period.
Gardenias typically go dormant between November and February and begin blooming in the spring.
ASPCA.Gardenia
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