With proper care over winter, you’ll enjoy this evergreen’s sweet perfume every summer.
But gardenias can be sensitive to extended frosts and experience damage from very cold temperatures.
How Cold-Hardy Are Gardenias?
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But the shrubs can suffer from winter damage when the temperature dips below 15F.
You’ll know your plant has suffered cold damage if the leaves turn brown or black and crisp.
But don’t despair, because new growth can appear at ground level in the spring.
Withpatience and care, you may once again enjoy the perfume of gardenias in future years.
Fertilizing can lead to tender new growth that gets damaged in winter.
This will help the roots survive any deep freezes.
When you’re expecting a cold snap, check the soil around your gardenias.
If the soil is dry,water plantsso that frigid weather doesn’t zap the foliage.
Don’t overwater, though, which can lead to ice forming around the roots.
If you’re caught unprepared, just use an old sheet or blanket.
Use something heavy like bricks or stones to anchor the cloth in place.
Remove the cloth once temperatures warm enough for the plant to survive.
You may need to remove the cloth during the day and replace it at night.
The thin stems can break from heavy snow or ice.
Small pots can be brought indoors for winter and grown as a houseplant until spring.
you might use a tomato cage to hold the insulation in place.
Prune off any diseased or dead branches.
Move the pot to a sheltered spot in the shade and check it regularly for pests.
Spray the foliage with insecticidal soap, making sure to soak the tops and bottoms of all leaves.
You don’t want to infest any other houseplants, so this may require more than one treatment.
Place the gardenia in a south-facing window and keep soil lightly moist.
Don’t prune or fertilize the plant before spring.
Homes tend to be very dry in winter.
Gradually increase exposure to sunlight and cold temperatures over a couple of weeks before leaving the container outdoors.
Dealing With Cold Damage
Wait to prunedamaged stems and foliage until spring when temperatures are above freezing.
This prevents further damage and gives your gardenia a chance to sprout new buds before you get going cutting.
Apply slow-release fertilizer for acid-loving plants and keep soil lightly moist to encourage your gardenia’s recovery.
You’ll know by summer if your gardenia survived.
Let shoots grow to at least 6 inches before you do any pruning or shaping.
With any luck, you’ll enjoy new blooms on your gardenia next year.
Gardenias forZone 6 gardensinclude ‘Crown Jewel’ and ‘Summer Snow’.
Gardenias are evergreen and should not be pruned in winter.
Doing so will remove the flower buds for next summer.
Gardenias do best in partial sunlight and require protection from hot afternoon sun in warmer climates.
