How to Grow Gardenias

Gardenia, also known as clematis, is one of the most fragrant flowers that can be grown at home, but it also poses a number of challenges for growers. Gardenia needs a certain acidity in the soil, plenty of water and light, cool temperatures and high humidity. Gardenia is also susceptible to insect infestation. However, if you overcome those challenges, you will be rewarded with fragrant fresh flowers that bloom from spring to all summer.

Table of Contents

Planting For Outdoors

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Find an area full of sunlight until it’s lightly lit. Unlike most other plants, it is fragile and picky about its habitat. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Sprouts grow well in bright light, high humidity and even where water and nutrients are available. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Although they can live indoors, hot, dry air and overcast winter days can cause plants to die.
The ideal time to plant parsley is during spring and fall, when the sun is shining brightly but not too hot. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Plants will not bud if the daytime temperature is higher than 21 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature exceeds 18.5 degrees Celsius or lower than 15.5 degrees Celsius ^{. [4] X Research Source}
Note that gardenia cannot survive outdoors during winter. Then you should bring them into the house.

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Test the pH of the soil to see if gardenia can really thrive there. pH is a measure of soil acidity, and gardenia roots will not tolerate too much acidity.

Acidity is measured on a scale from 0 to 14, where 0 is the highest acidity and 14 is the most basic. Dendrobium likes acidic soil, so a pH of 5 or 6 is appropriate because it is moderately acidic. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
If needed, you can add sulfur, a white powder sold in most gardeners, to lower the pH level in case the pH is higher than 6.
The nature of the soil should be rich in nutrients and well drained. Gardenia requires a lot of nutrients but its roots can die if waterlogged. ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Dig a hole in the soil to fit the root ball of the plant. Make sure the hole is 2 or 3 times wider because you will be filling it with soil after you have placed the roots.

The root ball is the entire root of the plant and the soil surrounding the root.
If the soil is barren, apply some compost to the hole before placing the root ball. Compost is an organic fertilizer that adds nutrients to the soil.
Carefully choose the location of the bushes. If you grow plants near your house, you can enjoy the scent of the flowers while sitting at your desk or looking out from the window. But planting too close to the house means that the pH in the soil may be too high, not suitable for plants to grow well.
You should also remember that gardenia needs a lot of light, but does not tolerate heat. Maybe you should plant the plant under the bedroom window rather than the kitchen window.

Outdoor Care

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Water the plant with 2.5 cm of water every week. Usually gardenia plants need 2.5cm of rain to grow well, so you should rely on that standard every time you water.

Regularly monitor soil moisture, and water enough when the soil is dry. Be careful not to over-water, because if the soil is too wet, the roots will lack air. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Apply a layer of organic mulch about 5-10 cm thick around the base of the tree. Mulch is made up of rotting organic matter such as leaves, bark, or compost available from most landscaping suppliers.

Humus not only helps the soil to be fertile, but also retains moisture, inhibits weed growth and maintains a stable temperature for the soil.
For best results, choose humus from shavings, sawdust, and crushed bark.
Mulching is extremely important because gardenia roots do not grow deep and are susceptible to weed attack. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Every 3-4 weeks, you fertilize the plants with acid. Regular fertilization will stimulate good bloom.

Pay attention to acid fertilizer for plants. This special fertilizer is formulated for acid-loving plants. Conventional fertilizers may not be enough to nourish gardenia.
Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can damage the plant by accumulating salt.

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Use a spray bottle to mist the plants every day. After the steps of providing enough light, soil and water, you need to meet the moisture needs of the plant.

Misting will increase the humidity around the plant, but only for a short time. Therefore, you need to do this every day to make sure the tree lives longer. ^{[10] X Research Source}
In addition to misting, you can plant gardenia in clusters but not too thickly. This will create a humid environment. To add moisture, you can place a dish of water in the middle of the bush. As it evaporates, the moisture will wrap around the gardenia plants.

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Prune the tree in early spring to shape. Pick up wilted flowers to encourage them to continue to bloom.

Pruning young and underdeveloped plants will facilitate flowering. Young trees have great bounce, and lost branches will easily recover because they have not yet grown strong. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Prune out slanted branches and dead flowers. Gardenia is a woody shrub, so pruning old branches will stimulate new growth.
Prune the lowest branches that are at risk of touching the ground, which could expose the tree to disease. ^{[12] X Research Source}
Do not cut off all the leaves. It is necessary to leave some leaves so that the plant can provide food for the roots. ^{[13] X Research Source}

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Monitor plants for whiteflies and mealybugs. These pests are very fond of gardenia and can weaken or die.

Mealybugs are gray, stinging pests. They eat the waxy part of the gardenia and leave a waxy layer on the tree that causes the branches to die, the tree to become barren and deciduous.
Whiteflies are tiny white insects that resemble mosquitoes. They secrete a sweet substance and soot fungi will grow on it. This fungus will yellow leaves and drop leaves. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Apply a coat of disinfectant soap or horticultural oil if the plant is infected. These solutions kill both whiteflies and mealybugs, and are available at most gardening stores.

If the plant is heavily infested with mealybugs, cover the entire plant with plenty of antiseptic soap or horticultural oil. Two days after the first application of disinfectant soap, carefully coat the soil with a beneficial fungus called Beauveria bassiana to destroy all root-eating mealybugs. Beauveria bassiana mushrooms are also available at gardening stores.

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Cover plants with blankets or cardboard boxes during winter cold spells. Gardenias are very sensitive to cold temperatures, so they need to be covered and protected from bitter winter winds.

Be sure to use a cardboard box large enough to cover the entire bush without bending the branches. You can use old blankets, straw or bubble wrap for extra wrap underneath the box. ^{[15] X Research Source}
No matter how hard you try, the tips of the branches can still die and turn black from frost or cold. Then use sharp pruning shears to prune the branches a few centimeters below the damaged part.
There is another way, you can transplant the plant in a pot and bring it into the house during the winter. While plants may face a higher risk of pest infestation, you can take the following steps to care for your gardenia indoors.

Indoor Care

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Place the plant where it can receive direct sunlight for half a day. You can place it near a south facing window.

Bringing gardenia indoors during the winter when sunlight is scarce is a challenge. You can choose to supplement the light for plants with specialized lamps for plants.
Gardenia also needs a room temperature of 13 degrees C during the day and 18 degrees C at night ^{. [16] X Research Source} Please adjust the room temperature accordingly and monitor the growth of the plant.
Avoid cold drafts of plants and never place gardenias in a place where hot air is emanating from a fireplace. The dry air of a fireplace can cause your gardenia to fall to pieces – literally.

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Water the plant once a week, fertilize once in the spring and again in the summer. Remember to use acid fertilizers for good plant growth.

You also need to water the plants. If the ground feels dry to the touch, water until the soil is sufficiently moist.
Regularly test the pH of the soil to make sure it is between 5 and 6. Use a special fertilizer for flowering acid-loving plants. Fertilizers for azaleas will work well.

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Use a humidifier to increase the humidity in the room. This is especially important in winter.

As mentioned above, you can place gardenia pots in clusters and place a dish of water in the middle to increase the humidity. However, you should be careful when misting the plant, as spraying water directly on the plant at the same time as using a humidifier can cause fungus to grow on the plant.
You can also place the roots directly on a tray of gravel and water. First, spread a layer of gravel on the tray and pour water to cover the gravel surface. The gravel layer will keep the roots above the water without being submerged in the water. Water will increase the moisture around the plant as it evaporates. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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Prune the tree in the spring to keep it to the desired size. This also stimulates the plant to bloom lushly.

It is best to prune the tree when the flowers have just fallen. Cut off dead branches until the desired size is achieved.

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Regularly check for pests. When brought indoors, gardenia will attract many other pests besides whiteflies and mealybugs.

One pest to watch out for is aphids, a small, pear-shaped insect with long legs and antennae. ^{[18] X Source of study} This aphids can be treated with a solution of one part soapy water to one part water. Spray on both upper and lower sides of leaves. This method is also effective against mealybugs. ^{[19] X Research Source}
Red spiders are very small and difficult to see with the naked eye. To test for red spiders, shake the plant gently and collect under a piece of white paper. If you notice red, yellow, brown or green spots, the plant is probably infected with red spider mites. ^{[20] X Research Source} Treat this pest with neem oil – a vegetable oil made from the neem tree available at most grocery stores.
Neem oil can also treat the spread of the pests mentioned above. If you have used the above methods but still see that the leaves are yellow, then the plant may be infected with root nematodes. Root nematodes are small parasitic worms that attack plant roots. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Advice

When choosing where to plant gardenia, you should keep in mind that there are some species of trees that can grow up to 2.4 meters in height and width.

Warning

Gardenia may not be viable outside of climate zones 9 or 10 (according to USDA crop zoning).

Steps

Planting For Outdoors

Outdoor Care

Indoor Care

Advice

Warning

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