I've tried, unsuccessfully, to keep a gardenia alive. I've read all the tips, etc. and each time I plant a gardenia it lives 3-6 months, then dies. I love gardenias. Please help.
By Diane
I grow my gardenias in self watering containers; all you have to do is keep the container full. They don't like to dry out or be over watered, thus the self watering container. Get the kind that has a tube that you put the water in. It fills the reservoir in the bottom. The gardenia is a very thirsty plant. I also sprinkle tea and coffee grounds on the soil to keep the leaves green. good luck.
Diane: you failed to say where you live but here in south GA. I plant mine in the ground and mulch it against dry weather water a lot and feed regularly at least once a month during the growing and flowering season.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have the following problems with my gardenia. Some leaf edges are turning brown while the rest of the tree looks healthy. And, secondly some buds are not opening although the rest on same tree are doing fine and opening to full blooms. These unopened buds become white as if they are trying to open, but they don't in the end. (See the picture, it shows one flower is fine while the upper one is not open.)
By lahib
Are these thrips on this gardenia? What is the best way to get rid of them?
By Joan N
Some of the leaves of my gardenia tree come out curling and not as smooth surfaced as the other leaves. Can anyone tell me why is that? I'm attaching a photo of the leaves.
By lahib
I put my gardenia plant in it's pot outside for the summer and it was doing fine. But now something is chewing on it's leaves. Can anyone tell me what it could be and what I can do to stop it?
Hardiness Zone: 6a
By Jennifer from Topeka, KS