Gardenia care guide
This evergreen shrub is extremely popular and is grown for its sweetly fragrant flowers borne from late Spring through to late Autumn. While they grow beautifully when planted out in a garden, all varieties of Gardenia also make excellent tub specimens.
Gardenia Florida: The most popular variety and produces masses of medium sized, waxy white blooms. Gardenia Florida grows to approx.1metre.
Gardenia Magnifica: Has fewer but larger, double blooms and grows taller than the Florida, reaching 2 metres.
Gardenia radicans: An evergreen groundcover with masses of small white blooms and a low prostrate habit, growing to 30cm high.
Caring for your Gardenias
Gardenias prefer slightly acid soil and a warm sheltered position, protected from the extreme heat of the day. Too much shade will hinder their flowering ability.
Gardenias need to be fed more regularly than the average plant in the garden. We highly recommend Harry’s Gardenia Food applied in September, December and March.
Pale green or yellowing leaves may be caused by a short supply of minerals such as iron or magnesium, this problem can be rectified by regular application (monthly) of epsom salts and/or iron chelate from Spring through to mid-Autumn.
Yellowing of buds and dropping before flowering may be due to a lack of moisture. A fertiliser high in potash might help also.
Pruning
Very straggly plants can be cut back in early Spring and then fed to ensure they bush up. Though for happy bushes, picking the flowers during Summer is often enough pruning.
Common pest problems
Scale: If scale is evident on the foliage or along the stem, spray with a horticultural oil. You may need to do this more than once to break the life cycle.
Aphids: Can be controlled by spraying with either pyrethrum or a horticultural oil.
Caterpillars: Signs include holes in leaves/buds. Spray with Dipel or Success Ultra.
