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How to Plant & Grow
Gardenia
Gardenias can be both indoor and outdoor plants. Their large flowers bloom in summer, and their evergreen leaves are to die for. A perfect addition to your gardens, that’s for sure!
If you’re new to growing indoor Gardenias, then here are a few tips and tricks to keep them looking fabulous all season long.
What We've Included
Choosing Gardenia | When to Plant | Where to Plant | How to Plant | Feeding Gardening | When to Water | Pruning Gardenia | Propagating | Common Issues & How to Solve Them | When Do They Flower | Gardenia FAQs | Inspiration
Choosing the Correct Gardenia for Your Garden
Gardenias can be either an indoor or outdoor plant, and it’s important to know which you’re growing. For example, Gardenia jasminoides was originally intended as a glasshouse or conservatory plant, later becoming a well-known indoor houseplant. These can be slightly tricky to master, but the outdoor gardenia is more straightforward.
When to Plant Gardenias
Gardenias are best planted in the spring or autumn.
Where to Plant Gardenias
Gardenias can be grown in almost any soil, as long as it’s lime-free. If you’re planting in a pot, use ericaceous compost. You can also improve the soil by adding a lime-free soil conditioner. Gardenias are perfect for growing in pots, as they can be moved somewhere sheltered over winter. However, in mild areas, hardy varieties can stay outside. Position them somewhere sheltered with good sunlight.
How to Plant Gardenias
Gardenias are usually supplied in pots, making the planting process an easy one.
- Dig a hole in the border that’s big enough to house the entire module. If planting in pots, fill a large pot halfway with potting soil and then make several holes that can hold the modules. Do this until the top of the soil from the module is just below the top of the pot.
- Fill around the modules with soil and firm them down gently.
- Water well and you’re done!
Feeding Gardenias
You can feed gardenias every 1-2 weeks in spring and summer with a high-nitrogen liquid feed. Feed once a month in autumn and winter with a balanced liquid feed.
When to Water Gardenias
Keep the soil of your gardenia moist - not too wet or too dry. This applies to all year round, including in winter.
Pruning Gardenias
Gardenias can be lightly pruned in winter or early spring. To do this, simply remove congested, crossed, damaged or diseased shoots where necessary.
Propagating Gardenias
Want to propagate your gardenia? Good news, it’s easy to do this by taking cuttings! You can take softwood cuttings in late winter/early spring or semi-ripe cuttings in summer. Move cuttings once rooted into pots full of ericaceous compost.
Common Issues and How to Solve Them
Gardenias, although easy to grow, can run into some hiccups if their growing location isn’t ideal.
Suffering from yellowing leaves? New growth can appear to be oddly yellow. This is usually from overwatering or an iron deficiency. To combat iron deficiency, apply chelated iron, and regularly if you water your plants with hard water.
Brown leaves can be a sign of too little water. Follow our instructions for watering above.
No flowers can mean the plant is suffering from the humidity. Move your plant somewhere cool and increase the humidity by spritzing the leaves with water.
Wilting leaves but watering your gardenia often can be a sign that the water is being evaporated faster than it can reach the roots. Move it into a shadier spot and mist the leaves a few times a day with rainwater until the plant recovers. You can also keep the plant in a tray of damp gravel in spring and summer to raise humidity.
When do Gardenias Flower?
Flowering times will vary based on what plant you buy! As we’ve mentioned above, there are different species of Gardenia, each flowering at different times of the year. Most flower throughout summer, but for specific months, we recommend checking your plant’s information.
Gardenia FAQs
Q: When to cut back gardenias
A: You can prune gardenias in winter or spring after they’ve flowered or just before they begin to flower.
Q: Are gardenias indoor or outdoor plants
A: Gardenias can be either an indoor or outdoor plant. This depends on the variety you’re looking to buy. Double-check the plant before purchasing if you prefer either an indoor or outdoor gardenia. Gardenia jasminoide varieties are famously indoor plants, for example.
Q: Do gardenias do well in pots
A: Gardenias are arguably happier in pots, as you control the soil’s pH. Make sure the pot is big enough and repot every few years as the plant grows.
Q: How much water do gardenias need?
A: Gardenias need enough water so that their soil stays moist. Make sure not to overwater or underwater them though!
Q: Do gardenias need ericaceous soil?
A: Gardenias should be planted in ericaceous soil, as it needs to be lime-free. This applies to both indoor and outdoor plants. See our tips for growing above for more information on soil management.
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