LoveToKnow Garden:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Garden

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Hi Mary,

It sounds like your gardenia may not be getting quite enough humidity. Try placing the pot in a tray of pebbles that you have filled with water. The water will evaporate, providing the plant with plenty of humidity. Just be sure to refill with water as needed.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

I've had a gardenia plant for over 35 yrs which I bring in the house during the winter with no problems. Recently I received a new plant which never has any buds only beautiful lush foliage. What is the problem

-- Contributed by: mary blewett

Hi Camille,

Usually a good blast with the hose will get rid of any hitchhikers before you bring your plants indoors. If you are concerned that the hose won't do the job, try spraying with a neem mixture. Neem is a natural insecticide without nasty chemicals.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

I have my gardenia in a ceramic pot outside and i am ready to bring it in. Do I spray it with something for the bugs,but I don't know what to use? camille thank you

-- Contributed by: Camille cassisi

It's really hard to answer without more detail. They could be getting too much sun, or not enough. There could be insect damage. The soil may not be acidic enough. There are so many variables that a correct answer is impossible without knowing what you are seeing.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

I just planted some dwarf gardenias and some seem to be dieing. I water every other day. I also fetilized with root stimulator at the time of planting. By the way I live in south east Tx. really hot here. Can someone tell me what I can do to save the ones dieing off.

-- Contributed by: BettyLou

Hi Tim,

It's true that the amount of sun required may vary depending on cultivar. It also makes a difference if your gardenia is a houseplant or grown outdoors. One that would like part shade outdoors will likely need full sun in the house.

The best advice is to follow the instructions on the tag if you're purchasing new plants, although I've seen these be inaccurate at times.

For most cultivars, they will do best on the east or west side of the home and they typically prefer some shade but not too much--ideally four to six hours of sun a day. Inside they need a sunny window to thrive.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

I'm curious about your statement of 'plenty of sun'. I have seen some varieties of Gardenias labeled as 'shady'. My plant I mentioned on the other page is completely in the sun and quite healthy.

-- Contributed by: Tim

Hello Lone Agri,

As far as I know, Jungle Gardenia is just the name of a perfume. I have never seen as actual gardenia plant of that name.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Sandra,

Leaf drop is typically due to not enough humidity, not enough sun or incorrect pH. Holes in the leaves may be due to some type of caterpillars. I would recommend spraying with neem oil combined with a bit of dish soap. Follow the instructions on the bottle. The brand I always recommend is called TheraNeem, but there are others out there as well.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Hi there Is Jungle Gardenia a plant or only Perfume?

Best regards Lone Agri, Denmark

-- Contributed by: Lone Agri

Gardenia leaf drop

-- Contributed by: Sandra

All leaves have fallen off plant...leaves are green but have small half circle holes on the edges. Plant appears ok...has buds as if new leves will come. How do I treat?

-- Contributed by: Sandra

Black leaves and stems are typically caused by sooty mold. Sooty mold is caused by aphid or whitefly infestations. Check for insects and follow the directions above for proper treatment.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

I have buds falling off that have green buds but black hard stems. What can I do to solve this issue?

-- Contributed by: bud is black at stem

Janet,

Your gardenia may need more light, or it may be getting too much. Without more details it is hard to say. Read the articles Growing Gardenias and Gardenia Plant Care to see if you are meeting all of your gardenia's needs properly.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Stephen,

Gardenias do like some sun so they may need a bit more light.

Yellow leaves can indicate poor drainage or not enough nutrients. Try giving them a fertilizer that is designed for flowering plants and shrubs. An azalea fertilizer is a perfect fit.

To learn about pruning, read Pruning Gardenias and Gardenia Pruning.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Janice,

Black buds usually indicate a fungal or bacterial problem. You could have Bacterial spot, which is characterized by black buds that frequently have a wide, yellow margin. If this is the problem, the plant must just be removed.

Another possibility is sooty mold. This is a fairly easy fix. It can be washed off with soap and water. It is caused by aphids on your gardenias which need to be controlled with an insecticidal soap spray.

One more possibility is overdone fertilizer. If you notice a white crust on the surface of the soil, there is too much fertilizer built up and could be causing your problems. Remove the white crust and put the pots in water to leach the soil. The pots will need to have drainage holes so excess water can drain out, along with the built up minerals.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Blake,

Gardenias do not like temperatures below 68 degrees so your recent cold temps are definitely the reason your plant is looking poor.

It may come back but resist the urge to put it in full sun unless it is indoors. Outdoors it prefers the conditions you have been providing.

Water when soil is dry and keep it moist but not soggy. Feel free to prune any parts that are obviously dead. Give your gardenia some time. That is all you can do to allow it to recover from the shock of cold temperatures.

You can read more in the articles Gardenia Plant Care and Pruning Gardenias.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

my indoor gardenia plant has lost its leaves and is turning brown with the ones left It has been feed and give tea for acid

-- Contributed by: janet alfano

I live in the central Valley of California. I have three Gardenias about 24-36 inches high. They have a number of yellow leaves with dark brown tips that are brittle dry. All three are in large pots and get more shade then direct sun - but some.Also how do you prune them? Thanks

-- Contributed by: Stephen Humphreys

I live in upstate South Carolina. Zone 7b. Last year, my 3 gardenias had tons of blooms. However, this year, any developing buds are black and look dead. They are still very very small, but I don't know what could be causing it. Any ideas?

-- Contributed by: janicemtucker@gmail.com

I bought a small Gardenia bush from Home depot about a week ago which I potted on my balcony. It has been getting a healthy dose of sun everyday; maybe 3 hours of direct sunlight and another 6 of bright but indirect light. I have made sure to keep the soil moist but not wet and until this morning it looked great with several blooms and lots of buds. However last night it dropped down to 47 and I left it outside... The blooms are still present, the buds seem fine and the leaves are bright green... however the leaves a very droopy. I am almost certain the plant's "posture" is a direct result of last night's temperature, having never owned a Gardenia I know little about them and I'm worried I might have killed it. I'm desperately looking for any tips for increasingly my plant's chances for survival... At present I have it sitting in the brightest possible spot on my balcony, but its indirect sunlight at this hour. Unfortunately I don't have a yard or another brighter area to put the Gardenia in as I live in an Apartment. I checked the soil's moisture moments ago, I could detect moisture but it didn't feel wet. I am resisting the urge to water it but I can't shake the feeling the droop is from low turgor pressure because thats what it looks like! Please, can anyone help me?

-- Contributed by: Blake

Terry,

Gardenias do need around eight hours of sunlight, so that may be part of your problem. You could also get a test kit and check the pH of your soil. Gardenias prefer a pH of 5 to 5.5.

Your gardenias may be happier in another location, but keep in mind that the shock of moving may make them look unhappy for a while as well. If you do decide to move them, give them some time to adjust to their new surroundings.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Sharon, I would go ahead and do some pruning now only if you are sure that there will be no more freezes in your area. The frost damage that your gardenia has will protect it from further damage if there are more frosts.

If all danger of frost is past, then you can prune the damaged parts away. It won't bloom on frost damaged areas anyhow and you won't be pruning non-damaged spots.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

I planted 3 Gardenia 2 yrs ago, last year I had brown leaf, a few green remained, I treated with fungcide, have fertilized, they seemed to bounce back some, but now this spring 3/09 most leaves have turned brown again, They are on the east side of house and get 4-6 hours of morning sun,should I dig them up and plant somewhere else?

-- Contributed by: Terry DeMeyer

I live in Richmond Va. I have had an outside Gardenia bush for almost 10 years. We recently had snow and ice so it has more severe frost damage than usual on its new growht. Should I just leave it alone until after it blooms to prune, or do so minimal pruning when it warms more here, normally after April 15?

-- Contributed by: Sharon

Hi Ceil, It is too late to prune the plant back this year. I'm betting it already bloomed some time ago. It is best to prune the plants right after the blooms die each year, as the buds form shortly thereafter. If you prune now, you'll prune off next year's buds.

-- Contributed by: Charlotte Gerber

I live in eastern PA. I bought the plant in the summer. It had only two blooms. How do I prune and is it too late to do that?

-- Contributed by: Ceil

Hi Benita, Have you tried adding a soil acidifier? This could definitely help with the yellow leaf problem. They may also need to be watered more than once a week- they like to be moist, but not soaking wet. You didn't mention where you live, but they don't like overnight lows below 60-65 degrees.

-- Contributed by: Charlotte Gerber

Some one that need help Now!!! I planted two 5 gallon plants, one on each side of my church door way on the outside. They are planted in pots w/a drain pans but with no pebbles. On both of the trees the leaves on starting to turn yellow and the blooms are not opening. When I first purchase the trees they both had lots of blooms. I only water once a week. I need help befor it's to late!

-- Contributed by: Benita Anderson

I have a branch of one of many gardenia bushes that has the leaves turning brown while the veins stay green. they fall ff the bush. HELP!!

-- Contributed by: linda davis

Hi Kathy, You can water your plants this way, or you can water them near the base of the plant and drain them onto saucers filled with pebbles for proper drainage. They don't like having wet feet.

-- Contributed by: Charlotte Gerber

I was told that Gardenias prefer to be watered from the bottom by keeping an inch of water in a tray of pebbles it is sitting in rather than watering it at the top of the pot. Is this the case, or am I killing my Gardenia?

-- Contributed by: Kathy Galindau

Hi Ana, You can find inexpensive soil test kits at your local gardening center, such as K-Mart and WalMart. Just follow the directions on the package- they're pretty easy to do.

-- Contributed by: Charlotte Gerber

Hi: I submitted a question before re: my gardenia plant (house plant). Correction: the bugs are not grayish, but green. I think I have Aphids. I sprayed my plant w/ soapy water. Hopefully, that would keep the pests under control. Question, how do I go about testing the ph level in my soil?

-- Contributed by: Ana

Hi: I have a gardenia plant. I found grayish bugs in the soil. I read the article on "Pests" but, none best describes the one I have. The bugs do not come up when watering. No cottony masses on my plant. No white bugs in groups on the underside of leaves. Not spider mites either. Please advise as to how I can treat this pests.

Thank you.

-- Contributed by: Ana

Hi Pat, Gardenias need to be watered frequently; there isn't any easy way to water a potted one. Many people who have these plants indoors set the pots on marbles so the plant can drain properly, since these plants do not like to be soaking wet. If you do have it sitting in a pan, do so briefly- don't leave it sitting in there all day.

-- Contributed by: Charlotte Gerber

When I water my Gardenia plant, the water just runs through, so I have been sitting it in a pan of water to enable it to soak. Is there a better way to water it.

-- Contributed by: Pat Johnson
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