When should gardenias not be pruned? What is the best time to prune gardenias?

When to prune gardenia

The purpose of pruning gardenia is to make it grow better and bloom better. Therefore, it is very important to master the right pruning time.

Generally, gardenias can be pruned twice a year. The first pruning time is from May to July , and the second pruning time is around December . You don't need to do a big pruning each time, just cut off the top 2-3 pairs of leaves on the branches.

If there are residual flowers, remove them together. Please note that you can spray 1000 times of chlorothalonil after pruning to prevent infection by pathogens.

Don't prune in winter

Gardenia is also very afraid of cold in winter. When the temperature is below zero, it will enter a dormant state. In northern regions, if it is planted in the ground, it may freeze to death, so it is necessary to keep warm as soon as possible.

Gardenia has a characteristic that the branches that grow in the current year become hard and old, and flower buds will grow in the second year . If you want the gardenia to bloom next year, do not prune the gardenia in winter , and keep the old branches.

If you often prune and top it to promote branching, the branches it grows are all new. These branches are not enough to be woody next year, so they are not flowering branches and it is difficult to bloom next year.

How to prune gardenia branches that are too long

1. Pruning of long branches

The main time to prune the long branches of gardenia is from May to July, when the plants are growing vigorously. To prevent the plants from growing too high , it is necessary to cut the long branches on the top short. This can not only control the height of the plants, but also increase the amount of flowering.

2. Pruning weak and deformed branches

Weak branches on the plant generally do not bloom or bloom very little. Leaving them on the plant will waste nutrients, so they should be cut off.

Also, branches that are not in the right direction, grow in disorder, or develop poorly in the later stage should be cut off together to concentrate nutrients for plant growth. At the same time, when pruning, the buds that are too dense at the top should be removed, leaving only 2-3.

3. Thinning flower buds

Leave 2-3 flower buds on each strong branch, and 1 on each weak branch , or simply cut them off. This will concentrate the nutrients for the growth of the gardenia flowers, making them stronger and more beautiful.

4. Notes

If you want the gardenia to bloom earlier next year, you can prune it during the dormant period . At this time, the pruning of gardenias is mainly aimed at diseased and insect-infested branches, dead branches, overlapping branches, etc.