Why do gardenias drop their buds and turn their leaves yellow?

Gardenia should be a flower that many friends like. The flowers are pure white and filled with fragrance, which makes the whole room fragrant and makes people happy. However, in the process of growing gardenia, some people find that either the leaves turn yellow or the flower buds fall off frequently. So why do gardenias fall off their buds and leaves turn yellow? Let’s take a look below.

1. Why do gardenias drop buds and turn yellow leaves?

1. Insufficient light

Gardenia needs plenty of sunlight to grow so that it can carry out photosynthesis better. If there is insufficient light, its flower buds will turn yellow and fall off. Generally speaking, it can be grown in the shade or in a place with scattered light in the summer, and it is best to place it outside in the sun in other seasons.

2. Soil compaction

The yellowing and falling of gardenia buds may also be due to problems with the soil. The potting soil needs to be replaced every two to three years. If the soil is not replaced for a long time, it will easily become compacted, which will affect the root system's absorption of nutrients and water, and the flower buds will naturally not grow well. In addition, you need to loosen the soil frequently to facilitate root growth and breathing.

3. Insufficient nutrition

Gardenia flowers are relatively large, so they consume more nutrients when blooming. Be sure to pay attention to replenishing in advance and use fertilizer one or two months in advance, because it takes a certain amount of time for the fertilizer to be effective. Use diluted liquid fertilizer with a slightly higher phosphorus content once every half a month.

4. Too much watering

Gardenia has many capillary roots, so it is sensitive to water. Normally, wait until the soil is dry before watering the gardenia, and don't water it too much. Otherwise, root rot will cause the flower buds to turn yellow and fall off, especially during the flowering period, so the amount of watering should be reduced.

2. Gardenia Care Tips

1. Adequate lighting

Gardenia prefers an environment with sufficient light and can be maintained in full sunlight even in summer. With sufficient sunlight, gardenias will grow short and strong. If there is insufficient light, gardenias will grow vigorously but the number of flowers will decrease.

2. Loose and breathable soil

Gardenia does not have high requirements for soil. It can grow well in loose and breathable soil, and can also grow in heavy clay soil, but it prefers acidic soil. It is recommended to choose loose and breathable acidic soil for potted gardenias. You can use 1 part garden soil and 1 part acidic nutrient soil, mix well and then plant.

3. Adequate fertilizer and water

Gardenias planted in the ground can grow well without fertilizer, but gardenias planted in pots need frequent fertilization to supplement nutrients because the nutrients in the potting soil are limited. In April in spring, you should increase the amount of fertilizer and water, mainly with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, to promote the growth of gardenia buds and more flowering. The more flower buds there are, the longer the flowering period of gardenia will be. After the flowering period, gardenia enters a rapid growth period, at which time it begins to sprout a large number of new branches. The new branches grow rapidly and consume a large amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, it is recommended to apply compound fertilizer to gardenia in summer to promote the healthy growth of the plant.

4. Temperature and pruning

Gardenia is not very cold-resistant, so it is best to move it indoors in winter to prevent the branches from being frozen or killed in the cold winter. At the same time, be careful not to let the temperature be too high. Appropriate low temperatures will help it to hibernate and bloom better. Pruning gardenias has a great impact on the plant shape control and flowering of gardenias. The best time to prune is at the beginning of summer. At this time, the flowering period ends and the gardenia sprouts a large number of new shoots. Cutting the new shoots short in time can effectively control the height of the gardenia and at the same time encourage the gardenia to grow more branches.

5. Keep warm

Gardenia is not very cold-resistant, so it is best to move it indoors in winter to prevent the branches from being frozen or killed in the cold winter. Generally, gardenias can tolerate temperatures as low as -3 degrees. If there is a cold winter, even in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, protection is needed, otherwise the branches will be frozen or frozen to death, which will cause the gardenia to not bloom in the spring.

If the leaves of gardenia turn yellow and the flower buds fall off, there may be a problem in maintenance. You can first determine the cause of the flower buds falling and then take appropriate remedial measures.