Gardenia cultivation methods and precautions

1. Soil preparation

Gardenia likes well-breathed, fertile, acidic soil, so suitable substrate must be prepared during cultivation. When preparing the soil, you can mix peat soil and leaf mold, and the ratio of 1:1 can basically meet the needs. You can also mix peat soil, perlite and vermiculite in a ratio of 4:1:1, and finally add an appropriate amount of pine needle soil to make the soil acidic. This way, the soil is conducive to growth.

2. Lighting

Gardenia needs light during its growth period, it likes light, and also has a certain degree of shade tolerance. It is best to place it in a bright place and get more sunlight to promote better flowering. The sunlight in summer is too strong and needs to be blocked in time. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun to avoid burns. The light after winter is very soft, and it is best to give it full sun at this time.

3. Watering

During the peak growing season, gardenias have a high demand for water and need to be watered frequently to keep the soil moist. It is not tolerant to waterlogging, so the amount of water needs to be controlled when watering. Just water it thoroughly each time, and do not allow water to accumulate. It also has requirements for air humidity. If the climate is dry, it needs to be sprayed with water frequently.

4. Fertilization

Gardenia is a fertilizer-loving plant and must be topdressed during the growing season. Just choose diluted compound fertilizer liquid, water it once every half a month, and apply thin fertilizer frequently to promote more vigorous growth. Note that you should stop fertilizing after flowering, otherwise it will easily lead to flower drop.

5. Temperature

Gardenia likes a warm environment and has very poor cold resistance, especially when grown in potted plants. After winter, the potted plants need to be moved indoors and the indoor temperature should be controlled above 10℃ so that they can safely overwinter. When the high temperature in summer exceeds 32℃, you should also pay attention to increase ventilation and water frequently to help it cool down.

6. Repotting

1. Time: Repotting should be done around March in spring and October in autumn, when the climate and temperature are more suitable. This can reduce damage to the gardenia and help it adapt to the new environment and resume growth as quickly as possible.

2. Method: For gardenias that are ready to be repotted, cut off the water supply in advance to facilitate removal from the pot. Repotting should be combined with root pruning to facilitate later growth. Cut off all its dead roots, old roots, weak roots and rotten roots, and disinfect and sterilize them. Prepare a larger flowerpot and mix it with loose, breathable and fertile soil. After treatment, carefully plant it into the soil, gently compact the soil after planting, and water it thoroughly in time. Keep it in a warm, well-ventilated environment. It will adapt to the pot and resume normal growth in about a week.

7. Pruning

Gardenia has a strong germination ability and needs to be pruned in time during maintenance. During the growing season, yellowing branches, diseased branches, and insect-infested branches should be pruned off promptly. For branches that are too dense or too weak, they should be thinned out appropriately to promote better ventilation and light transmission inside. When the buds begin to sprout in early spring, the tender buds on the top of the main branches should be removed in time to encourage the sprouting of more side branches. After the flowering period, the remaining flowers need to be pruned in time to promote rapid resumption of growth. In addition, it is necessary to prune again in winter to cut off unnecessary branches, which is conducive to overwintering and germination next year.

8. Reproduction

1. Cutting method: Gardenia branches are easy to root, and cutting method is one of the commonly used propagation methods. It is usually carried out in spring and autumn. The cuttings must be strong and mature. When taking cuttings, you can first insert the processed cuttings into a container filled with water, change the water frequently to ensure the water quality is clean, so that roots can take shape in two or three weeks. After rooting, insert it into the substrate. This will increase the survival rate. Water insertion is far better than soil insertion.

2. Layering method: The layering method is used around the Qingming Festival. One-year-old strong branches are selected from three-year-old sows, with a length of between 25 and 30 cm. Pull the branches to the ground, cut the part that is entering the soil, cover it with soil and compact it. It will take about 20 to 30 days for it to take root and survive.

Causes and treatments for yellowing and falling leaves of gardenia

1. Too much watering: Although gardenia likes a humid environment, it is not tolerant to waterlogging. If too much water is given and the plant cannot absorb it, the roots will easily rot, causing yellowing and falling leaves. It is necessary to drain water as soon as possible, increase ventilation, and loosen the soil frequently to evaporate moisture. In the later stage of watering, control the amount of water, just keep it moist, and strictly prohibit water accumulation.

2. Too strong light: Although gardenia likes light, it is afraid of strong light. If it is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, it is easy to get sunburned and the leaves will turn yellow and fall off. It needs to be moved to a semi-shaded and ventilated place as soon as possible, the yellow leaves should be cut off, and a warm environment should be provided to promote recovery as soon as possible.

4. The temperature is too low: Gardenia has poor cold resistance. If the temperature is not well controlled in winter, it may be frostbitten if it is kept in an environment of around 5°C for a long time, resulting in yellow leaves or even leaf falling. It should be moved to a warm place as soon as possible and the temperature should be controlled above 10℃ to stop the frost damage and resume growth next year.

5. Improper fertilization: Although gardenia likes fertilizer, it is afraid of concentrated fertilizer. If the fertilizer concentration used is high, it will easily cause fertilizer damage and burn the roots, leading to yellowing and falling leaves. The fertilizer needs to be washed away with clean water as soon as possible. In serious cases, the soil needs to be replaced to avoid further aggravation of fertilizer damage.

Reasons and treatments for gardenia not blooming

1. Lack of light: The reason why gardenia does not bloom may be due to lack of light. If it is placed in a shaded environment for a long time, it will affect the differentiation of flower buds and cause it not to bloom. It needs more sunlight and meets its light needs to bloom successfully.

2. Lack of nutrients: Gardenia is a plant that likes fertilizer, especially before and after flowering, its nutrient needs must be met in order to bloom successfully. It is recommended to apply fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium elements before flowering. You can spray diluted potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution on the plants to promote better flowering.

3. Unsuitable soil: It likes a slightly acidic soil environment. If the soil used is too alkaline, it will affect its growth and flowering. Ferrous sulfate needs to be applied as soon as possible to increase the acidity of the soil. You should also loosen the soil frequently to allow the roots to breathe better, allowing them to grow and bloom better.