How do gardenias overwinter outdoors in winter?

Gardenia likes to grow in a warm environment, but it also has a certain degree of cold resistance and can generally grow in temperatures as low as -3°C. Therefore, in the winter in the south, it only needs a little care to safely overwinter outdoors. So how do gardenias overwinter outdoors in winter? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Temperature management

Gardenia can tolerate a certain degree of low temperature. But in order to ensure its safe wintering, it is best to keep the temperature above 5℃. Generally, some insulation measures can be taken, such as covering the gardenia with plastic film and building windbreaks around it to prevent the plant from being blown down by the cold wind.

2. Lighting management

Gardenia likes warm, humid and sunny environment. Even in winter, gardenia should be exposed to sunlight, but the light should not be too strong. 3-4 hours of sunlight per day is enough.

3. Water management

Winter is the dormant period of gardenia, and the water demand is relatively small, but it cannot be completely without watering. Water once every half a month to keep the soil slightly moist, and before watering, adjust the water temperature to close to room temperature.

4. Fertilization management

In winter, gardenia enters a dormant period and basically stops growing. It requires very little nutrients, so fertilization should be stopped. If you are growing gardenias in a heated room, you can apply a small amount of fertilizer. Note that it should be a small amount and the concentration should not be too high each time. For ground-planted gardenias, you can bury some raw organic fertilizer , such as poultry manure, raw bean cake fertilizer, etc., away from the roots after the beginning of winter.

5. Other maintenance management

For example, sprinkling some wood ash on the roots of the plants can increase the soil's thermal insulation properties and improve the plants' resistance to cold. At the same time, proper pruning of the plants and reducing unnecessary branches and leaves can reduce energy consumption and help the plants survive the winter smoothly.

In general, when gardenias overwinter outdoors in winter, factors such as temperature, moisture, and light should be considered comprehensively. Only by taking scientific and reasonable maintenance measures can we ensure the healthy growth of gardenia in the cold winter and lay a solid foundation for its blooming in the spring of next year.