Do gardenia plants leaves turn yellow in the spring?

i have a gardenia plant and the leaves are turning yellow. is this normal?

Do gardenia plants leaves turn yellow in the spring?
"There are a number of reasons why Gardenia leaves turn yellow and it is a common problem around the country. If it is only happening on the lower branches during spring, it is a natural occurrence and probably nothing to worry about.





Both lack of water and too much water can cause the same problem, as will deficiencies in iron or magnesium sulfate. If all your leaves are turning yellow, the problem may be two-fold. and if you get black spots on the leaves like "sooty mold," excrement from sucking pests such as whiteflies and aphids which are very common to gardenias. Consider yourself fortunate if this is the first year you are experiencing this problem. These insects deprive the plant of nutrients - hence the yellow leaves.





Make sure your plants are getting the proper amount of water; moist but not wet soil and that you're keeping the leaves dry. Have your soil tested to ensure the pH is in the range gardenias prefer, 5.0 - 60, and that there are the appropriate levels of the nutrients they need. Lacking a soil test, you may have success applying a chleated Iron product and a few tablespoons of Epsom Salts around the base of the plant.





Fertilize with an azalea/camellia product to maintain proper acidity and control pests with horticultural oil. Please follow the package directions. Add a good layer of mulch and give them some time to recover. They usually will in a few weeks.
Reply:I don't have gardenia plants, but this seems to be happening naturally outside my house.


We have some natural growing shrubs near my house, which have just bloomed.


Their leaves are turning yellow, too; but they do this every spring we have been there.


Don't worry though. Care for them nicely and ask around at places like the gardening shop.


If you care for them, or even let nature does what nature does, they should turn green and healthy very, very soon.


If you see a natural one by your house, be sure to leave it alone. It will turn green by June or Mid-May.
Reply:Probably not. If the leaves are yellow but the veins in them are still green, then the plant is chlorotic and is not getting enough iron (your local garden shop probably has something you can feed it that will take care of this).





If the whole leaf is yellow, then most likely it's being overwatered. Back off on the water for a little while and see if it recovers.
Reply:no. add coffee grinds to the soil because gardenias need acid in the soil, and coffee ginds can add the proper acid. also plant food such as miracle gro