Monday, May 17, 2010

I have a gardenia house plant and some of the leaves are falling off i think i am giving it enough water and s

Hey Jacquiline,





Your question cut off...





Be sure it drains through the bottom when you water. Then let it dry out for several days. If you do not have drain holes in the pot - make holes.





Indoors your gardenia will want full sun. Well-drained, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 is ideal for your gardenia whether it is potted or in the ground. During the day, gardenias prefer temperatures from 68 to 74 degrees with a low of 60 degrees at night. Moderate humidity will assure a healthy plant but soggy roots will cause flower buds to drop, as will soil that is too dry. Adding peat moss to the soil will benefit your plant by helping it to retain moisture without it becoming too wet.


While the gardenia likes humidity, misting the leaves can cause problems. Water droplets can cause fungal growth on leaves. This is important to keep in mind if you plant your gardenia outside. You won't want to place it under plants that will drip down onto its leaves.





When you water, check to see if the top inch of soil is dry and then give your plant a good soak. Any water that accumulates in the tray under the pot should be drained out. It is a great idea to place gardenias in a pebble filled tray. Water can be poured over the pebbles to provide moisture and humidity without excessive water being absorbed into the soil.





Monthly fertilizing should be done from April through November. A fertilizer designed for azaleas will also fill the requirements of your gardenias. Be sure to also prune older gardenia stems. This will encourage new growth as well as more frequent blooming.

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