What is the proper way to deadhead potted gardenias?

I've been cutting back to the base of the stem but do not notice an acceleration of new growth. Am I missing something?

What is the proper way to deadhead potted gardenias?
Hello ~





Found this post from:


Diane Heilenman


Courier-Journal Gardening Columnist


(Louisville, KY)





July 1, 2006





Question..: How do I deadhead a gardenia? Do I just pull the flower out or pull the part with the flower?





Your best bet is to snip off the entire flower with the bottom part and a bit of stem down to the top of the next pair of leaves. That way you won't end up with a bit of dead stem poking up.





The article also mentioned this site about Gardenias:


http://hendry.ifas.ufl.edu/HCHortNews_Ga...





ENJOY !!
Reply:when the plants start looking awful, just prune off the top 1/3 of the plant and it will recover nicely with even more blooms for ya!