How can I help my gardenia?

Gardenias are not easy to keep. ( in my opinion )

Call or visit your local nursery to get more information for your area and project. They should have hints and products to help you.

Quick Answer:

Gardenias like slightly acid soil.

Full Story:

I was plant sitting for a friend and her baby was dropping leaves and buds, no matter what I did. I went online put in: "gardenia and dropping bud and leaves" All it needed more acid to the soil. I then added a small amount of vinegar as suggested by the online site I found.

My friend returned home I told her what I did and now she does it every time she waters. Her baby/plant is always happy.

Do Your Homework:

I suggest looking online about: "how to care for a Gardenia"and go from there.

The internet is a wonderful tool. Use it and reap the benefits.

Please do check more than one site for info so you know you are doing the right thing.

Best of luck and happy bloomings!

Call or visit your local nursery to get more information for your area and project. They should have hints and products to help you.

While living in Florida I had a gardenia bush. It was looking really bleak and desperately needed help. I found advice and was amazed how well it worked. Everytime I empty out a jar of dill pickles i would leave the pickle juice in the jar and fill jar with water and juice. then I would spray the juice all over the gardenia plant. It even removes the black that can affect the leaves. I had beautiful leaves and the plant was always full fo blooms

Try mixing Epsom salts in the soil around it.

I found out that gardenias do not do well in direct sunlight...mine is suffering and I am going to move it from out of the sun to partial shade. Maybe this would help.

I use Epsom salt, but don't sprinkle it right on the plant, sprinkle it around it about 9-12" away from the base (it can burn it up). Also, don't over water it, if it has been wet outside just let it be, if not then water once a week. They also like sunlight.... the epsom salt will help make it a pretty green. I use 7 Dust (spray) if there are tiny holes on the leaves.

Partial shade, slightly acidic environment, moderate water!

1. location, acidic soil, morning sun, humus filled soil. iron sulfate will help the acid in the soil, but you should put on a little every year. morning sun, do your best any after noon in a hot dry climate will kill it. you can probably get away with sun for every hours except the hottest hours of the day in places like the northwest. 2. they love it humid. frequent short bursts from drip sprayers from every 1/2 hour to every two hours depending on climate will make them smile. 3. you may not have to water at all depending on the natural humidity in the air and how much water holding humus is in the soil. if the rest is rich, you can add some bark chips with the compost. these will eventually become compost and will add drainage while holding moisture themselves. i would add compost to any bed i was forming. you could put rhododendrons with the gardenia and have a bed with a more long term bloomtime. i know this is alot. take it slow. divide it into steps, and start with your soil: compost, bark chips, coir, good time release fertilizer--organic or not, azalea food, etc., iron sulfate for sure, some worm castings would be nice.