Frost Proof Gardenia Care

Be sure to keep your gardenia moist but not soggy. Don't let it dry out between watering sessions. This stresses the plant. You can rely upon natural rainfall, but use a rain gauge to measure the rain your gardenia receives, and if it's less than an inch per week supplement it with water from the hose or a watering can.

Prune/shape your Gardenia plant when it is dormant, to promote branching and compact growth.

Gardenias use a lot of nutrients to produce so many glorious blossoms. Feed your shrubs by applying an acidic, slow-release fertilizer such as an azalea or camellia fertilizer. For the organic gardener, blood meal, fish emulsion or bone meal work well. Gardenias need to be fertilized a couple of times a year. Apply fertilizer the first time after the last frost in the spring followed by a second application six weeks later. Do not fertilize in the fall as doing so may result in new growth that can be damaged by winter cold.

Best grown in full sun to part shade.

An ideal soil would be made up of 45% minerals (sand, clay, silt), 5 % organic (plant and animal) material, 25% air and 25% water. The mineral portion would be loam (20 – 30% clay, 30 – 50% silt and 30 – 50% sand).

Hardy plant – withstands winter low temperatures.

347 people already have this plant 56 people have added this plant to their wishlists