Is it easy to care for gardenias in winter?
Sharing some small experiences on whether gardenias are easy to care for in winter and the correct watering methods for gardenia cultivation. Next, the editor of the website will introduce to the netizens.
The fragrance of gardenia flowers in bloom is very pleasant, and they have a large number of flowers with unique shapes, making them a favorite of many people. However, those who have cared for gardenias know that they are quite difficult to maintain, and many people cannot keep them alive. If you really want to care for gardenias well, Xiaoqi will teach you three cultivation methods, and gardenias will become easier to care for.
1. Turn hard soil into nutritious soil
When buying gardenias, we often buy those planted in garden soil, which is not suitable for indoor cultivation. It is recommended that you buy those planted in nutritious soil, which may cost a bit more, but it is less likely to have problems after bringing it home. Since indoor ventilation is poor, it is easy to have root rot or leaf rot after watering. Some people even fail to water thoroughly, causing the soil to become compacted and the leaves to turn yellow in large areas.
What should you do if you buy hard soil? You can repot it, prune the branches after it finishes blooming, cut off the thin and weak branches, remove the残花, and cut the long branches short. After this pruning is done, soak all the soil from the roots, or keep 1/3 of the protective soil and fill it with new nutritious soil. Repot it in a pot one size larger than the original. This way, it will adapt to the new soil, grow new roots, and its growth will be rapid and less likely to have problems. Gardenias planted in garden soil are not likely to thrive, no matter what environment you have, unless you have a greenhouse.
2. Three major cares
The so-called three major cares are abundant water, abundant fertilizer, and abundant sunlight. Gardenias are very tough and easy to care for. When kept at home, ensure they get plenty of sunlight because sufficient light is necessary for good growth, dark green leaves, and thicker leaves, which will result in more developed roots. Therefore, never lack light throughout the year, and just place them in direct sunlight. Also, abundant water is important, as gardenias are a typical water-loving plant. Generally, if the soil surface is dry, water thoroughly and there won't be any problems. If the ventilation is good, you can water when the soil is half-dry.
The remaining care is abundant fertilizer, which means ensuring sufficient nutrients. From the end of autumn to the beginning of winter, gardenias are still growing, so it's necessary to supplement high-phosphorus and high-potassium fertilizers, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate, which can make the main stem harder, the roots more developed, and increase its cold resistance. If the flowers are well cared for, the flower buds can form quickly at the end of autumn, and in spring, continue to use potassium dihydrogen phosphate until the flower buds are about to open. After blooming, it's the stage for the plant to grow branches and leaves, so you need to supplement it with balanced multi-element fertilizers, such as general-purpose compound fertilizers or nutrient solutions. Keep the fertilizing frequency at two to three times a month with moderate concentration to ensure your gardenias grow well and the leaves become greener, and by the flowering period, they will be full of flower buds.
3. Do not prune blindly
Pruning gardenias is also a very critical point. Many people keep pruning them, keeping the branches very short, but they want to bloom from the top of the branches, and it must be the current year's hard branches. If they keep growing new branches, the chances of blooming are almost zero. Therefore, after gardenias finish blooming, we should prune them promptly. During the growing process, you can prune them again in the summer, but after entering summer, try not to prune them because the branches that grow in summer gradually harden and age, and by the end of autumn, the top is completely sealed, which will gradually differentiate into flower buds from the top of the branches. So pruning must be reasonable and not blind. If pruned incorrectly, it will not bloom.
Is it easy to care for gardenias? Actually, they are very easy to care for, and the reason they are not doing well is due to poor soil and the lack of ventilation in our care environment. So, if there is no ventilation, use a small pot, use soil with good breathability, and never lack light, water, or fertilizer throughout the year. Prune it reasonably, and gardenias can grow lush and bloom abundantly in your home, filling the room with the fragrance of gardenias.
The above content about whether gardenias are easy to care for in winter and the correct watering methods for gardenias is provided for everyone's reference and operation.