How to grow gardenia to make it flourish
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Gardenia is one of the three whites of summer, also known as yellow gardenia or mountain gardenia, which is a perennial evergreen shrub of the Rubiaceae Gardenia genus. Its branches and leaves are very lush, the leaves are evergreen, and the flowers also have a very fragrant smell, making it a common ornamental plant. As it prefers a warm and humid environment and acidic soil, it is often planted in southern regions. Since it is moisture-loving but flood-intolerant, how to water it properly is a science.
I. Watering Interval
The water requirement of gardenia varies with the seasons. Since it itself prefers a warm climate and has good heat resistance, spring, summer, and autumn are its growing seasons, during which its water demand is relatively high.
Generally, water every three days in spring, and as the temperature rises, the watering interval should be shortened from once every three days to once every two days. In summer, with the temperature rising, watering should be more frequent, once a day, and twice a day in the height of summer, with a little less in the morning and thorough watering after 2 pm. In autumn, as the weather cools down, watering should be reduced to once every two days.
In winter, the plant enters a dormant period, and the low temperature slows down its growth, reducing its water demand, so water should be controlled appropriately to avoid adverse growth.
II. What Kind of Water to Use
Many plant growers know that tap water cannot be used directly to water plants, as it contains chlorine, which is harmful to plant growth, and gardenia is no exception. Since this plant prefers an acidic environment, weakly acidic water is often chosen.
Gardenia how to grow to make it flourish
Firstly, I recommend using rice washing water. When cooking rice at home, you definitely need to wash the rice, and rice washing water is not only acidic but also rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which is very helpful for plant growth. It should be noted that only the first two washes of rice water are acidic, and the rest are alkaline. Moreover, rice washing water cannot be watered directly and needs to be composted and matured.
Besides rice washing water, you can also water gardenia with some beer. Since beer contains sugar and amino acids, it is an excellent nutrient, and it also contains carbon dioxide, which can help the plant photosynthesize. However, the beer needs to be left to stand for a few days to let the alcohol evaporate a bit to avoid affecting its growth.
If you don't have the above options, tap water can also be used, but it should be left to stand for a few days. To make the soil acidic, you can add some citric acid or ferrous sulfate to the water, but be sure to control the concentration.
III. What to Do If Overwatered
If the watering is insufficient, you just need to replenish it, but if too much water is poured, problems follow. Since gardenia is not flood-tolerant, its roots will be unable to breathe due to waterlogging, which can lead to root rot and affect its growth.
So if you overwater, be sure to drain the water as soon as possible and loosen the soil appropriately to accelerate the evaporation of moisture in the potting soil. Also, maintain good ventilation to dry the soil quickly to prevent bacterial growth.
If the waterlogging persists for a long time and the roots have rotted, you need to immediately remove the plant from the pot and repair the roots. First, loosen the soil and remove the plant from the pot. Then, use a disinfected pair of scissors to cut off the rotted roots and apply mycillin to prevent wound infection. Prepare dry new soil, replant the plant, and place it in a shady place for care.
The above introduction by Green Enthusiast Network on how to grow gardenia to make it flourish and the comprehensive knowledge of gardenia cultivation and watering methods, hope it helps you.