Cultivation Method of Gardenia in Water
Abstract: This article discusses the topic of growing Gardenia in water, introducing the method of hydroponic cultivation of Gardenia. The following is a detailed guide by the editor for netizens.
Gardenia can not only be cultivated in water, but also can bloom when hydroponically grown. This article provides a hydroponic method for Gardenia cultivation that is very simple and detailed, which is of great reference value for Gardenia enthusiasts who want to grow it in water. Let's first look at a picture of a blooming Gardenia.
After Gardenia blooms, it must be pruned (pruning cannot be done before the spring germination, as the flower buds of Gardenia are formed in autumn; if pruned in spring, it will not bloom). If not pruned, new leaves will only continuously grow on the new branches after flowering. Moreover, as Gardenia shedding occurs every spring and summer, which is a period before flowering, the leaves from the previous year will turn yellow and fall off. This makes the lower part of the Gardenia branches look bare and unattractive. Only after pruning, new branches will continuously grow, making the plant more lush and producing more flowers.
The pruned branches are exactly what we need. These branches can be used for cutting or hydroponics to obtain new plants.
1. Hydroponic Propagation of Gardenia
After pruning, the branches of Gardenia can be directly placed in a container. As the temperature during this period after flowering has become very suitable for plant growth, the roots can grow after a few weeks of hydroponics. It is necessary to change the water more frequently before the roots form to provide better oxygenation and promote root growth and survival. No photos were taken of the pruned branches at the time, but this is the condition about 3-4 weeks after hydroponics last year.
2. Maintenance Process of Hydroponic Gardenia
What most people are concerned about is how to maintain hydroponic Gardenia after the roots have formed and how to make it bloom. There are mainly two aspects to summarize.
Water Changing
During the maintenance process, I do not have a fixed time for changing water; I change it when I remember. I recall last year when the water became smelly before I changed it. Sometimes algae grow vigorously due to the addition of fertilizer, wrapping the roots. At this time, I would use tap water to try to wash off the algae from the roots and clean the culture container. After changing the water, I sometimes add fertilizer, and sometimes just use clean water.
Appendix: A flower friend once told me that shading can inhibit the growth of algae, so you can see that there is a shading box outside my flower pot. Using it can inhibit the growth of algae to a certain extent, but it cannot completely remove it. Some flower friends also told me that I can keep some small fish. Since my vase is small, I haven't tried it yet. Interested flower friends can give it a try.
Fertilization
For hydroponic plants such as Tradescantia and富贵竹 (F ortunela), it is completely fine to use only clean water, which I have experimented with. However, for flowering plants like Gardenia, not using fertilizer will definitely prevent it from blooming beautifully.
The fertilizers I use mainly include three types: granular compound fertilizer (the most common type of granular fertilizer on the market), liquid compound fertilizer, and solid fertilizers like 必绿 (Bí Lǜ), 必开花 (Bí Kāi Huā), and monopotassium phosphate. The concentration of use is as follows: for the granular compound fertilizer, about 3-5 granules are added at a time in a vase like mine. For liquid and solid fertilizers, the proportion is calculated, with an estimated concentration of less than 1:1000. I have always preferred a light application of fertilizer. Since Gardenia can sometimes develop chlorosis due to iron deficiency, I also used ferrous sulfate once last year after bringing the Gardenia indoors. The principle is to dilute it as much as possible, otherwise, the plant will not be able to tolerate it.
3. Overwintering of Hydroponic Gardenia
I do not have practical experience in cultivating hydroponic Gardenia in the north, so I am not sure about the situation. In my area, which is the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the temperature in winter can reach extreme lows of about -10 degrees Celsius. Gardenia outdoors generally will not be damaged by frost if the temperature is above -5 degrees. However, since it is hydroponically grown, if the temperature drops below zero and the water freezes, I believe it will definitely affect the plant. Therefore, after the first frost, I placed the hydroponic Gardenia in a closed balcony indoors. The lowest night temperature on the balcony is probably around 0 degrees Celsius. I didn't change the water all winter; I just added some when the water level was low. I usually move it outdoors after the temperature stabilizes around the time of Guyu (Grain Rain).
The above sharing of the hydroponic method of Gardenia cultivation (the entire blooming process) is a comprehensive explanation, hoping it can serve as a stepping stone to solve your problems with green plants.