How to water gardenia properly
Compared to the common topics of gardening techniques for most people, such as how to water gardenias and the key points of gardenia cultivation, the following is a detailed introduction for you:
Gardenias are commonly seen as large-leaf gardenias, which bloom in spring with pure white flowers, double petals that are very beautiful, and a strong fragrance that can fill a room. However, it is easy to encounter problems such as yellow leaves and rotten roots when growing gardenias. So what is the main reason? The main reason is improper watering. When growing gardenias, remember: four types of water should not be used, otherwise it will damage the roots and cause yellow leaves. Avoid these issues reasonably and take proper care, and your gardenias will grow vigorously in your home with lush green leaves and bloom every year.
1. Alkaline water
Many people often use tap water or groundwater to water gardenias, but the water quality in our northern regions is generally alkaline. Alkaline water may not be noticeable after one or two waterings, but if it continues, the plant's growth will weaken because gardenias are typical southern flowers that prefer acidic conditions. We should use acidic water to water them, such as adding one or two drops of vinegar to the water when watering. Do not add too much, as this can improve the water quality.
Watering into the soil ensures that the gardenia's roots develop well and the leaves do not turn yellow. It is also necessary to water it with iron elements regularly, such as chelated iron. If you water it once a month, it can absorb quickly, making the leaves large and shiny without yellowing new leaves. Ensuring acidic water quality and sufficient iron ensures that the gardenia roots can develop more robustly and grow more vigorously.
2. Half-watering
Half-watering refers to watering only a little, not seeing water coming out of the bottom hole, just watering some. In fact, the bottom of the pot is very dry, and the soil is not fully soaked. This is called half-watering. Imagine that most of the gardenia's roots are at the bottom, with some but fewer in the upper part of the pot. Normal new roots grow downwards, so we must water thoroughly and avoid half-watering or yin-yang water.
The best watering method for gardenias is to water once after finishing watering, and then water again, watching the water gushing out to ensure thorough watering. However, the soil must be breathable, and you can also use the immersion method, immersing the pot for ten minutes to ensure thorough watering. If you water with yin-yang water or half-watering, the roots can easily have problems, leading to yellow leaves and slow growth.
3. Concentrated fertilizer water
Do not water gardenias with concentrated fertilizer. They like fertilizer but are afraid of concentrated fertilizer. We must adhere to the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. For example, if the concentration of the fertilizer you buy is 1:500, using this concentration on gardenias can easily cause root problems. You can adjust the concentration to 1:1000 or 1:1500. By following this concentration and increasing the frequency of use, the plant can absorb sufficient nutrients, keep the leaves green without yellowing, and not damage the roots.
4. Raw fertilizer water
There are many tips online about using beer water to make gardenia leaves green and not yellow, or using egg water to make leaves grow quickly. However, gardenias should not be watered with these things. If you want to use them, make sure they are thoroughly fermented. How to ferment? Seal them in a barrel and ferment with water for at least two months. The smell is very pungent, and if you water directly, it can easily cause the soil to become compacted and alkaline, and even burn the roots in the pot. It's better to buy some suitable fertilizers or ferment yourself, and only use them after complete fermentation to ensure that the gardenias do not have problems, otherwise they will definitely burn the roots.
Watering gardenias is very important. Do not use alkaline water, half-watering, yin-yang water, concentrated fertilizer water, or raw fertilizer water. As suggested, ensure good soil aeration, use a smaller pot, water thoroughly when the soil surface is dry, ensure good ventilation, provide adequate sunlight, and regularly supplement fertilizers. Use a balanced nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer during the growing season and use monopotassium phosphate before the blooming season. The gardenias you grow will have roots full of the pot, many new leaves and buds, and will bloom completely during the flowering season.
The above sharing on how to water gardenias properly and the specific introduction of the cultivation techniques of gardenias is for netizens to refer to and learn from.