How to care for gardenias
A comprehensive introduction to the care of gardenias and the correct methods for gardenia maintenance, here are some small experiences in plant cultivation. Let's learn about it together.
Gardenias are also known as cape jasmine, jade lotus, etc. They originally come from the Yangtze River Valley. Their flowers are pure and elegant white, with both single and double petals, emitting a faint fragrance that refreshes the mind. Their leaves are lush and green, making them suitable for potted plants on indoor balconies or in gardens. Gardenias grown in the ground are more robust and easy to care for, able to withstand harsh sunlight, heat, and drought. Potted gardenias may be a bit more delicate, but with proper care, they can also thrive and bloom abundantly year after year.
The blooming period of gardenias is from June to August. There are large-leaf gardenias, small-leaf gardenias, and gardenias that bloom all year round, all of which are easy to care for with beautiful colors and fragrant blooms. Gardenias have a strong ability to absorb sulfur dioxide from the air and can also resist some harmful gases such as ozone and hydrogen fluoride. They can also absorb dust in the air, purifying it. So, how can one care for gardenias at home?
There is a post-90s gardening enthusiast, a girl, who particularly loves to care for gardenias. The gardenias she has been nurturing from a single cutting have been thriving for several years now, blooming many flowers each year and looking very beautiful and lush. Everyone who sees them likes them. So, how exactly should potted gardenias be cared for? Let's take a look.
1. Choose the right pot and soil
When choosing a pot for planting gardenias, it should not be too small. It's best not to use ceramic or plastic pots. The best pots to use are deep clay pots, which are both breathable and aesthetically pleasing. When choosing soil, gardenias prefer fertile, loose, and well-draining soil with a slightly sticky texture. It's not suitable to use alkaline soil, as it can easily cause yellowing leaves. Gardenias are acid-loving plants, so choose slightly acidic soil. When preparing the soil, you can use half garden soil, add a small amount of fertilizer soil, decomposed leaf soil, a bit of coarse sand, and you can also add a small amount of animal manure as a base fertilizer.
How to care for gardenias
2. Lighting for potted gardenias
Gardenias enjoy sunlight, and a growth environment with plenty of light is beneficial for them. They can also be grown in semi-shaded areas. However, during the hot summer, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight, as it can easily cause yellowing leaves. In the middle of summer, they can be placed in shaded areas with 50% light coverage. In other seasons, they can be exposed to more sunlight.
3. Frequent watering for potted gardenias
Gardenias do not have very developed root systems and have many fine roots, so they are sensitive to water. When watering, it's important to keep the potting soil moist, maintaining a slightly damp state and increasing air humidity. For watering, you can use rainwater or fermented rice washing water to achieve better growth. In the summer, it's important to water frequently, and you can also spray water on the leaves. In winter, reduce watering to keep the soil slightly dry.