How to care for gardenias
Talking about how to care for gardenias and teaching you the related knowledge of proper maintenance, here is a detailed introduction.
Gardenia is a evergreen shrub of the Rubiaceae family. Its leaves are evergreen, the branches and leaves are lush, the flowers are pure white and fragrant, making it highly ornamental. Moreover, gardenia can be used as medicine, with the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying. Gardenia symbolizes strength and eternal love, making it a flower with great connotation. Let's take a look at how to care for it.
1. Suitable soil
Gardenias prefer acidic soil, and if cultivated in alkaline soil, it can be harmful to their growth. You can purchase special soil for its cultivation, or if you want to mix your own soil, it is recommended to use a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, sandy soil, and garden soil in a ratio of 5:2:3.
2. Proper watering
Gardenias like a moist environment, and when watering, you should keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Especially during their growing period, you should keep the soil moist for a long time, and the watering should be done in the morning, avoiding watering at night. When necessary, you can spray some water on the leaves to keep them hydrated.
3. Reasonable fertilization
Gardenias require a high amount of nutrients, so it is important to fertilize them in a timely manner. A full-nutrient organic fertilizer solution is a good choice, but you can also use decomposed cake fertilizer water, fertilizing once a week. During the budding stage of gardenias, you can also apply top dressing, using 1-2 times of monopotassium phosphate solution. Stop fertilizing during the high temperatures of summer and the low temperatures of winter.
4. Suitable temperature
The optimal growth temperature for gardenias is between 16°C and 18°C. Both high and low temperatures can be harmful to their growth. If the temperature is too high, cooling measures should be taken, and if it's too low, warming measures should be applied.
5. Sufficient sunlight
Gardenias need plenty of sunlight to grow properly. Except for the high-temperature periods of summer and the dormant period in winter, gardenias should be provided with plenty of sunshine and can be directly exposed to sunlight.
6. Pest and disease control
Yellowing disease, leaf spot disease, and scale insects are common pests and diseases of gardenias, especially during the summer blooming period when high temperature and humidity can easily cause pests and diseases. Prompt control measures should be taken.
7. Proper pruning
Proper pruning of gardenias can promote their growth. Pruning can be done after the blooming period, removing sickly, vigorous, and unhealthy branches.
8. Timely potting
Gardenias grow relatively fast, and to avoid soil compaction, insufficient pot space, and nutrient deficiency in the soil, it is necessary to repot and change the soil in a timely manner. Generally, repotting should be done every 2-3 years.
The above () provides you with the complete content on how to care for gardenias and how to properly maintain them. Have green plant enthusiasts understood this?