Is it good to plant gardenia on the balcony in terms of feng shui?
About the knowledge of whether it is good to plant gardenia on the balcony and the plants that are most auspicious for the house, these are very good tips and knowledge, it is recommended to collect them!
The first time I bought a gardenia full of flower buds and placed it on the south-facing balcony (one balcony is enclosed with glass on the north side, and the south-facing balcony gets 1-2 hours of sunlight every day), the leaves started to turn yellow after half a month, and the base of the flower buds began to wither. I thought it was a lack of nutrients, so I added fertilizer and cut off some branches, but still couldn't save it after a month.
The second time, I didn't give up. I cut off most of the branches when I bought it. After a year, apart from some new sprouts, the leaves were not normal and barely alive, so I basically didn't expect it to bloom.
Many people say that gardenias are actually not auspicious, although I don't believe in this, I share it with you here:
1. Gardenias are usually white or creamy white, I haven't seen any other colors. Generally speaking, the color white belongs to metal in the five elements, which is incompatible with people born under the wood sign.
2. Gardenias love water and have a heavy yin energy, absorbing a limited amount of yang energy, unless it is a villa or a large rural courtyard.
3. Elderly people generally avoid white flowers and plants with heavy yin energy, as they already have a heavy yin energy.
4. In rural areas, gardenias are usually planted near ponds away from the house, as gardenias absorb water, which is also related to traditional feng shui.
Based on this, and my half-baked level of plant care, I actually don't recommend planting gardenias on urban balconies with poor lighting.
Of course, if the conditions are suitable, gardenias are still a very good choice. The fragrance of gardenias is very comfortable, fresh and not irritating, and long-lasting.
So, how should gardenias be cultivated and planted to thrive?
1. Morphological characteristics of gardenias
Gardenia, a evergreen shrub of the Rubiaceae family. The trunk is gray, and the young branches are green. The leaves are usually opposite, sometimes in groups of three or more, with oblanceolate elliptical leaves, leathery, dark green, and glossy. The flowers usually solitary near the top of the branch, highly fragrant, double-petaled, pure white, and gradually turning into light yellow over time. The flowering period is in summer. The fruit is ovoid, yellow or orange. There are also several varieties, with single or double petals, but the flower color is always white.
2. Potting gardenias
Gardenias are suitable for using a soil-based medium. Gardenias are typical acid soil plants, and the medium needs to be adjusted to be acidic. Use a smaller pot to plant, to limit the growth of the roots, which will result in better flowering.
3. Light for gardenias
Gardenias like sunlight but cannot withstand direct strong sunlight, making them suitable for planting on east-facing balconies.
4. Temperature for gardenias
Gardenias prefer a warm environment, with the most suitable growth temperature being 16-25°C. They are quite cold-tolerant, requiring temperatures above 0°C in winter.
5. Watering gardenias
Gardenias like moisture. Water when the surface of the potting soil is dry to a depth of about 1 cm, and spray the leaves several times a day when the air is dry. It is best to place the pot on a shallow tray with stones and water and spray the leaves every day. However, after the plant flowers, only a fine mist can be sprayed because the petals will change color if they have water drops on them. When the temperature is low in winter, water when the soil is dry to a depth of about 1/3.
6. Fertilizing gardenias
Gardenias should be fertilized with a compound fertilizer of nitrogen:phosphorus:potassium at a ratio of 1:1:1 every two weeks, stopping from late autumn to winter.
7. Pruning gardenias
After potting gardenia seedlings, pinch the tips 1-2 times to promote branching. Regularly remove old, yellowing leaves from the base. Before repotting in spring, prune the old plant, first removing dead branches, crowded inner branches, and weak branches, then pruning the remaining branches by 1/2 to 2/3.
8. Propagation of gardenias
In spring, cut about 8 cm long gardenia branch tips as cuttings, remove the lower leaves, insert them into the medium, and place them in a shaded area, keeping the medium moist and high humidity, which can take root in about 5 weeks.
9. Diseases and pests of gardenias
Gardenias are mainly affected by leaf spot, yellowing disease (caused by a lack of iron in alkaline potting soil), sooty mold, aphids, scale insects, red spiders, whiteflies, and thrips.
10. Repotting gardenias
Every spring, repot the gardenia plant into a larger pot, trying not to damage the root ball.
Is it good to plant gardenia on the balcony in terms of feng shui?
The feng shui effects of gardenias are more friendly to young people. Young people and children have strong yang energy, which neutralizes the heavy yin energy of gardenias. The fragrance of gardenias makes the indoor air better and more cozy. It is said that gardenias are transformed from fairies who descended to protect a kind-hearted farmer, and the melody of gratitude and kindness will protect the family.
Gardenias are actually easy to grow in rural areas, with no issues with sunlight and a high survival rate for cuttings.
If you really want to grow or place gardenias in your home, what should we pay attention to?
1. Do not place gardenias directly opposite the front door, as it may cause a clash of yin and yang and discomfort.
2. The placement location is important. It should not be in the center of the living room but can be placed next to the TV cabinet or sofa.
3. Avoid placing them in the bedroom because of their fragrance or the lack of light at night, as the fragrance can also affect sleep.
4. Avoid placing them near home appliances, as long-term exposure to such an environment can cause various problems for the plant.
5. Do not place them in shaded areas; they should be exposed to sunlight if possible, or at least in a well-ventilated area.
As for whether gardenias are auspicious or not, it depends on one's perspective. The gardenias I have grown are considered old plants, and while they are not thriving, they are not dead yet.
The above is the specific introduction of whether it is good to plant gardenias on the balcony and the most auspicious plants for the house, hoping to bring some plant knowledge to green enthusiasts.