How to Maintain Healthy Gardenia Trees

Gardenia trees are a favorite among gardeners for their lush, scented blossoms. But these tropical plants are a bit of a challenge to maintain. Keeping a healthy gardenia tree depends on specific details when watering and placing the plant. A gardener must pay close attention to the gardenia’s reaction to weather, sunlight, and watering routines to develop the best pattern for the specific gardenia plant.

First, determine if you will keep the gardenia tree indoors or out in a garden or patio. Outside, gardenias do best with daily temperatures in the low to mid 70s. If your local weather is significantly above or below this, you may want to keep the gardenia indoors. In northern states with milder summers, you may keep the gardenia outside but winter it inside.

Pick your planting spot in a place with partial sunlight or shifting shade. Avoid all day sun as well as overhanging plants and trees. Gardenias are notorious for getting black spots from moisture and if rain drips from other trees onto the plant you will have this problem.

Dig your hole twice as large as the ball of gardenia roots. The top of this ball should sit just above the soil line. Place your tree and refill the hole with organic potting soil. Use extra soil to form a mound up over the top of the root ball. This allows water to drain properly from the roots. Improper drainage is one of the issues that causes disease and root rot in gardenias. Fertilize your gardenia plant on a monthly basis throughout the spring and summer with an acid fertilizer, like those used for azaleas.

If you choose to keep or winter your gardenia indoors, location is also important. Unlike when planting outside, indoors the gardenia needs full sunlight. Because gardenias can too large to move easily, it is recommended to put them on a large wheeled platform. The pot also needs to have a separate, removable saucer on the bottom.

The trickiest part to keeping gardenias indoors is to maintain the right watering ratio. Gardenias are equally sensitive to too much or too little water. Instead of watering directly on the soil, pour the water into the removable tray on the bottom. Allow the gardenia time to soak up as much water as it will. Then pour out any remaining water. It is a tricky balance between keeping the roots from drying out and not letting them stay wet.

Keeping a gardenia requires a lot of attention to plant behavior. Play close attention to how often your particular plant in your local region needs water. It may take a few weeks to get the right balance.

Bud drop is the biggest complaint from gardenia owners. The plant will produce large buds and look promising, but they will fall off without blooming. It is frustrating and usually a sign of improper watering or being too hot. You must also check the gardenia tree daily for insects like mealy bugs and spiders which are attracted to the fragrant blossoms.