Gardenia

Owner: Holly Dz
7 days ago
4 min read

Corresponding Blog for Podcast Episode #113

Gardenias are one of the sweetest smelling houseplants you could grow. It can be a challenging houseplant, particularly in the Midwest, but if you're willing to take it on, you'll be rewarded with glossy green leaves and lovely fragrant flowers.

Botanical Name: Gardenia jasminoides

Common Name: Gardenia or Cape Jasmine

There are over 200 varieties of Gardenias but most of the time at local garden centers, they are only labelled "Gardenia".

There is some variation in leave size, plant form, flower size, flower petals, and slight variation in flower color. Some flowers will have single petals while others will be double. Most flowers are white but there is a range of white to light yellow for flowers. Most will be found in shrub form but you can often find them grafted into tree form.

All Gardenias will have thick, leathery leaves and a very fragrant (usually white) flower.

When the flower is done blooming, it will turn brown and eventually crunchy. At that point, you can cut it off the plant at the stem.

I don't usually recommend this company because they are so expensive but MANY Midwest garden centers actually sell Monrovia tropical plants. So you will most likely find one of these varieties or cultivars when shopping! LINK HERE

Sun Requirements:

This is one of those houseplants I would highly recommend you move outside in the warm months. They thrive in direct light or bright, indirect light outdoors (4-6 hours or sunlight). Indoors, you need to give them maximum light or supplement with a grow light.

If you need any guidance to understanding light, or are in need of a grow light to help increase your light, check out the links!

Water Requirement

Gardenias are medium moisture plants so keeping the soil moist is important. They do not like sitting in water so make sure you are emptying your saucer or allowing the water to drain properly. In winter, you can allow the top of the soil to dry out and reduce watering.

Extra humidity is a MUST for Gardenias to thrive. Different ways to increase humidity are by placing a humidifier near by, misting the leaves with a spray bottle, placing a tray of water and pebbles below the plant (you can use a larger saucer for this), placing you plant in a mini Ikea greenhouse or green house cabinet (there are more sizes and color besides the link I provided). I use a humidifier and I do mist the leaves sometimes.

Fertilizer

Even though I've often said fertilizing houseplants is up to you, I would recommend doing something a little more specific for Gardenias. Here are what a couple of reliable resources recommend:

According to the Practical Houseplant Book: "From spring to late summer, apply a half strength fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants every 2 weeks"
According to the The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: "Feed plant every 2 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer that contains micronutrients, especially iron, or use a slow release azalea fertilizer sprinkled into the pot."

As I always say, there are LOTS of different brands and products to fertilize plants with even with more specific needs like this. I trust Fox Farm and they do carry some acidic fertilizers like Happy Frog Acid Loving Plant Fertilizer.

If you need help understanding fertilizer a bit more, check out Podcast Episode 103 or the Fertilizer Explains blog post.

Common Problems

Yellow Leaves: this could be from overwatering, underwatering or could be a nutritional issue. If you notice the leaves are yellow with green veins, that is usually the nutritional issue. The solution can be adding a fertilizer that includes iron, magnesium, and sulfur. Most acid loving plant fertilizers have those nutrients.
Flower buds drop: this is usually because of a lack of light. Once you see it start to bloom, make sure you are doing everything you can for your plant to thrive- light, fertilizer and humidity.
Spider Mites: if you see very small webbing and tiny black round bugs you have spider mites. Check out episode 33 or the blog post to learn how to treat them.
Mealybugs: if you see cotton-looking bumps in with the stems and leaves you have mealybugs. Check out episode 33 or the blog post to learn how to treat them.

Other Facts

All part of the Rubiaceae Family along with Buttonbush, Ixora, Coffee, Coral Bead Plant, Firecracker Plant.
They are native to Africa, Asia, Australia and some Pacific Islands
Hardiness zone about 8-11 (some sources say 7 depending on the cultivar)
This is a plant does its absolute best if grown outdoors during the warmer months and brought indoors only for the cold months.
- If you do plant to bring it indoors in winter, the leaves will mostly drop which is normal.
- Increase the humidity indoors for this plant, providing as much light as possible and avoiding drafty areas in your home will help the transition.
- Once you have it in place indoors, do not move it. The less stress the plant experiences, the better.
You can propagate with stem cutting but this can be difficult. Make sure you have very high humidity and using a rooting powder could help maximize the potential.
These are toxic poisonous to pets. If you are interested in learning about more pet friendly plants, check out Podcast Ep#31 for more info or the corresponding blog post!

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Always written with extreme plant passion!

Love, Holly (Owner & Creator of Houseplant Homebody LLC)

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