Gardenias

Q. I have a gardenia bush that was beautiful the first 2 years but didn't grow much. This third year it still hasn't grown much and has lost almost all of it's leaves - it still however has tons of blooms. Any suggestions as to what is going on here? I am in Florida. Should I try and move it at this point? Can I trim it back now?

A. This is a familiar problem. I want you to do several things.

First let the plant bloom so you can enjoy all the wonderfully fragrant flowers as after what you do you may not be see them for a while. There is no need to shock the shrub by pruning off the blossoms as this is Nature's purpose to procreate and that is why the plant flowers to produce seed and generate more gardenias for the future!

Second after the flowering trim all the branches back to healthy swollen buds which are where the new vegetative stems will arise. Take off any weak spindly and dead growth. Do not be afraid to cut if back severely. I do not know how tall it is now but even back to 2 1/2 to 3' would be OK.

Then dig around it in a circle and lift it out with as much of the root ball as possible. Take it to another area of the garden where it receives only half day sun out of the harsh PM sun rays. Protection from above is a bonus. Add peat moss and decomposed leaf mold or compost to lower the soil pH.

Water in very slowly and deeply. Do not feed until the plant starts to show signs of bud break. Then give it an acid fertilizer. I recommend MirAcid for gardenias. Follow the label's directions.

Let me know how the bush responds in a couple months and best of luck!

Q. How do I care for my gardenias?

A. I hope you are growing the plant outdoors in a mild climate. I have no info. That is where gardenias do the best. Other areas where it is cool have severe winters or indoors where it is hot and dry the plant does not thrive and actually ends up dead!

Give it an area where it gets good morning sun and is protected by the harsh PM sun. Do not attempt to grow in total shade. Pick an area where it will be cool when the days are quite warm. Mulch around it to keep the roots near the surface moist and protected from drying out. Water well have a garden bed enriched with organic material well-drained and spaded so that the roots will grow easily and have air pockets for breathing.

Give the plant monthly a fertilizer made for acid-loving plants. MirAcid is a very well-known one. Follow the label directions carefully.

If it gets very warm and the plant is suffering mist the foliage whenever you can to raise the humidity. Give it good space away from other plants and do not dig around its root system. Pick off flowers when they brown and discard into a compost pile or the garbage.

Watch for mealybug white fly and aphids. These are their common predators. I hope this helps you grow a happy gardenia!

Q. Why are the buds on my 4 month old potted gardenia Veitchii turning brown and falling off even when I give it plenty of water and monthly acid based fertilizer?

A. I have two ideas here and both may be the reason.

First a four-month old plant is very young and a gardenia needs time to mature to reach an adult state where it will flower and carry forth with bearing seeds. Nature is similar in plants as animals. Maturity is needed to procreate the form. A young plant is trying out its prowess and producing flowers but is told that it needs time to establish itself in its environment before it can set seed. Flowers are merely Nature's way of luring insects to pollinate and the end result are seeds.