Gardenia Care To Get A Gardenia Bush To Bloom
A gardenia flower is truly a beauty to behold and the scent is just as wonderful to experience. Unfortunately for many gardenia bush owners, gardenias are notoriously tricky to coax into bloom, but it can be done. Care and feeding gardenia is key to getting a gardenia bush to bloom.
Care of a Gardenia Bush
In order to get a gardenia to bloom, there are four things to remember about proper gardenia care. These are:
- Humidity
- Sunlight
- Temperature
- Fertilizer
Humidity - Care of a gardenia bush means providing lots of humidity. If your gardenia is in a container, setting the container on a dish filled with pebbles and water will help to increase the surrounding humidity. Whether your gardenia bush is planted in the ground or in a container, daily misting with a spray bottle will increase the humidity around the plant. Sunlight - Taking care of a gardenia bush also involves making sure that the plant gets proper sunlight. An outdoor gardenia should be planted in a sunny location that is shaded somewhat during the hottest part of the day. For indoor gardenia bushes, place the gardenia in a bright light location but not in direct light. Temperature - Gardenias bloom best when the daytime temperatures are warm but not hot and the nighttime temperatures are cool. Ideally, for the day, you want the temperatures to be between 65 and 75 degrees F. (18-24 C.) during the day and between 55 and 60 degrees F. (13-16 C.) at night. For proper gardenia care, make sure that your plant is in an area where the temperatures will match this pattern. Fertilizer - A gardenia bush is a heavy feeder. Proper care and feeding gardenia means that you should be fertilizing your gardenia every two weeks with a regular water soluble fertilizer solution. Once every three to four months, fertilize your gardenia with an acid based fertilizer. Gardenia care can be time consuming, but the gardenia blooms are certainly worth the effort. Taking care of a gardenia properly will reward you with the lovely and heavenly scented flowers that make gardenias so special. Proper care and feeding gardenia bushes is all it takes.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
Heather Rhoades founded Gardening Know How in 2007. She holds degrees from Cleveland State University and Northern Kentucky University. She is an avid gardener with a passion for community, and is a recipient of the Master Gardeners of Ohio Lifetime Achievement Award.
-
Try These 5 Types Of Spruce Trees – Easy Ways To Add Evergreen Beauty To Every Garden
You might not have the largest yard or plot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow the mighty spruce. These 5 types of spruce trees are very adaptable to different spaces
By Teo Spengler
-
Holiday Evergreen Plants: 9 Unique Evergreens For Holiday Cheer That Can Last All Year!
Not all holiday evergreen plants conform to the traditional standard, so get ready to broaden your mind and brighten your festive spirits with these unique holiday evergreens
By Janey Goulding