How to Grow Gardenia? Detailed Guide to Growing Methods and Precautions
Gardenia is a plant of the genus Gardenia in the family Rubiaceae. Its leaves stay evergreen all year round, and it usually blooms from May to July, with white, fragrant flowers. Besides being ornamental, its fruit, leaves and roots can be used as medicine. In addition, gardenia flowers can also be used in cooking, and after drying, the flowers can be brewed as tea. The fruit can be used to make paint for painting. So, how do you grow gardenia? Below is an introduction to the growing methods and precautions for gardenia.
1. How to grow gardenia? Introduction to gardenia growing methods!
1. Propagation: Gardenia can be propagated by sowing, cuttings or layering, generally mainly by cuttings and layering.
For cuttings, you can choose water cuttings or soil cuttings. Water cuttings have a higher survival rate. In the warm regions of the south, soil cuttings are often carried out from March to October, while in the north, soil cuttings are often carried out from May to June. Water cuttings can be carried out from April to July. Layering is generally carried out around Qingming in April or during the plum rain season.
2. Soil: The soil for cultivating gardenia should be acidic.
Gardenia likes to grow in acidic soil. When choosing soil, choose fertile, loose, well-drained acidic soil, and it is best to keep the soil pH between 4.0-6.5.
3. Temperature: The best growing temperature for gardenia is 16°C-18°C.
Gardenia likes a warm environment and is not cold-tolerant. The temperature during the growing period should preferably be 18-22°C, and during the overwintering period it should preferably be 5-10°C. The best growing temperature is 16°C-18°C. Temperatures that are too high or too low are both unfavorable for the growth of gardenia. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a well-ventilated indoor space for cultivation.
4. Light: Gardenia needs sufficient sunlight during its growing period.
Gardenia is a light-loving plant, but it cannot be exposed to scorching sun. Therefore, in spring and autumn, the light duration should be increased, and in summer and winter it is recommended to place it indoors with light for cultivation. It needs to maintain 60% sunlight all day to meet its growth needs.
5. Water: Gardenia needs sufficient water during its growing period.
Gardenia is a moisture-loving plant, and the air humidity must not be lower than 70%. Therefore, during the growing period, attention should be paid to appropriately increasing the amount of watering, and at the same time, some water should often be sprayed on the leaves.
6. Fertilizing: Gardenia should be given light fertilizer frequently during its growing period.
Gardenia is a fertilizer-loving plant. During the vigorous growth period, fertilizer such as soybean cake, sesame paste residue, and peanut bran can be applied once every half a month. It needs to be fermented and decomposed before application, and it must be applied lightly and frequently. Do not fertilize during the dormant period.
7. Pruning: Gardenia should be pruned in a timely manner.
During the growing period, gardenia branches can easily overlap, so it should be pruned in a timely manner. In April during the flower bud stage, redundant branches and leaves should be cut off. After flowering, faded flowers should be cut off promptly to encourage new shoots. When new shoots grow to 2-3 nodes, pinch off the tips, and in August pinch off the tips of the second flush of branches again.
2. What are the precautions for growing gardenia?
1. If the soil for cultivating gardenia contains alkali, it will cause the branches to wither, the leaves to scorch, and even death. Therefore, soil alkalization must be prevented.
2. Gardenia is afraid of direct strong light, which can cause the leaves to turn yellow, whiten, and even fall off. Therefore, in summer it should be placed in a place with scattered light for care.
3. Gardenia must not have water accumulation, so as to avoid root rot. Do not water the flower buds when it is blooming, otherwise they are prone to rot.
4. Gardenia is afraid of concentrated fertilizer and raw fertilizer, which can easily burn the roots. Fertilizing can be skipped during the flowering period, otherwise it can easily cause the plant to grow excessively and lead to bud drop and flower drop.
5. Gardenia is prone to leaf yellowing disease and leaf spot disease. Pests include stinging moths, scale insects and whiteflies, so attention should be paid to prevention and control.
3. How to care for gardenia in winter?
In winter, when the weather is cold, gardenia will go dormant. Keep the room temperature between 6-12 degrees Celsius. If it is too low, frost damage is likely to occur. Even if gardenia is dormant, it still needs sunlight, just 3-4 hours a day. Long periods without sunlight will cause the leaves to turn yellow. Watering is also needed in winter, but not too much. You can water once a month, but do not wait until the soil dries and hardens before watering. Fertilizing can be skipped.
4. Is gardenia the same as jasmine?
Gardenia and jasmine are not the same.
The old branches of gardenia are gray, while the old branches of jasmine are brown. Gardenia leaves are about 12 cm long, while jasmine leaves are 3-8 cm long. Gardenia leaves are thicker than jasmine leaves. Gardenia buds are relatively pointed, and the flowers bloom one by one, while jasmine buds are relatively round, and the flowers bloom in clusters of three or more together. Gardenia's flowering period is from May to July, and its fragrance resembles creamy freshness, while jasmine has three flowering periods: late June to early July, around early August, and early September to early October, and its fragrance resembles green tea. Gardenia fruit is oval-shaped, relatively large, and yellow or orange-red in color, while jasmine fruit is spherical, relatively small, and purple-black in color.
The above are the growing methods and precautions for gardenia, and gardenia and jasmine are not the same, so everyone should pay attention to distinguishing them.