Why Does a Gardenia Keep Getting Yellow Leaves? Prevention and Treatment Methods

Gardenia, with its rich fragrance and elegant flowers, is a favorite of many households, but it is not easy to grow. It often drops leaves and develops yellow leaves, yet the cause is unknown. Today let's talk about it!

1. It likes moisture and plenty of sun

Gardenia loves light. It can also grow in semi-shade for a long time, but it needs to maintain 60% of full-day light to meet its growth needs.

2. Choose acidic potting soil

The suitable pH value is 5 to 6. For the growing medium, you can choose leaf mold, peat soil, or composted sawdust plus half garden soil. Do not use old wall soil or coal cinders.

3. Water frequently

Water whenever the surface of the potting soil looks dry. In the evening, you can use a spray bottle to sprinkle water on the leaves. For plants that grow too vigorously and have longer internodes, do not water in the evening; water again after the sun comes up in the morning.

4. Fertilize frequently

You can add 3% decomposed cake fertilizer to the growing medium as a base fertilizer. During the growing season, water once a week with alum fertilizer water made by composting cake fertilizer with ferrous sulfate, and during the bud stage water 1 to 2 times with a 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate aqueous solution. Stop fertilizing during the hottest summer period when the temperature is above 35°C and in autumn when it is below 15°C.

5. Repot and change the soil at the right time

For home potted plants, when the crown width reaches about 28 cm, change the potting soil. If repotting, plant it into the new pot together with the root ball. It is better to change the soil in March in spring.

6. Prune appropriately

According to the tree shape, choose and keep three main branches, and at any time cut off other branches sprouting from root suckers. Remember that gardenia must not be cut back at the branch tips in spring, otherwise it will not bloom that year.

7. A good winter dormancy

In the severe winter in the north, the root system of gardenia will be damaged and recover only in spring. Therefore, wrap the flowerpot well with foam plastic and other insulating materials to protect the root system, and place it in a wind-sheltered, sunny spot to overwinter. Then it will recover quickly in spring and bloom early.

Yellowing of gardenia leaves is fairly common and is caused by many reasons, so different measures must be taken to prevent and control it

8. Iron deficiency

When iron is deficient, the tissue between the veins of young tender leaves loses green color and turns yellow. In severe cases, the leaves of the whole plant turn yellow, and scorched leaves and withered branches may even appear, finally causing the plant to die. For this situation, spray a 0.2%-0.5% ferrous sulfate aqueous solution for prevention and control.

9. Magnesium deficiency

Yellowing caused by magnesium deficiency starts from the old leaves and gradually develops toward the new leaves; the veins remain green, and in severe cases the leaves fall off and the plant dies. For this situation, spray 0.7%-0.8% boron-magnesium fertilizer for prevention and control. Overwatering, freezing, and other factors can also cause yellow leaves, so special attention must be paid during care.