I have this shrub and it is planted in a pot. I got it last year and it bloomed but hasn't bloomed since. It has quite a few bud on it but they have not opened. Moreover, the buds have started falling off now. Does anyone know what is going on and how I can help my gardenia? I love the fragrance and would really love for them to open. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
'Mystery' Gardenia
I don't have any definite answers but mine is doing the same thing, although it's in ground. The leaves are also turning yellow. I think I haven't been feeding it enough.
You might try some Azalea/Camelia food and see what happens.
Prickle, my leaves were also yellow but I watered it with ironite plus on Sunday and they have all greened up now. I thought the buds had not fallen but I noticed today there were a few on the ground. It makes me sad, I was looking forward to some blooms. I had an August beauty before in the ground and the same thing happened. I thought maybe it was because I had not elevated it. That's why this time I tried a different cultivar and tried putting it in a pot. My mother got one also and hers is blooming like crazy! My aunt thinks maybe the pot is too small but I don't think that would stop if from blooming? Perhaps it is getting too much water? We have gotten a bit of rain here in the last few days.
Hi shortstuff430,
Definitely a lot of rain! I originally thought it was too much water too but now I'm more inclined toward it being chlorosis.
I think it looks some better now that I fed it. I hope both of us get some blooms eventually :)
This message was edited May 3, 2007 9:15 PM
I remember when I was growing up, my mom always gave her gardenias a special drink of vinegar water! She also was constantly cutting the blooms & bringing them in the house. She said the more blooms you take off the plant, the more they produce.
Just what my mom used to do. Maybe bringing them in the house is why I'm allergic to them now. lol
That cold be, smockette. Funny how that happens huh? lol
I think there is one that is actually about to bloom! So now I wonder if I haven't been giving it enough water? Or maybe the Ironite Plus helped it. Not sure, but one of the buds looked like it was trying to open so if it doesn't by tomorrow or the next day...well, I can't say I give up, but I'd be really upset. lol If it does bloom then I will try cutting off the blooms. That is pretty much what I do with my roses and it does encourage a lot of new growth on them.
Becky
...warning... new gardener alert... all advice offered with free grain of salt...
I just put a gardenia in the ground a couple weeks ago and I had one bloom pop up overnight and now it's covered in buds but none have opened... I thought maybe the first one was an early bloomer and the rest are just on their way.
It seems happy, foliage is dark green and it's shooting new leaves out. I water it pretty regularly and it's in a plant bed with mulch to keep it moist.
Here it is, with split-leaf philodendron on the left and something called "bear's breech" (which I LOVE!) on the right.
This message was edited May 6, 2007 10:10 AM
It's opening! It's opening! :D
Wombat, I obviously don't know what the deal is. I'd say your plant looks healthy enough. It looks healthier than mine. lol If it has buds unless they are falling off, I'd say they will open in time. I don't know if it usually take this for the buds to open but mine has has buds for months now. At least since March and possibly even February and it is just now opening. Of course, I think something is going on with my little plant but, its ok, it flowering now! The only thing I can think of is with the August Beauty I had, the instructions said to raise it up in the bed and I didn't. Did you follow the directions exactly on how to plant?
I love the fragrance of gardenias. I've planted one every place I've ever lived, until here. You need to watch out for whiteflies. Gardenias seem to be their favorite meal. If you slightly shake a limb and see little white fuzzies in the air, start treating for them. I never had much luck keeping them under control, but they may have something newer now that will do the trick.