i just asked the same question about hibiscus but how about gardenia--how well do they do for you inside over the winter==lowes has great prices on those too
gardinia
Plano, I've heard that gardenia are difficult indoors, though I haven't grown them, but a friend of mine's mother had a very large one in a very cold room with lots of light and it bloomed every year, what a wonderful smell. I've tried, but my indoor temps are too warm, you know, winter heat, and that makes them drop leaves. Her kind of porch was where she grew it, though it didn't freeze. Not much help from way up here in Alaska.
Carol
Linda, just curious why you'd bring them inside? The dwarves can take cold down to about 28. If you cover them with burlap or a bucket or something, they'd do better outside than in.
Some of the gardenias are more cold hardy http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/search.php?q=gardenia. Which one are you thinking of... May be able to leave it outdoors and mulched. I have tried one in ground and one minature in house. No successes to report ~ sorry.
well i am still learning and i guess the tag said it wasn't hardy for my zone--i did end up trying it outdoors in a protected area and will see what happens--do you think that sometimes the nurseries do not want returns etc so they sort of play it safe and say some are not hardy or perenial in our area but they often turn out to be so? just wondering
Did you plant it in ground or is it still potted?
I think the nursery tags are just generic. The zones have been changing and I read an interesting article on it today. But, the bottom line was ~ you know the area you are in and what will work for you better than anyone. Trial and error is a large part of gardening IMO... pod
Have to agree Pod, I still think the best gardeners are the ones that have killed the most plants. You've got to try everything is my philosophy.
Carol
Linda, you know the larger varieties will do okay in this area? The dwarf ones, however, can't take it as cold as the bigger ones. I had a dwarf once that I put in the ground. It did survive one "normal" winter. But the next year we had a record winter, and it died. My big ones made it, though.
thanks--for all the info--i will try to remember to let you all know how it does but most likely i will not remember!!
I kept mine in a pot inside last year. It survived but barely. This spring put it in the ground and it is twice or three times the size. Only bloomed 3-4 times so was sort of disappointed. I have a planket wrap that I purchased at HD on it now. Will see just how it makes it. With the wild, unsusual weather we are having the last 12 months...who knows. I am always careful that the roots are mulched and that everything is wet...either with rain or watering it.
Two years ago I decided to buy a gardenia plant from a local nursery. The first summer it spent outdoors in a pot, without proper care. At the end of summer I finally got it into the ground, where it's up against the (unheated) garage--but the wall is white and gets sunshine most of the day, so it's fairly sheltered. It made it through the winter without protection, although I had to do some pruning this spring (I don't know whether the abuse the previous summer or low temps in the winter caused the die-off). It has put on new growth, but hasn't blossomed. Now it's out in what's passing for winter here in Dallas, as unprotected as ever, and seems to be doing well. I report all this just to put out some general information.
jessie
thanks jessie--your imput is very encouraging since i live so close to you--mine looks good so far--