Gardenias are beautiful fragrant flowers with a creamy white hue and glossy, dark green leaves. There are several varieties of this evergreen shrub, but all of them have two things in common: a luscious scent and lovely, waxy flowers. When planted around a porch or near windows, gardenias infuse the air in the house with a sweet scent, truly making a house a home. Once you become more acquainted with the simple ways to take care of this lovely flower, you will realize that you don’t really need to be a gardenia expert to grow and take care of it. Here are some tips from florist gardenia enthusiasts to help get you started.
Gardenia Cultivar
Make sure the species you choose can adapt well in your area and fit your personal preference. Also, check for pest and disease resistance of the cultivar. You may want to consider planing ‘gardenia jasminoides’, which is one of the most commonly cultivated houseplant varieties.
Soil Preparation
While gardenia plants do well in neutral soils, they perform best in loose, well-drained, acidic soils, where the pH ranges from 4.5 to 5.5. As per the directions of florist gardenia experts, you can add farmyard compost to the potting soil. Also, while getting the soil ready for planting, make sure to supplement it with peat moss to help increase the water holding capacity.
Humidity Level
The right humidity level is essential for the timely blooming of gardenias. Generally, all types of gardenias are best grown in high humidity, but extremely-high humidity and/or too dry soil can cause browning of the plants. It is a good idea to use a room humidifier to maintain a high humidity level.
Temperature Range and Light Intensity
Since gardenias are native to warm climate areas, it is important to protect them from extremely cold temperatures. And similarly to other tropical plants, gardenias require optimum exposure to light. So keep your plants close to bright light and consider artificial light to satisfy their requirement during the colder months.
Garden Design Tips
You can use gardenias as hedge plants along sidewalks, entryways, and fences, and anywhere in the garden where their fragrance can be appreciated. Low-growing spreading cultivars, such as ‘radicans’, look rather appealing in borders or as ground-covers. Potted gardenias are perfect for patios and porches, where they can be sheltered from the scorching sun and extreme winds – plus, you can easily move them indoors if needed.
