Illustrated Tutorial on Planting Gardenias How to Plant Gardenias

Gardenia has been the favorite flower of girls for many years. They are beloved for their beautiful petals and mysterious fragrance. Gardenias can be planted along hedges, in gardens, yards, or in pots. However, it has special requirements for light, temperature and humidity. When you grow fragrant and beautiful flowers, you will feel that the effort in planting was worth it.

Illustrated tutorial on planting gardenias. This DIY tutorial includes: selecting varieties and planting locations, planting, and maintenance. If you want to learn how to plant gardenias, read this article on the production department. Learn the illustrated tutorial on planting gardenias!

Choose varieties and planting locations

1Choose gardenias with dark green and glossy leaves. When choosing gardenias, know that most varieties are suitable for tropical and subtropical climates. Kleim’s Hardy is the only gardenia variety that can withstand the cold.
- Other varieties that are more resistant to cold include Chunk Hayes and Frost Proof.
2Select a planting location. Gardenias need full or partial light. They need warm sunlight to grow healthily. Morning sun is better than afternoon sun.
- If planted in an indoor flowerpot, it needs to be placed near a south-facing window so that it can receive warm, indirect sunlight during the day.
3Choose high-quality soil. Gardenia grows best in moist but well-drained acidic soil. A pH of 5 or 6 is best. You can test the soil beforehand and replenish any missing nutrients. If the soil is too alkaline, add sulfur.

Planting

1Don't get too close to the cement. You can plant gardenias outside your window so you can smell the lovely scent, but not too close to a house or walkway. The soil near cement has high alkalinity and is not suitable for gardenias to grow.
2Add organic matter to the soil. Gardenias prefer nutrient-rich soil. Adding fertilizer, peat moss or manure can encourage plant growth.
3Plant in the prepared site. It is suitable for planting in spring and autumn. If you plant multiple gardenias, leave 1-1.8 meters between them. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root system and as deep as the root system.
- If you plant it in a flower pot, follow the above requirements - the flower pot should be wide enough and twice as wide as the root system of the gardenia.
4Plant the gardenias in the hole. Fill back half the soil and then water. After filling in all the soilWatering beforehand can avoid air bubbles
5Cover mulch around the base of the gardenia. Pine needle mulch is best and can increase the acidity of the soil. Keep the soil around the plant moist until it takes root. The mulch should be about 5cm thick, but should not touch the roots.

Maintenance

1Water every few days after planting. Don't get the leaves and buds wet, otherwise fungus will easily grow. Water more in dry weather. Water less during non-flowering period. Room temperature water is better than cold water.
- Check the topsoil before watering. If the topsoil is still damp, hold off on watering for a while. Many experts recommend placing pebbles on the surface of the soil. Water reaches the soil through the pebbles, which maintains moisture.
2Fertilization. Fertilize every three weeks. Because gardenias like acidity, use acidic fertilizers. Fertilize every March, May, August and October.
- The fertilizer ratio selected can be 6-6-6, 10-10-10, 20-20-20 or 16-4-8. Water-soluble fertilizers are easier to handle.
3Prune during the dormant period. Pruning can only be done when the flowers are not blooming. Do not cut off all the green leaves. Also cut off the withered bones. This will encourage the gardenia to bloom more.
4Prevent pests, especially whiteflies and mealybugs. Also be wary of aphids, spider mites and pasture bugs. If pests and diseases are found, horticultural oil can be used to repel them.
- Watering too much or planting too tightly can lead to pests and diseases. Both situations should be avoided.