Gardenia

 Purchased July 2018, potted and located on back patio. Did well.

 Needs a moist but well drained soil enriched with organic matter.  They will need plenty of light for flowering but protection from the most punishing summer sun and drying winds.  Morning sun or dappled sun all day would be appropriate.

Will drop their buds if shocked, such as drying out.  Try to keep soil moisture consistent.

Plant in tubs in Azalea and Camelia potting mix.  Gardenia like soil on the acid side.  Fertilise with Azalea and Camelia fertiliser.

Epsom salts are recommended as a remedy for yellow leaves but note that like any plant a number of nutrional deficiencies could cause yellowing of foliage.

Gardenias are prone to Sooty Mould.

Prune after flowering.  Avoid winter/spring pruning as this will result in loss of the autum initiated flower buds which normally bloom in late spring/early summer.

Pic Aug 2018  

Buds beginning to form.

Pic Sept 2018

 This was the best the gardenia looked in the time we have had it, shortly after it got white wooly aphids that I struggled to contain using home made white oil.  The plant went backward quickly when we moved all plants from the back patio, the Gardenia went either to the Dining room Garden or the Mediterranean garden, both in full sun in the middle of the day.- see care notes above.  We were unaware of this as both the label and the net info mentioned full sun...

Pic October 2020

Greg heavily pruned away all the dead wood, relocated to back of Fernery where it has started to recover.  Moved pot to Mediterranean Garden in Spring but since reading about the mid day sun we will be finding it a new home.

Pic December 2020