Gardenia jasmine: features and care at home

Growers love gardenia because it is an evergreen perennial. At home, the height of the bush is much less, but this does not make it less beloved.

Gardenia jasmine grows in the form of a bush with spreading branches, sometimes in an adult form it takes the form of a tree with several trunks. Indoor gardenia can reach no more than 50 centimeters in height, and a plant that grows in the wild sometimes stretches up to 180 centimeters.

The foliage is dark green, its base is not visible, since it is covered by stipules. Leaves never appear alone, only in pairs, and sometimes even 3 in one bunch. The leaf plate is glossy, has an ovoid shape; veins can be seen on its surface. Large flowers begin to bloom between June and October. They are visible from the axils of the leaves, at the tops of the branches. Sometimes they are solitary, and sometimes they are formed in groups of 6 buds. The corolla reaches 7 centimeters in diameter. There are varieties where it is terry, but it can be simple or even semi-double.

There is no great variety in color - the flowers are either yellow or white. It is difficult not to catch the aroma of the plant, since it is very sharp, somewhat reminiscent of jasmine bushes, but has a slight hint of citrus. The flowers are pollinated, after which fleshy, rather large fruits with a large number of seeds inside appear. When the fruit is fully ripe, it cracks.

If we consider the whole genus, then the total number of its species is about 250. Ornamental are especially popular in indoor floriculture.

The advantage of the jasmine gardenia is that it adapts very easily to keeping it indoors. The most popular varieties can be identified.

• Golden Magic... This variety is especially loved by breeders for the fact that it blooms for a long time and pleases with its aroma for several months.

• "Fortune". The flowers of this variety are large, they reach 10 centimeters, although this is not a favorite.

• "Variegata". This gardenia grows up to a meter in height, on the leaves of the distinctive characteristics of a white pattern, which from the side resembles marble. The flowers are double, exude an amazing aroma and reach a diameter of 8 centimeters. The variety in question takes root ideally in indoor conditions.

• "The first love"... It will delight you with flowering in early spring, cream flowers appear on top of a dense dark green crown.

• "Radikans". The width of the bush of this plant reaches one and a half meters, the height can be up to a meter. The leaves are formed as small, like the flowers, which can be a maximum of 4 centimeters in diameter, and are covered with terry at the edges.

• Belmont. A distinctive feature of this variety is the large ovoid leaves. The buds bloom and delight with flowers with a diameter of 10 centimeters. Growers love this gardenia for its increased resistance to sudden drops in ambient temperature and disease.

• "Amy"... A variety that exhibits not only large flowers, but can bloom 2 times a year.

• Mystery. The height of the bushes of the described gardenia can reach 2 meters, while the flowers are 14 centimeters in diameter, flowering is repeated twice.

Gardenia can be successfully kept at home, and not only grown outdoors. In order to grow it indoors, you need to create an ideal climate.

High humidity is essential for this indoor flower. You can enlarge it by placing the gardenias on a tray of pebbles or rocks and water. You can not spray moisture on the foliage, such measures cause rotting and make the bush susceptible to disease. Outdoors, the bush requires a moderate amount of water and deep watering every few weeks. Indoor or container plants need weekly soil moisture, but before adding a new batch, make sure that the soil is dry enough.

The flower feels great in partial shade, but it needs light indoors for at least half the day. In hot climates, gardenias grow best where the morning sun hits the foliage. A space under tall trees such as oaks or pines works well. In the room, it is better to put the container on the south or west window. Too much gardenia shade grows with long stems, weak, thin leaves. They do not form enough flower buds, and those that do appear may fall off before they bloom. Flowers usually turn brown in strong sun.

Freezing, the plant begins to lose leaves or dies. To protect him from the winter winds, experts advise planting a bush to the east or north of buildings or other structures.

Dry, sandy ground or dense clay can negatively affect the health of your gardenia. Gardeners and plant breeders are advised to determine the pH of the soil and establish the amount of organic matter in it before planting. These flowers prefer a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. They also appreciate a lot of humus.

If the soil pH is above 6.0, you can lower it to the desired range using sulfur. In heavy soil with a large amount of clay and sand, an additional layer of bark or ready-made manure is added. You can use a layer of organic mulch around the base of your gardenias every spring. Mulching helps keep the garden soil moist and increases the organic matter content.

If the plant is grown in an indoor container, the shrub should not be in moist soil. A soil that is rich in organic material works well. The best planting time is autumn or spring. To improve the potting mix, you must:

• use rich nutrient soil for the container plant;
• mix compost, needles or bark before planting a plant;
• add perlite or sand to the container for proper drainage.

If you properly care for your garden or indoor gardenia, it will delight you with its flowering longer.

It is necessary to water the plant constantly, especially during the active growing season. After planting the gardenia in the garden, water at least 2 times a week for the first six. Growing gardenias indoors is a little more difficult than growing outdoors. The correct watering regimen is also key in this case, as the plant must struggle with dry, hot air and less ideal lighting conditions. It is very important to constantly monitor the topsoil of the gardenia grown in the room.

The plant will suffer if the compost is constantly wet. In this version, it deprives the roots of the plant of air, which is needed for normal development. In this case, the leaves become dull, yellow and fall off. The quality and temperature of the water also determines the number of buds that appear on the stems. It is desirable that it is not cold, at room temperature.

Gardenias need fertilizer to flower. The best time to use top dressing is spring and early summer. If the gardenia leaves start to turn yellow, then there is not enough iron. When applying the mixture, you cannot apply it to the roots; in general, this flower does not like to be touched by its root system. Most professionals recommend fertilizing gardenias on a regular schedule, stopping in early fall. Better to use organic options such as manure, bone meal. Light green or yellow leaves during warmer months can indicate a high pH. In this case, ammonium sulfate should be used.

Gardenias, like azaleas, are acid-loving plants. They will not grow on universal fertilizers, they require a special formula with a higher acidity. You can add coffee, tea or salt to the finished mixture. After flowering in late spring, peat moss can be added to the fertilizing mixture. Gardenias should be fertilized 3 times a year - in spring, summer and early fall, using the recommended amount of fertilizer or slightly less. Since these are evergreens, they will delight with their bright foliage all year round if protected from frost. When feeding fertilizer first, lightly water the soil, application on dry soil may harm the roots.

Gardenias do not require pruning per se, but loose branches can be cut to reduce the size or shape of the plant. Pruning is required correctly, removing wilted flowers after flowering. The instrument must be sterilized before use with alcohol or a solution from an activated carbon tablet to reduce the spread of diseases from one plant to another.

Always cut the gardenia branches just above the node where the leaf is attached to the stem. Use sharp, sterile scissors to avoid an uneven cut.

It doesn't take much to make a plant bloom, just provide it with proper care. After the flowers disappear, many growers find it very difficult to get potted gardenias to bloom again. In fact, this is not so - it is important to just take care of the environment, as the flower stubbornly refuses to bud until its needs are met.

The grower is advised to fertilize the gardenias twice a month with acidifying fertilizers to keep the soil pH between 5.0 and 6.0. High soil pH causes chlorosis and yellowing of stems and leaves due to lack of chlorophyll, resulting in no buds. It is equally important to maintain a temperature of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime and 60 to 62 degrees at night. Gardenias will not release flower buds when temperatures are above 65 degrees at night. The kidneys will collapse if the heat rises above 70 ° F during the daytime.

Trays filled with water and small stones can be used to increase the humidity near the gardenia. Low humidity also causes bud loss and inability to bloom. The soil is kept evenly moist and does not dry out between waterings. In drought, the plant begins to defend itself and simply throws off the color so as not to waste its own strength.

Florists grow gardenias under bright but indirect light. It is often necessary to use lamps with artificial lighting. The flower must remain in complete darkness for 14 hours, this is the only way to initiate flowering. It is imperative to avoid cold drafts, which are most often near windows or doors, and also keep the pot away from heat sources, all this negatively affects flowering.

Repotting is done every few years when the plant outgrows the existing container. At the very beginning, after the purchase, an appropriate container with high-quality drainage is selected and prepared. The pot should be no more than a few centimeters from the previous container. It is important to make sure so that it is clean and has wide holes in the bottom for drainage.

For transplantation, choose a high-quality, well-drained environment, designed specifically for plants that prefer acidic soil. Avoid any soil that contains lime.

You can prepare the soil yourself using peat moss, cotton meal, or another material that slightly acidifies the compost. Are placed a sufficient amount of culture medium in the bottom of the container.

When the planting container is ready, they begin to change the pot. Remove the gardenia root mass from its current container, examine the roots. At this stage, it is imperative that any dead, sick, or broken ones are cropped. Place the roots in a prepared pot on top of the previously poured soil. At this stage, the position of the flower is adjusted, the root collar should be underground.

Fill the space around the root mass with soil, gently tamping it. This is necessary to remove air pockets formed in the soil.

Place the gardenia container where it will receive enough bright ambient light for at least half a day. You can keep the flower on a sunny window in winter, but put it indoors at night. It is impossible for the foliage flower to come into contact with the glass, this leads to hypothermia, and as a result of this, to the appearance of problems.

For watering, it is advisable to use distilled water or rainwater at least for the first time after transplanting, since tap water can increase the pH around the roots. Despite the fact that gardenia is drought-resistant, it does not like fluctuations in humidity levels, this often causes bud fall. Fertilization can be done only a month after transplanting., because at this moment the plant is under stress, and the additional load is harmful to it.

The pot is changed again after the next flowering, as well as when the roots begin to grow on the soil surface or break through the holes in the bottom of the container.

The described flower can be propagated by cuttings or seeds - each breeder chooses the best and easily accessible option for himself. Gardenias are angiosperms or flowering plants that possess both male and female reproductive organs. They self-pollinate and produce green fruits that contain seeds. They can be simply scattered on the ground for germination, or they can be grown in containers. These flowers grow rather slowly, so you should not wait until the bush is 3 years old for flowering.

To form a shoot for planting, first remove all the lower leaves, then you need to lower the end of the branch into the growth activator. Gardenia cuttings are best planted in pots filled with moist clay soil and sand. To ensure proper growth, cuttings must be cured in a warm environment of about 75 ° F. If the soil is constantly moist, but not waterlogged, then after 4-8 weeks the branch should take root.

A good root system develops best from cuttings taken in the summer. It is necessary to take material from a young and healthy plant that does not have mineral deficiency and is not under stress due to lack of water. The best time of day for grafting is early morning.

If the material cannot be placed immediately in the nutrient medium, then it can be kept for a short period in cool, humid conditions, for example, in the refrigerator in a plastic bag with damp peat moss or a paper towel. Providing the cuttings with the right environment and conditions will help them take root faster. The mixture can be made from sterile coarse sand, peat moss, vermiculite, or perlite. Gardenia seeds germinate best when planted fresh, shortly after harvest. Before planting, you will need to soak the planting material in water for about 24 hours. The liquid should be warm.

Each seed is planted in the ground to a depth of 8 mm. A mixture of peat moss, sand and perlite is suitable for planting. Ambient temperature 75 degrees Fahrenheit... If these conditions are met, the seeds will germinate after 4 weeks. The seedlings are ready to be transplanted into a large container with well-drained and nutritious soil after they have put out the second leaf.

The attack of insects such as spiders, aphids, spider mites can destroy the plant. The grower is required to check the bush daily for the first signs of infection, since it is much easier to cope with the problem at an early stage. The simplest cure for all possible insects is soap or alcohol solution. You can simply increase the humidity and water the flower with a shower of warm water, then let it drain.

And gardenias are susceptible to certain diseases, whether they grow indoors or outdoors. A white bloom that looks like a cloud of tiny beetles rising from a plant is the initial stage of mold. It is removed with fungicides. Root rot appears as wilted leaves. Most often, its appearance is caused by waterlogging. To fix the problem, you will first need to cut off all damaged roots, change the soil, only after that you can transplant the flower. In the future, it is important to make high-quality drainage and control watering.

With an insufficient amount of fertilizer, the foliage turns yellow, falls off, the situation can be restored by replenishing the deficiency of minerals. Gardenias require a slightly acidic soil with a balanced mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with several other trace minerals including calcium, magnesium, and iron. Blackening leaves speak of too compacted soil, the flower suffocates, or the soil is waterlogged more than it should be. It is better to treat it with fungicides.

For information on how to care for a jasmine gardenia at home, see the next video.