gardenia
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gardenia
I have had this gardenia for 4 years and it has not bloomed any flowers. Recently it has begun to whilt, so I removed all dead leaves and branches and added fresh potting soil but I need help as to what I am doing wrong. Why hasn't it had a bloom and why is it whilting?
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Hi Sngause,
I'm a bit unsure of what you did, but let's give this a go. You say you "added fresh potting soil". I'm not sure if you are saying that you repotted it in a pot about 2" larger and added fresh soil, you removed some of the soil around the rootball and put it back in the same pot with more soil, if you lifted the rootball out of the pot and put soil in the bottom, or if you put more soil on top of what was there. Without knowing that I can't say for sure why your plant is wilting, but here's what I think and what should be done.
I suspect it's wilting because it's severely rootbound and can't take up the water it needs. For plants that I suspect or know are severely rootbound, I water well 2 to 3 days before repotting. If you've had it for 4 years and not repotted it in the last 1 to 2 years, it's time for a new pot that is 2" larger. You may have to tease out the roots so they spread into the new soil in a pot about 2" larger. If using a clay pot, it should be soaked in water until the bubbles stop. That way the dry pot won't soak up the water when you repot it. After repotting you should water until the water runs through to the saucer. Don't let it sit in water for more then 15 minutes. Here's some sites that have some good pictures.
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=70
http://www.ourgardengang.com/containerpotting.htm
I suspect it hasn't bloomed because of lack of fertilizer and because it's rootbound. Once your gardenia has had a chance to settle into it's new home, in about 3 weeks, you can fertilize. I prefer organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion mixed with seaweed. You can also water with milk. I fill the just emptied milk container with water and use that to water my plants. You can also use cooled water from hard or soft boiled eggs or veggie cooking water as long as nothing has been added to the water such as fats or salt. You can fertilize once a month with the fish emulsion and seaweed during spring and summer. The milk and cooled cooking water I use year round when I have it.
Newt
I'm a bit unsure of what you did, but let's give this a go. You say you "added fresh potting soil". I'm not sure if you are saying that you repotted it in a pot about 2" larger and added fresh soil, you removed some of the soil around the rootball and put it back in the same pot with more soil, if you lifted the rootball out of the pot and put soil in the bottom, or if you put more soil on top of what was there. Without knowing that I can't say for sure why your plant is wilting, but here's what I think and what should be done.
I suspect it's wilting because it's severely rootbound and can't take up the water it needs. For plants that I suspect or know are severely rootbound, I water well 2 to 3 days before repotting. If you've had it for 4 years and not repotted it in the last 1 to 2 years, it's time for a new pot that is 2" larger. You may have to tease out the roots so they spread into the new soil in a pot about 2" larger. If using a clay pot, it should be soaked in water until the bubbles stop. That way the dry pot won't soak up the water when you repot it. After repotting you should water until the water runs through to the saucer. Don't let it sit in water for more then 15 minutes. Here's some sites that have some good pictures.
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=70
http://www.ourgardengang.com/containerpotting.htm
I suspect it hasn't bloomed because of lack of fertilizer and because it's rootbound. Once your gardenia has had a chance to settle into it's new home, in about 3 weeks, you can fertilize. I prefer organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion mixed with seaweed. You can also water with milk. I fill the just emptied milk container with water and use that to water my plants. You can also use cooled water from hard or soft boiled eggs or veggie cooking water as long as nothing has been added to the water such as fats or salt. You can fertilize once a month with the fish emulsion and seaweed during spring and summer. The milk and cooled cooking water I use year round when I have it.
Newt
#3
Gardenia needs morning sun or filtered light all day. If growing indoors, grow in sunroom or south facing window. Soil needs to be high acid. Use acidifying fertilizer. Do not over water, but keep soil moist. Gardenias like high humidity and appreciate misting. Root bound gardenias will not thrive.
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When I said I repotted what I meant was the original pot it came when I noticed it was rootbound I moved it into a larger pot with miracle grow potting soil it still has not grown into this pot just yesterday I took it outside emptied the pot from the soil that it was in thinking that maybe it just needed fresh soil and to make sure the roots were not bunched together. I teased the roots to unbunch them then put fresh miracle grow soil and just enough water that the top of the soil was damp then I moved it from were it was on the sun porch to a spot were it could get more sun. Do you think I did anything wrong? But thanks for the advice I will definitely try and see what happens
Last edited by Newt; 04-10-08 at 05:20 PM. Reason: Remove duplicate info
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Sngause, when you put a plant in a new pot, it should be about 2" larger then the old one and you should water so the water runs through the drainage holes in the bottom. Let it sit in the extra water in the saucer for 5 to 10 minutes. Then dump any extra water that wasn't absorbed. It sounds like you didn't water deeply enough and that's why it's wilting.
Most potting soils come with added slow release fertilizer in them these days. Check the bag of Miracle Gro potting soil you used to see if it contains a slow release fertilizer. If it does, do not fertilize for 3 to 6 months. If you use a synthetic fertilizer before then, you risk burning the roots. Allow the watering for the next 3 to 6 months to flush out the fertilizer in the potting soil. Be sure to let the water run out the drainage holes each time you water and dump any extra out of the saucer.
Newt
Most potting soils come with added slow release fertilizer in them these days. Check the bag of Miracle Gro potting soil you used to see if it contains a slow release fertilizer. If it does, do not fertilize for 3 to 6 months. If you use a synthetic fertilizer before then, you risk burning the roots. Allow the watering for the next 3 to 6 months to flush out the fertilizer in the potting soil. Be sure to let the water run out the drainage holes each time you water and dump any extra out of the saucer.
Newt
#7
Thanks, Newt, I had a bug in my brain about all that Miracle Gro. Plants struggle so when transplanted. Adding fertilizer can confuse and overwhelm them. It's best not to fertilize when transplanting, especially if fertilizing all along.
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Twelvepole, no problem! Most new potting soils now have a slow release fertilizer in them. The way the bags are labeled, most folks don't even realize it. Been there, had that happen!
Newt
Newt