Transplanting Gardenia Plants - Planting Gardenia Somewhere New

The best time to transplant gardenia plants is in the fall, after the plant has finished blooming. Gardenia plants transplant best when the weather is cool and the plant is slowing down. About a week before transplanting gardenia bushes, prune the branches back by one-quarter or one-third.

Where is the best place to plant a gardenia plant?

Select a site with full sun to light shade. Although a Gardenia plant prefers full sun, some shade is appreciated during the warmer months of the year or its leaves may scorch and its buds may fall off if they get too much sunlight. In hot climates, Gardenias grow best with morning sun and afternoon shade.

Should gardenias be planted in sun or shade?

Light: Gardenias can handle full sun, but need protection from baking midday or afternoon sun in higher growing zones. North and east-facing exposures are ideal because they will receive bright morning light and some midday light, but won't be in full sun all day or during the absolute heat of the day.

How do I transplant a gardenia bush?

To move a gardenia, dig the new hole first. Dig the hole about as wide as the mature shrub and about as deep as the width. Before digging in with your shovel or spade, try a few exploratory pokes around the shrub's perimeter. If you hit roots, go out even wider than the shrub itself.

How far apart do I plant gardenias?

Plant in spring or fall, spacing plants 3 to 6 feet apart. Have the soil tested to determine pH, and if necessary add the recommended amount of sulfur to reduce the pH to between 5 and 6. Dig a hole only as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide.

Do Gardenias like coffee grounds?

In addition to amending the soil with compost or aged manure, these acid-loving plants will appreciate coffee grounds, tea bags, wood ashes, or Epsom salts mixed into the soil as well. Since they are rich in nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium, coffee grounds are oftentimes a more favorable homemade gardenia fertilizer.

Can Gardenias grow in full shade?

Gardenias thrive in light shade and moist soil. They are evergreen, which will provide year-round interest, but it's their intensely fragrant, white flowers that really steal the show. ... These sweet-smelling, shade-loving shrubs can make excellent understory plantings as well.

How often should gardenias be watered?

Gardenias need at least an inch of water a week, whether from rainfall or a hose. Apply mulch to a depth of two to four inches to help keep moisture in the soil and control water-hogging weeds. Don't let the plants become completely dry before you water, and water regularly.

Is vinegar good for gardenias?

It is fine to use diluted vinegar on your gardenias. The Vinegar Institute recommends using diluted vinegar on gardenias (also azaleas and rhododendrons) in hard water areas at a rate of 1 cup of vinegar to a gallon of tap water (see here). The vinegar will help to release iron in the soil.

What's the best fertilizer for gardenias?

Gardenias use a lot of nutrients to produce so many glorious blossoms. Feed your shrubs by applying an acidic, slow-release fertilizer such as an azalea or camellia fertilizer. For the organic gardener, blood meal, fish emulsion or bone meal work well.

Do Gardenias like to be root bound?

Gardenias do best if they are slightly root-bound so there is really no need to repot it unless you see roots coming out of the top of the plant. If you don't like the pot it is in, just place it inside a slightly larger, decorative pot.

How often does a gardenia bloom?

Gardenias are flowering evergreen shrubs hardy in zones 7-11. Their long lasting, fragrant white flowers bloom from late spring to fall. Each bloom can last several weeks before wilting.

How do you save a gardenia bush?

For a gardenia, stem canker can be another issue. This disease often appears as dark lesions with raised edges. The best way to save a gardenia plant from this disease is to remove the infected stems with disinfected pruners. This can be done with a 10 percent bleach solution.

Do gardenias spread?

Mature Height/Spread

Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) is also known as cape jasmine and is an evergreen shrub that typically grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet, depending upon the cultivar. Spread is usually about the same as the height.

How fast do Gardenias grow?

Gardenia Growing Rate

Kauai Seascapes Nursery reports that slow growers add 12 inches or less each year, moderate growers add 1 to 2 feet each year, while fast growers can average more than 2 feet each year. When grown from seed, gardenias will take about two to three years to start flowering.

What is the best mulch for gardenias?

For gardenias, you should use wood chip or sawdust mulch. Wood chip mulch is excellent for limiting weed growth, moisture retention, and temperature control. On top of these benefits, wood chip and sawdust mulch can increase acidity of your soil, which is good for gardenias.

Are eggshells good for gardenias?

The reason eggshells can be beneficial to your plants is because their calcium content can help in the blooming process of your plants to help them grow in a healthy fashion. ... Plants that tend to like coffee grounds include hydrangeas, gardenias, azaleas, lilies, ferns, camellias and roses.

Is Miracle Gro good for gardenias?

Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food is a special plant food designed for acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, dogwoods, magnolias, gardenias, orchids and all evergreens. ... Won't harm other plants or burn foliage when used as directed.

How often do you put coffee grounds on gardenias?

Supplement weekly applications of coffee grounds with monthly fertilizer "tea" treatments. Put 1 cup of rotted manure or aged compost into a cloth bag. Seal the bag and submerge it in 1 gallon of water. Let it sit for three days; then remove the nutrient bag and apply the tea directly to the soil.

How many hours of sun do gardenias need?

Light. Gardenias need at least four hours of sunlight daily (most blooming plants have basically this requirement, although there are exceptions). Without at least this much light, they just won't bloom. However, in our fairly brutal summer heat, some afternoon shade will protect the gardenia's foliage from burning.

What shrub will grow in full shade?

15 Shrubs for Shade Gardens

Oakleaf Hydrangea. For a nearly carefree shrub, you can't beat this native hydrangea. ...
'Pink Charm' Mountain Laurel. Mountain laurel is a go-to favorite when it comes to shrubs that thrive in shady conditions. ...
Rhododendron. ...
Opening Day Doublefile Viburnum. ...
Virginia Sweetspire. ...
Camellia. ...
Serviceberry. ...
Japanese Pieris.

Are gardenias poisonous to dogs?

What is Gardenia Poisoning? Gardenias are a large group of flowers with hundreds of different colors, shapes, and sizes all over the world. Some are grown indoors as houseplants and some grow outside either wild or in gardens. They are all poisonous to dogs although some are more toxic than others.