Gardenia

The genus Gardenia includes about 250 species. These are shrubs, sometimes prickly, evergreen (occasionally deciduous), low with opposite leathery shiny short-petiolized leaves (6-8 cm long). White or creamy fragrant flowers are collected in strong inflorescences at the ends of the shoots; tubular rim with a bend. Gardenia is one of the most famous for the beauty and aroma of flowers of flowering shrubs. Gardenia adorable (Gardenia amoena) is a species 1-1.5 m high with thorny branches, small oval-lanceolate glossy dark leaves and single tubular pink flowers blooming in June from the top and white on the inside. Gardenia jasminoides (G. jasminoides), an evergreen shrub 0.5-2 m high, dark glossy leaves are collected rubbing as a room culture. In summer, apical single large, often double, snow-white fragrant flowers bloom. The variety 'Florida' has double flowers. The 'Fortune' variety has larger flowers and looks like camellia flowers. The 'Veicha' variety is highly resistant, easy to grow outdoors, and blooms in a sheltered place in winter. Large-flowered gardenia (G. grandiflora), considered by many to be a species of jasmine gardenia, can reach the size of a tree (3 m in height). Her leaves are narrower than those of the lovely gardenia, lanceolate dark glossy and larger white funnel-shaped flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

The genus Gardenia includes about 250 species. These are shrubs, sometimes prickly, evergreen (occasionally deciduous), low with opposite leathery shiny short-petiolized leaves (6-8 cm long). White or creamy fragrant flowers are collected in strong inflorescences at the ends of the shoots; tubular rim with a bend. Gardenia is one of the most famous for the beauty and aroma of flowers of flowering shrubs. Gardenia adorable (Gardenia amoena) is a species 1-1.5 m high with thorny branches, small oval-lanceolate glossy dark leaves and single tubular pink flowers blooming in June from the top and white on the inside. Gardenia jasminoides (G. jasminoides), an evergreen shrub 0.5-2 m high, dark glossy leaves are collected rubbing as a room culture. In summer, apical single large, often double, snow-white fragrant flowers bloom.

The variety 'Florida' has double flowers. The 'Fortune' variety has larger flowers and looks like camellia flowers. The 'Veicha' variety is highly resistant, easy to grow outdoors, and blooms in a sheltered place in winter. Large-flowered gardenia (G. grandiflora), considered by many to be a species of jasmine gardenia, can reach the size of a tree (3 m in height). Her leaves are narrower than those of the lovely gardenia, lanceolate dark glossy and larger white funnel-shaped flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

Cultivation

Gardenias are grown as indoor plants (in the warm season they are put on the balcony), and only in mild climates as garden ornamental plants. They prefer the soil of light texture - sandy or sandy loam, but with a slightly acidic reaction of the medium (pH 5). When planting in a pot, a peat-based soil is used, mixed with loose light earth to give more porosity, and with heather earth or rotten foliage. Charcoal is added both to potting soil and to open ground, organic fertilizers are applied, as well as long-acting mineral fertilizers (20-30 g per bucket of soil). During the growing season, every 15-20 days, fertilizing with irrigation is carried out (complex fertilizers are added at the rate of 10-20 g per bucket of water). At an early stage of development, the plant is shaped and pinched, which promotes branching.

Location

It grows and develops well only in sunny places.

Temperature

In winter, plants should be kept at a temperature not lower than 10-12 °C. If you want to bloom earlier (distillation), the temperature should be temporarily raised to 22-24 °C, and then, when the plant blooms, it should be kept at 18-22 °C.

Watering

Abundant watering and high humidity are necessary especially during flowering.

Transplant

Transplant in the spring, each time gradually increasing the capacity of the new container and using a similar soil. When transplanting, shoots are usually shortened.

Care

Remove damaged leaves and wilted flowers.

Reproduction

Propagated by cuttings in light sandy soil at a temperature of 20-25 °C. Gardenia cuttings root easily in humid environments. They are taken in February-March from shoots that do not have flowers at this time. Rooting is faster in very moist soil; it is recommended to close the container with cuttings with a transparent plastic bag.

Diseases

In calcareous soil, the plant becomes sick with chlorosis (the color of the leaves turns pale), and temperature drops cause the flowers to fall. It is necessary to control the soil and water used and to carry out the treatment with preparations based on iron chelate. Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) is removed with appropriate preparations. When the foliage turns yellow, the plant is checked for the fungus of the genus Septoria, which causes round spots on the leaves. This disease is eliminated with the help of copper-containing preparations (for example, Bordeaux liquid). You should also be wary of ticks, aphids and nematodes, when infected with which they are treated with chemical means of protection.

Acquisition

Gardenias are easily found in many retail outlets, from flower shops to horticultural centers and specialized nurseries. Pay special attention to the fact that the leaves are green without spots, make sure that the buds are still closed, numerous, and the plant as a whole has a healthy general appearance.

Room wardening color repeated Gardenia is a culture that takes a long time to flower in nature; and this period falls on a season when it is light for several hours and the temperature is high. Gardenia is a short-day plant, but if the night temperature drops below 14-15 °C, it becomes day-neutral (that is, it loses sensitivity to the length of daylight hours and continues to grow without forming flowers). If you want gardenias to bloom profusely, you need to keep the plant in the dark throughout August from 6 pm to 8 am at a temperature of 18-22 °C. During the day they should be placed in the brightest place. Once August is behind us, this trick is no longer necessary, as daylight hours naturally decrease. Under these conditions, gardenia blooms again after 90-120 days. When forcing gardenia in a natural way, without additional intervention, it blooms again in the spring and summer.

Room wardening color repeated

Gardenia is a culture that takes a long time to flower in nature; and this period falls on a season when it is light for several hours and the temperature is high. Gardenia is a short-day plant, but if the night temperature drops below 14-15 °C, it becomes day-neutral (that is, it loses sensitivity to the length of daylight hours and continues to grow without forming flowers). If you want gardenias to bloom profusely, you need to keep the plant in the dark throughout August from 6 pm to 8 am at a temperature of 18-22 °C.

During the day they should be placed in the brightest place. Once August is behind us, this trick is no longer necessary, as daylight hours naturally decrease.

Under these conditions, gardenia blooms again after 90-120 days. When forcing gardenia in a natural way, without additional intervention, it blooms again in the spring and summer.