Gardenia help.

[askyourgran]

I bought an indoor white scented Gardenia plant that was being sold off just after Mothers' day. It had loads of buds on it and one actually flowered but the rest have dropped off. The plant is still looking healthy but I'm a bit miffed about there being only one flower. Do they need special care. Instructions just say move the plant to a cooler place at night to encourage flowering. Did that.

[woofgang]

I have bought many of these and never ever had success with them. I will watch this thread with interest

[coccinelle]

Right, with gardenias they're like Christmas cactii and Easter cactii; you mustn't move them. The buds have formed towards the light and if you turn them the buds are forced to go towards the light they then weaken then drop.

[askyourgran]

Oh I didn't know they haven't to be moved. Thanks coccinelle. I did put them in the living room during the day and moved it into the back room where it is cooler, at night as per instruction leaflet. Well the plant is still living and perhaps could do with re-potting.

[hammerman]

Gardenias are mostly tropical shrubs. The one you tend to get from the garden centre is G. jasminoides. They're not the easiest things to grow....they need lots of bright light and high humidity, they must never be dried out...that could be another reason for bud drop and should be watered with soft water (rain water). They dislike draughts and central heating and as mentioned, hate being moved around.

They're also very prone to red spider mite and scale insects.

I managed to keep one for 3 years indoors once....don't ask me how !!!!!!

[woofgang]

thanks hammerman, i probably will stick to jasmine then. Oddly i can do christmas cacti very easily and find that they can be moved once in flower and when the last unopened buds are big.

[woofgang]

I do think its mean of shops to sell things like gardenias that are really hard to keep...so disappointing.

[rowanwitch]

Never had problems with them usually kept thenm going for 2-3 years... the most important trick buy them when they have just been delivered to the stote and take them home in a box so they don't get chilled in transit.. mist with warm rainwater at least once a week and keep them out of direct sun but in a bright spot