Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - My Thousandth Gardenia-Trying Again !

habitat_gardener · November 30, 2012

I grew a gardenia in a container, years before I knew much about gardening (and before computers and the internet). It sat on a balcony, and I used regular potting soil and no fertilizer. It thrived and bloomed well. After I'd had it for a few years, I was surprised to find out that gardenias were difficult to grow!

Now, knowing a little about gardening, I wonder if you might be overfeeding it. Pests are often attracted to the new tender growth promoted by fertilizers.

Or maybe it's one of those plants that doesn't like to be looked at directly. You kind of have to ignore it most of the time, sidling up to it and sneaking a glance now and then.

November 30, 2012	#6
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,540	I grew a gardenia in a container, years before I knew much about gardening (and before computers and the internet). It sat on a balcony, and I used regular potting soil and no fertilizer. It thrived and bloomed well. After I'd had it for a few years, I was surprised to find out that gardenias were difficult to grow! Now, knowing a little about gardening, I wonder if you might be overfeeding it. Pests are often attracted to the new tender growth promoted by fertilizers. Or maybe it's one of those plants that doesn't like to be looked at directly. You kind of have to ignore it most of the time, sidling up to it and sneaking a glance now and then.