I live in Spokane, WA., zone 6. I stopped having trouble with gardenias when I stopped worrying about them. It occurred to me that a shrub that is beloved across the South, where winter can bring warm sun on Monday and snow and wind on Tuesday, that these plants may be a lot tougher than we think. I now overwinter mine in my garage, where they freeze occasionally (as low as 24F) but usually in the 30's and 40's, with a fan stirring the air and a warm white/cool white fluorescent light overhead. They come outside around forsythia time (March) and stay outside until the night temps get cold enough to freeze the pots (November). Most bloom heavily in spring and again in fall, but Veitchii can go off anytime days are above 70 and nights are below 60. The pH of my water is 8, and humidity is low, with dewpoints rarely above 50. It's only when I try to grow them in the house that they get cranky!
I agree. During my era of killing even succulents and pothos (yikes!), my gardenia survived for 2 years on my patio in Houston, Texas. I killed her when I started over protecting her for whatever reason. She was thriving while being neglected in the hot, humid, insect ridden patio.
Hi Jeff! I used to think that I'd like to try a gardenia inside, but now, not so much. ;-) Mostly because I don't think I get enough light, but will now add all of the problems they might have. I really appreciate the in depth care for them. It will save me some money, and frustration. I don't have issues with insects now, and definitely don't want to invite them in. Thank you so much for sharing!
Mine finally said it had enough, I was surprised it lasted 8 mo ( a gift). I just don’t have the conditions for it. Years ago for Christmas my husband would order the cut flowers from the florist. Since they only shipped in two’s I got 2 huge blooms nestled in green wax paper in a white cardboard box. Best gift ever but very pricy! 😊🌱. Oh I floated them in a large old cut crystal bowl, they have very short stems. Yay first!
I thought I was overwatering when mine had lots of yellowing leaves. But after it got rained on for 4 whole days, it seems to have sprung back to live. I’m so confused. Thanks for this gardenia content; been waiting for one from you!
I think that’s all the comments I can come up with today or maybe not we’ll see. I might have to watch you again because I forgot to stop you a couple of times as I was commenting. My daughter has ADHD and that girl can multi task like you wouldn’t believe , me not so much ☹️❄️💚🙃
I have one that I’ve been trying to keep alive for about three maybe four years there’s times when it looks completely dead and then somehow it comes right back I wouldn’t bother with it except it is my favorite flower, but very difficult as you said.
It is windy here today! The trees are really dancing. It’s a good thing they don’t have any leaves right now or I think we would have a lot of branches down. 💨💨💨💨❄️💚🙃 And thankfully it’s not snowing, because strong wind and snow out of the west equals snowdrift in my family room. We really have to get that patio door fixed ! Thankfully we have a great wood stove in our family room. ❄️💚🙃
I’m going to try another one! Ah maybe not. Yes I am, I just have to make up my mind to be committed to its care. I want to start stock piling rain water for my house plants so it should be alright. ❄️💚🙃
This Steady as She Goes from proven winners has been a really tough one for me so far! Not the most prolific bloomer, but mine were so small last year that I guess I really shouldn't judge their blooming just yet.
I love this informative video-thank you.I purchased seeds and am ready with my grow lights and soil, etc. When trying to determine indoor potting, I get varied instructions: plant ¼” in soil, plant 1/8th of an inch, plant 1 to 1.5 inches…really? Which is it? How deep? Also, I bought these sees from Etsy and sadly, there is no mention of what variety these Gardenias are. The seeds-don’t look like seeds, more like crushed chili peppers, and very pinkish. Any idea? Anyone?
Hi Jeff, I won my disagreement with my condo assoc, they are taking out two pricker bushes Soon I will have two spaces to fill there are too many choices. One gets more sun one is about half in half. I'm full of questions today I nursed a tray of little violas from the backyard. P planted them into an aluminum roasting tray. Been in there for three months now they seem to be dying. do you think it was the tray? I replanted them into the usual plastic containers I use. Any thoughts? I got rid of those pesty spider mites with neem oil. Those pesty little flies got the mosquito bites out on them :) Everything is under control now.
Nice! Congratulations! Going to have planting that up! I don't know if it would be the tray specifically or maybe just that the tray could be too shallow and the roots needed more space to spread down. Long term I don't think aluminum would be great for the plants, but I doubt in 3 months it would have broken down much. If you noticed the tray looking bad after cleaning it out then that could be the case.
The branches are heavy and drooping. The squirrels kept digging in the soil to fet at something from the plants? Never had an issue before and wondér what they are enjoying from close to the base of the plant soil? I used an All purpose soil in Late April and they bloomed well.
Maybe I missed it, its july now and I just purchased a Gardenia, water runs through quite quickly and the mix is way too alkaline, still in the same pot it was purchased in, should I repot now or wait, it isn't in flower and we live in high desert, so no humidity?
I wish I could send you pictures. I don’t know how. But I would like you to see my survivor orchid and maybe you could tell me what I need to do with it ? I’m Swimming in a sea of confusion about it. The roots look dead to me but it keeps growing😵💫❄️💚🙃
I use to have trouble understanding PH. This is how my mind works, acid = angry, burning, so it should he a high number, and alkaline = mild ,gentle so it should be a lower number. When I think of acid I think burning hot and temperature so it should be a high number right? Oh well 🤓 what do I know. ❄️💚🙃
Ha! Well I can understand that logic. I tried thinking of a way to make it click better, but ive got nothing bc I agree with your logic. 😆 Maybe just remember that it's the opposite of what you think it is. 🤷♂️
Think alphabetically & numerically... acid comes before alkaline; 1 comes before 8. So... the pH of acidic soil would have the lower numbers & the pH of alkaline soil would have the higher numbers.
They're beautiful and they smell fantastic but, ugh, the work to get them to bloom and keep the plants healthy. "oh you live in Florida, just plant them outside." Yeah, were it that easy, this isn't southeast Asia.
I've always noticed that most of the ones I've seen growing down in Florida didn't look too hot. Least not the ones being grown in the ground. Maybe better for containers where it's easier to amend for pH and not have everything flush away into the sandy soil? Or do you think it's a heat duration and humidity thing?
@@TropicalPlantParty it’s definitely the soil and you have to be on top of irrigating them during the dry season. If you grow them in a pot, you have to way overpot them or you’re watering them twice a day in April and May.
I live in Spokane, WA., zone 6. I stopped having trouble with gardenias when I stopped worrying about them. It occurred to me that a shrub that is beloved across the South, where winter can bring warm sun on Monday and snow and wind on Tuesday, that these plants may be a lot tougher than we think. I now overwinter mine in my garage, where they freeze occasionally (as low as 24F) but usually in the 30's and 40's, with a fan stirring the air and a warm white/cool white fluorescent light overhead. They come outside around forsythia time (March) and stay outside until the night temps get cold enough to freeze the pots (November). Most bloom heavily in spring and again in fall, but Veitchii can go off anytime days are above 70 and nights are below 60. The pH of my water is 8, and humidity is low, with dewpoints rarely above 50. It's only when I try to grow them in the house that they get cranky!
Ha! Same! Keeping them in the garage as opposed to in the house is soooo much easier!
I agree. During my era of killing even succulents and pothos (yikes!), my gardenia survived for 2 years on my patio in Houston, Texas. I killed her when I started over protecting her for whatever reason. She was thriving while being neglected in the hot, humid, insect ridden patio.
Thank you Jeff, be safe, stay healthy, and hope to see you Saturday! ❄️💚🙃
You too, Judy! See you Saturday!
I planted my first Gardenia, thanks for the video and I want looking forward to see a lot of flowers
Hi Jeff! I used to think that I'd like to try a gardenia inside, but now, not so much. ;-) Mostly because I don't think I get enough light, but will now add all of the problems they might have. I really appreciate the in depth care for them. It will save me some money, and frustration. I don't have issues with insects now, and definitely don't want to invite them in. Thank you so much for sharing!
Mine finally said it had enough, I was surprised it lasted 8 mo ( a gift). I just don’t have the conditions for it. Years ago for Christmas my husband would order the cut flowers from the florist. Since they only shipped in two’s I got 2 huge blooms nestled in green wax paper in a white cardboard box. Best gift ever but very pricy! 😊🌱. Oh I floated them in a large old cut crystal bowl, they have very short stems. Yay first!
That sounds so beautiful! Big gardenia flowers floating in water! I bet that was lovely.
I am glad you mentioned drop buds the brown hanging thingies!
I thought I was overwatering when mine had lots of yellowing leaves. But after it got rained on for 4 whole days, it seems to have sprung back to live. I’m so confused. Thanks for this gardenia content; been waiting for one from you!
Rain water is acidic and that is what gardenia like
I have always wanted to grow gardenias but I thought they were difficult to grow. Thanks Jeff for all the information I might have to try to grow one.
Worth a try! They can be a pain but when they're happy they're fun to have around 😊
@@TropicalPlantPartyI can never make them happy indoors , I,m trying my luck now with the outdoor ones . Wish me good luck 🍀 😊
I think that’s all the comments I can come up with today or maybe not we’ll see. I might have to watch you again because I forgot to stop you a couple of times as I was commenting. My daughter has ADHD and that girl can multi task like you wouldn’t believe , me not so much ☹️❄️💚🙃
Haha!
Just bought my 3rd one. Love this plant! I am determined! Hopefully I can keep this one alive!
Very educational video....I gave up on trying to keep them alive....Thanks for all the info...
Thank you!
A LOT of great information! Thank you! ❄️💚🙃
Always a pleasure!
I have one that I’ve been trying to keep alive for about three maybe four years there’s times when it looks completely dead and then somehow it comes right back I wouldn’t bother with it except it is my favorite flower, but very difficult as you said.
It is windy here today! The trees are really dancing. It’s a good thing they don’t have any leaves right now or I think we would have a lot of branches down. 💨💨💨💨❄️💚🙃 And thankfully it’s not snowing, because strong wind and snow out of the west equals snowdrift in my family room. We really have to get that patio door fixed ! Thankfully we have a great wood stove in our family room. ❄️💚🙃
Thats how it was here yesterday! Whole house was rattling off and on!
I’m going to try another one! Ah maybe not. Yes I am, I just have to make up my mind to be committed to its care. I want to start stock piling rain water for my house plants so it should be alright. ❄️💚🙃
This Steady as She Goes from proven winners has been a really tough one for me so far! Not the most prolific bloomer, but mine were so small last year that I guess I really shouldn't judge their blooming just yet.
I have summer snow gardenia and I put it in a slotted pot and have it inside and one outside, hopefully they bloom
The one outside has really bad frost damage now, the hardiness aren’t as good as “frostproof or kliems hardy”
Did you notice that there’s a heart on your new pretty pot?❄️💚🙃
I saw that when I was editing the video. Cute!
I love this informative video-thank you.I purchased seeds and am ready with my grow lights and soil, etc. When trying to determine indoor potting, I get varied instructions: plant ¼” in soil, plant 1/8th of an inch, plant 1 to 1.5 inches…really? Which is it? How deep? Also, I bought these sees from Etsy and sadly, there is no mention of what variety these Gardenias are. The seeds-don’t look like seeds, more like crushed chili peppers, and very pinkish. Any idea? Anyone?
I love gardenias, but their a stinker to keep alive for me.❄️💚🙃
That's a common theme with them. Pain in the butt in the house!
Hi Jeff,
I won my disagreement with my condo assoc, they are taking out two pricker bushes Soon I will have two spaces to fill there are too many choices. One gets more sun one is about half in half. I'm full of questions today I nursed a tray of little violas from the backyard. P planted them into an aluminum roasting tray. Been in there for three months now they seem to be dying. do you think it was the tray? I replanted them into the usual plastic containers I use. Any thoughts? I got rid of those pesty spider mites with neem oil. Those pesty little flies got the mosquito bites out on them :) Everything is under control now.
Nice! Congratulations! Going to have planting that up! I don't know if it would be the tray specifically or maybe just that the tray could be too shallow and the roots needed more space to spread down. Long term I don't think aluminum would be great for the plants, but I doubt in 3 months it would have broken down much. If you noticed the tray looking bad after cleaning it out then that could be the case.
How do you Clean The plant before bringing it indoors to get rid of any bugs. My gardenias bloomed well all thru the summer in Toronto, Canada.
I just brought mine indoors and lots of yellowing leaves but still lots of buds opening.
The branches are heavy and drooping. The squirrels kept digging in the soil to fet at something from the plants? Never had an issue before and wondér what they are enjoying from close to the base of the plant soil? I used an All purpose soil in Late April and they bloomed well.
Maybe I missed it, its july now and I just purchased a Gardenia, water runs through quite quickly and the mix is way too alkaline, still in the same pot it was purchased in, should I repot now or wait, it isn't in flower and we live in high desert, so no humidity?
Nice pot
where did you get that plant pot??
I wish I could send you pictures. I don’t know how. But I would like you to see my survivor orchid and maybe you could tell me what I need to do with it ? I’m Swimming in a sea of confusion about it. The roots look dead to me but it keeps growing😵💫❄️💚🙃
Can try to send it to me on instagram?
@@TropicalPlantParty maybe I can ask my daughter if she can help me
@@TropicalPlantParty I may have figured it out?
I gave up growing this plant indoors, I've killed 3
You're not alone there! They're a pain in the butt for most people to keep in the house.
Fast forward to 1:31 to skip all the natterings. 😂
I use to have trouble understanding PH. This is how my mind works, acid = angry, burning, so it should he a high number, and alkaline = mild ,gentle so it should be a lower number. When I think of acid I think burning hot and temperature so it should be a high number right? Oh well 🤓 what do I know. ❄️💚🙃
Ha! Well I can understand that logic. I tried thinking of a way to make it click better, but ive got nothing bc I agree with your logic. 😆 Maybe just remember that it's the opposite of what you think it is. 🤷♂️
Think alphabetically & numerically...
acid comes before alkaline;
1 comes before 8.
So... the pH of acidic soil would have the lower numbers & the pH of alkaline soil would have the higher numbers.
Hard to care for.
No matter what u do gardenia will eventually die ,this is my experience with gardenia
They're beautiful and they smell fantastic but, ugh, the work to get them to bloom and keep the plants healthy. "oh you live in Florida, just plant them outside." Yeah, were it that easy, this isn't southeast Asia.
I've always noticed that most of the ones I've seen growing down in Florida didn't look too hot. Least not the ones being grown in the ground. Maybe better for containers where it's easier to amend for pH and not have everything flush away into the sandy soil? Or do you think it's a heat duration and humidity thing?
@@TropicalPlantParty it’s definitely the soil and you have to be on top of irrigating them during the dry season. If you grow them in a pot, you have to way overpot them or you’re watering them twice a day in April and May.
Omgosh. I tried. Lolol. What a fiasco.
😆 yeah they are divas!