| I just purchased a very healthy looking gardenia from a reputable nursery. It's in my house by a large sliding glass window that gets 4 hours of southern exposure indirect sunlight. The buds and stems are turning yellow and falling off. What is theproblem? |
| Sadly, Gardenia is often a disappointment because it is extremely demanding. For flower buds to form, a night temperature of 60F - 65F is required. During the day the temperature should be 70F - 75F. Keep the soil moist at all times and use tepid water. Mist the leaves frequently, keep it out of direct sunlight and locate your plant away from heaters and heating vents. It can be very difficult to transition the plants to indoor growing after they have been used to a greenhouse. Indoor heating tends to dry the air and cause the leaves and buds to drop. Also these plants are very susceptible to spider mites, which cause tiny webs on the undersides of leaves and where the leaves join the stems. Your plant may just be adjusting to its new home, so treat it kindly, follow the above suggestions, and it may decide to perk up. |
