gareinias - Knowledgebase Question

Towson, Ma
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Question by tidaldogs
March 21, 2008
Why are my gardenias leaves falling off and yellowing?


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Answer from NGA
March 21, 2008
Yellowing leaves, especially lower down on the plant and from the inner parts of the branches is normal this time of year. Your plant is shedding older leaves in preparation for developing healthy new leaves. As for the browning flower buds, you've pinpointed the most difficult part of growing gardenias: getting those buds to open. The plants require high humidity and lots of water. Gardenias are finicky, and any change of location or humidity or sun can set them back. Spider mites can also cause bud distortion, and mites also thrive in dry conditions. Look on the undersides of the leaves for tiny black specks and whitish webbing. If you find the mites, use insecticidal soap or a neem-based insecticide to control them. Routine misting with water also helps raise the humidity and control mites. I also recommend sinking a few small containers of water into the soil around the plant. As the water evaporates, it will humidify the air immediately around the plant. Hope this helps!

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