Gardenia Buds Are Browning And Not Opening - Knowledgebase Question

Los Angeles, CA
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Question by stephanie27
April 18, 2001
After going through all the questions and answers given on your website I have tried everything with my gardenias including misting them several times a day, putting peat moss and sulphur in to acidify the soil, fertilizing, mulching and letting them get partial sun partial shade depending on the time of day. After all this what can I do? I have been fighting yellow leaves, but have it in hand to a point. I love gardenias and want to save the plants I have.


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Answer from NGA
April 18, 2001
I think your struggles point out the fact that gardenias are not that well-suited to our climate. They like moist acidic soil, which we don't have. They are sensitive to salts, which we have alot of both in our soil and water. The browining buds may be a sign of salt build-up in the soil. (Fertilizers are also high in salts.) Leach them once a month to push salts past the root zone. Gardenias are a "fussy" plant, and you are doing what is recommended, so to keep them growing you will have to keep up that maintenance.

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