Pruning Gardenias
Pruning Gardenias Made Easy
Pruning gardenias is part of the essential care that is needed to ensure a beautiful and successful growth. Especially inexperienced gardening beginners can do some things wrong, so this guide will help you to learn about your gardenia and know how to handle it with care.
General Information
Gardenias are evergreen bushes that are native in China and other parts of Asia. Over 60 varieties belong to the gardenia family, and some of them are only used as an indoor plant. One of the most characteristic things about them is that they grow in a round shape which is certainly very pretty to look at. Their leaves are dark green and shiny, and look somewhat like wax. In spring and summer time, the gardenia develops numerous white flowers which have a very strong scent that is used in beauty and cosmetic products.
Care and Pruning Gardenias
As gardenias are often kept indoors, they need a bright location and some sunlight. However, they should not be placed in the sun during the hottest hours of the day as this will damage them. In Winter, they must be kept in a bright spot all day as they are used to Asian climate which means a very mild winter. That is one of the reasons why it is hardly ever grown outdoors. However, it has been observed that gardenias grow better in summer when they are placed outdoors; a good compromise is a pot with wheels which you can move around so that the bush can be outdoors in summer and indoors in winter. Very few varieties can handle a summer with frost, but if you live in a cold region you may be able to ask a professional gardener for advice and purchase a more suitable variety.
The soil should be a sour variety which must always be slightly damp between March and October, and only little water is necessary in winter. Very important is to avoid soaking!
Fertilizer is necessary in summer, but not in winter. As the plant enjoys high humidity, you should always spray it with water - especially when you regularly have the heater on.
Pruning gardenias is actually not that difficult, but it is important to know what exactly needs to be pruned and how much of it. Pruning is usually done just after the blooming period where it is essential to cut back the strongest branches. This is to maintain the round form and to ensure that the strongest branches do not push aside weaker ones that are still in the process of growing. Pruning gardenias in summer is a little more complicated as you want to be very careful not to cut away important bits. Summertime pruning is usually done to cut off tips which will result in a thicker growth.
Disease and Pest
Unfortunately, gardenias suffer from pest and disease quite often. You may find a white flaky discharge around the trunk which indicates lice. This substance makes the plant sticky and eventually attack young leaves. If you notice something like that, it is not the end of the world. There are plenty of pesticides which work very well in this case. If you notice any other type of small creatures attacking the leaves or branches, you may ask in a gardening store which agent can restore the plant’s health. However, the major problem with gardenias is not pest, but it is carelessness. If you fail to accommodate the gardenia's needs, the sprouts will die before the plant can bloom. This is mostly caused by mistakes in watering or a low humidity level.