In your area, it's fine outdoors year-round.

Most likely the yellow leaves are present because the area of the original rootball has dried.

Scritch around under the plant to see if the original part that was in the pot is moist, wet, or dry. Then, water -- or not -- according to what you find.

I have purchased 4 gardenias in the past 7 years because I have found them not to last too long but IÂm a sucker for them. Everything thing I have read about them says they are very difficult to grow. Here is what I have experienced; by the way I can only garden in containers on an east facing balcony:

1. I believe that over watering and/or poor drainage causes the leaves to turn pure yellow towards the base. Iron deficiency will cause yellow leave with green veins.

2. Planting even or lower than originally planted is death: as is mulching close to the stem.

3. This year has been very hot and mine has suffered some bud drop, but I donÂt water until moisture meter reads half way. It has remained very green with no yellow leaves at all and still is producing occasional buds and flowers.
I check the moisture with a meter because I canÂt stick my fingers down as far as the roots grow.