I've never transplanted gardenia but I've always had good luck with them. I have mine in front of my windows where I can open and smell the blooms on cooler evenings. This area gets morning shade, mid-afternoon sun and late afternoon shade. I had drainage issues that killed off the first two I tried but then amended more and put in new August Beauties and they are really doing good. I get some yellowing of the older leaves which is normal.

I'd say to keep fertilizer to a minimum, maybe try some good compost since that shouldn't burn your roots and coffee grounds, mixed in with left-over coffee and fill the rest of the pot with water to pour around the plant once a week or so.

I'd say this is probably mostly transplant shock and hopefully they'll survive the transplant, establish their new roots and then take off for you next year.

Thanks for the reply, hbwright. I did something I hope I'm not gonna be sorry for...I sprinkled a little acidic fertilizer around the dripline of the Gardenias. Not much, just enough to give them a jump start. I added a little compost around the outside perimeter when I planted and mulched them a month ago, so I'm hoping that wasn't overkill. Hope not.

Jim, I agree that there has been a lot of posting on here about Gardenias but reading all that about them leads to some great advice. I'll tell you what I did in 2005 for my Kleim's Hardy that was planted in the fall of 04.

When I saw the outer leaves starting to yellow and several buds dropping(in May, I believe), I spread at about half-rate some epsom salts and Ironite Plus. I added a little again in July. This year, it has fared much better(only a few yellow leaves) and I am moving away as it opens its first of a gazillion blooms. My understanding from the threads about Gardenias on GW is that yellowing of the interior leaves is typically of many evergreens but that the yellowing of the tips of new or outer leaves is more problematic.

For what it's worth, I have had some of those gorgeous double-flowered, supermarket types die a slow death on me in the past, so I can understand your efforts to save your plants.

Good luck,
Meredith

Because gardenias are an evergreen they go through a period of time when there is more leaf drop than other times of the year and the leaves will yellow first. Sometimes they can drop close to 1/3 of their leaves and it can be scary. Look closely at the branches and see if you are getting new growth or leaf buds along the stems. That will be the gardenia replacing the leaves it lost. You may have moved the plant at about its natural leaf drop and the combination could spur more yellowing than usual. Camelias, hollies, magnolias and even pine trees all will go through a yellowing and leaf drop stage.

Good luck with them.....

Lynne

Thanks folks. You're easing my fears some. I'm trying to hold to these guys, so we'll see how they progress. They're in a much better location than they were, so that's a positive.

Oh, I meant to ask something else earlier. Since I just transplanted, would blooming this year be really out of the question? Next year? Thanks.

How about some iron to green them up? Ironite is sold in Home Depot, Walmart etc..

I'm not a big fan of Ironite because of all the heavy metal content, but I feel like they are responding already to the 2-3 types of bandaids I've applied.

Forget my previous question. All three of them have blooms on them, even the new little one. I guess they are really liking their new home in the shade.