Congratulations! Beautiful flowers.
I got one, and it developed yellow leaves, then lost all leaves and died.
I got two extras, and they started to develop yellow leaves...
What is the reason, please?
Also too: how do you put a picture here in the forum? I tried, and it failed...
Thank you.

Hmm. I would think soil drainage problems. If you had the same problems with some other plants I might think your soil would be alkaline. To show picture you need to upload to photobucket first and then use the provided html link in PB(third one down on the list).

Jon, do you have this in the ground or in a container? I'm in 6b in western NC, but haven't dared try a regular gardenia outside, even in a microclimate or southfacing wall. Do tell.

Ah, It's been in the ground for 7,8,9 years? Getting to be fairly tall- 6'? South facing wall. Has anyone else noticed that gardenias don't like easterly exposure?
Gardenia season has been over for some weeks now but I did take other pictures.

Daisy

Chuck Hayes

Lovely pictures, and lovely gardenias, Jon. I'm in zone 6b and wondering if I could manage a gardenia in the ground. What is your common low for the year? We get about -3F for maybe two or three days. Has been much colder at times, of course, but this has been the common low for several years. Is this about what you get, or are you warmer?

Lovely gardinias. Which one is most fregrent?

Mehitabel,

I would look into the Gardenia jasminoides "Frost Proof."

With some good winter protection and maybe planting it against a sheltered wall you would experience little die back. This is a bit easier to do especially on younger plants as they have a very compact shape and structure.

The Frost Proof Gardenia also blooms a little later on and is more tolerant of those surprise frosts that might creep up and destroy the buds.

Thanks, Jason. :)

I don't know what wrong with my gardenias they are blooming but tan bloatches developed on their leaves and I don't know why. I live on long island new york where the soil is very acidic and I used it to fill my pots, also I spotted tiny gray spiders, so I treated the gardenia for spider mites since also microscopic black spotts could be seen under the leaves. Since I treated the plant with saop cinnamin & garlic I haven't seen any spiders or many if any black spotts but the leaves are still horrable, not worse then before but bad.
If anyone can help me thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful:

Using soil from outside in the garden might create a drainage issue when placed in a pot as it can get soggy and waterlogged, which gardenias do not like at all.

I would repot with a peat based balanced mixture of potting soil with added vermiculite or perlite to help with drainage. Place gravel or chips in the bottom of the pot for added drainage then place the soil on top of that. When established top off with coffee grinds, tea grinds and use an acid loving plant fertilizer.

Place the pot on top of a planter tray full of rocks or something so the drainage water doesn't touch the bottom of the pot but can evaporate and help with humidity.

When gardenias get these spots and blotches on their leaves it's not really something that can "heal" - you may just want to prune the plant back somewhat and remove some of the dead growth to encourage new growth and bushiness.

This may sound silly but I am of the opinion that gardenias are a lot like people - they can be very particular, they like clean, sterile surroundings and also very much respond unkindly to change in any capacity, especially harsh environmental conditions. But if you meet their needs they can be very rewarding. :)

thank you so much, and for everyone else treating my plant just once with garlic, vingar, lemon, mix did work to get rid of the spidermites its been a month now and no spiderwebs, black dots anything has been found, i also scrubed the leaves to physically remove really really tiny black dots, and I agree about plants the more you care for them no matter how rediculous as long as you do not touch the leaves too much, is a good thing.

"What is your common low for the year? We get about -3F for maybe two or three days."
For the past few winters ours has been around 0F(5-6" of ice on the ponds). They don't like the cold notherly wind, so be sure to give them some protection. I have lost a couple of other varieties. Frostproof is alive but isn't thriving for me.
Hmm, which one is most fragrant. I don't know- they're all strong... and waft throughout the yard. I'll have to try and make a determination next year.