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Started By
Message
Gardenia advice needed
Posted on 5/7/25 at 7:46 am
Posted on 5/7/25 at 7:46 am
I planted several gardenias about 2 months ago. They are starting to have yellow leaves. One gardenia plant in particular has a number of yellow leaves that have formed.
The soil here is mainly clay so when I planted I dug a larger the normal hole and filled it with soil conditioner , topsoil, and a little bit of granular fertilizer. For the first two weeks I probably watered every day then tapered off to a couple of times per week.
On Monday I added this 3:2:1 gardenia fertilizer. It says it can be applied every 2 weeks a month spring/summer.
Did I over water in the beginning and they are waterlogged? Should I wait them out? Should I replant?
Pics for reference:
The soil here is mainly clay so when I planted I dug a larger the normal hole and filled it with soil conditioner , topsoil, and a little bit of granular fertilizer. For the first two weeks I probably watered every day then tapered off to a couple of times per week.
On Monday I added this 3:2:1 gardenia fertilizer. It says it can be applied every 2 weeks a month spring/summer.
Did I over water in the beginning and they are waterlogged? Should I wait them out? Should I replant?
Pics for reference:
6
Posted on 5/7/25 at 7:54 am to Auburntiger
Like azalea,they need acidic soil
Posted on 5/7/25 at 7:58 am to luvdoc
quote:
Like azalea,they need acidic soil
I'm not sure if the soil is acidic or not. I do know that I have a gardenia next to this one that was planted 2 years ago that is doing just fine.
I read online about people putting their used coffee grounds on their gardenias to help with the acidity.
Posted on 5/7/25 at 8:48 am to Auburntiger
gardenias are particular about soils. I can be hit or miss. I had a very poorly growing one in an old shady bed that I dug up and plopped into a new bed that exploded…it’s 10x previous size and covered in blooms every year
sometimes just dumb luck
sometimes just dumb luck
Posted on 5/7/25 at 9:35 am to Auburntiger
Gardenia is extremely sensitive to waterlogged root conditions. They need excellent drainage without rotting organic matter around the roots. I would quit watering and do everything you can to improve drainage. It's not the fertilizer.
Posted on 5/7/25 at 9:51 am to Auburntiger
I've been in the landscape industry for 12 years...
1) They look to be planted too deep... top of root ball should be a couple inches above grade.
2) If your soil is heavy clay, as you suggest, pull them up and add a scoop of gravel to the bottom of each hole. This will help keep water from sitting at the bottom of the root ball.
1) They look to be planted too deep... top of root ball should be a couple inches above grade.
2) If your soil is heavy clay, as you suggest, pull them up and add a scoop of gravel to the bottom of each hole. This will help keep water from sitting at the bottom of the root ball.
Posted on 5/7/25 at 12:51 pm to HoLeInOnEr05
Thank you much for the tip. I'll give that a shot and try to do at least try to save the one that is struggling.
If the others start turning yellow out I'll try this method with them as well.
If the others start turning yellow out I'll try this method with them as well.
Posted on 5/7/25 at 4:57 pm to Auburntiger
Many people don’t realize that top soil and garden soil like bed builder and even compost hasn’t broken down enough yet to get the ph low enough for acid loving plants. To Jack them up save your coffee grounds and even left over cold coffee liquid and douse them once a week with the liquid twice and spread the used coffee grounds once a week for a month.
Posted on 5/7/25 at 10:49 pm to Auburntiger
I've always added ironite to my gardenias when the leaves start to yellow. Works well, and I have heavy clay soil.
Posted on 5/9/25 at 8:16 pm to Auburntiger
Mine looked that way. I just left them alone and they eventually thrived. I’ve got small leafed ones like yours. They only get about 3’ tall, and mine bloom from now until Thanksgiving. I think they are called Scentsations or something like that. Those things bloom like crazy and smell great. I haven’t fertilized them in years.
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