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Carolina Gardening

Gardenia dying a slow death

11 years ago

I purchased this plant from Lowes in March. Plant has bloomed beautifully until now. After all of the blooms were spent, the leaves started to wilt and the bark became dark brown. I watered and out of desperation,fertilized it with coffee grinds and Miracle Grow fertilizer for Gardenias. Plant still looks like it's dying a slow death. Can this plant be saved?!

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Comments (11)

aquadragonfly
11 years ago
Hope you saved your receipt it looks like it is well on it's way to croaking.

Maybe it doesn't like where it is planted, could it be too close to the A/C unit? Maybe the heat off of it is too much for it.

:) Aqua
User
11 years ago
Aqua is absolutely right!
Is it still in a pot? Is it in the ground?
In any case, move it. Put it in part sun to full
shade for right now and watch it.
It needs cooler air and no sun for a few days.
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Comments (20)
I've repotted a few I know were in solid, concrete-like soil. I simply lifted them out and put them into a bigger pot with pine fines. I broke the root ball a little. I figure when they're dormant, I'll do a better root treatment. I've got the Bayer 3-in-1 and treated my big maples (Autumn Blaze, etc) with the Tree and shrub. Now that I know what to look for as far as insects are concerned, I'm horrified. I'm not so sure as far as fungus is concerned, but I got the recommended fungicide and applied it to the trees Owen found fungus on. I'm watching Oshi Beni, Sherwood Flame and Nicholsonii closely, because 1/2 of those aren't good. Owen things a lot of the die back I experience isn't necessarily from the cold winters, but rather bad soil. My Inazuma death after being in the ground for about 5 years was bugs and fungus. Where I have obvious bugs (dead leaves on the end, chewed foliage) I've used a big spray. My Sunny Sister is practically bald from bugs, and the deer haven't touched the Green Cascade again after the deer-stink spray. It's refoliating. I did put a Winter Flame into a bigger pot, then that into an even bigger pot, buried 1/2 in the ground with rocks in the bigger pot. That's one that will go into the ground this fall. I have 2 others I did the same to, but I don't remember their names at the moment. I'm confused by your use of the term passé. As it usually refers to a fashion statement, as in last year's, I can't tell if you're referring to repotting as a good or bad thing. I do think I have some trees that could handle it, but I'm practically paralyzed with fear. I do know I just killed my Fjellheim. 7 years old. I grabbed the wrong bottle when I followed directions and soaked the leaves to dripping with fungicide. I realized what I'd done and rinsed it thoroughly, but I'm afraid 8 hours of Round-Up is deadly. I'm looking for turface and oil dry. Owen had me get Turfstone, which is recycled glass and can be rinsed and reused. I am looking at all the threads on particle size, and thing these must be a bit big in conjunction with pine fines. Plus, they're stupidly expensive for someone with over 100 to repot.
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Thank you Val rie and Mike! I agree it is doing well considering all it’s been through! LOL It seems to love the 511 mix (thanks to all who pushed me to switch even though I was scared to) and it’s so nice to know it’s got a great draining mix. I moved it to the south side of the house now that the days are getting less light and its previous eastern location stops reciving direct sun by noon. It’s got a lot of baby leaves where it cut it back on certain branches. I don’t know if the yellowing at the veins a nutrient deficiency or what but it seems to only happen on new tender growth. I have a set of young leaves just go yellow on me. Is it the colder air at night? Lately it’s been in the low to mid fifties at night and reaching high 60’s low 70’s during the day. Should I bring it in for the winter? I hate to have it loose all of the glorious sun its been getting for my not very sunny house. Oh and I have been spraying it monthly with safer brand to keep mites, aphids, scales etc away. Thanks again for your comments!!!!
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dottie_in_charlotte
11 years ago
Looks like a whitefly infestation too.
Bright light, not full sun while you find a better
planting spot. Don't fertilize it..it's stressed already.
Put it in an airy spot out of the sun and don't water unless you're certain it needs water.
Once you get it in the ground, don't overwater it.
See what those white specks are and if they really are whitefly.
User
11 years ago
It needs WATER--SOONER rather than later. AC may also be a factor if the area is hot and breezy!
ncdirtdigger
11 years ago
The white specks look like white fly, and the stems turning black is sooty mold from aphids. And the AC unit will put out too much hot air, and the drooping leaves are a sign of moisture stress.

I would move it to a spot with only morning sun, keep it properly watered, and once it stabilizes, treat it with Bayer systemic treatment for whiteflies.
Shelly Barnes
Original Author
11 years ago
It's on the back patio in a well draining pot. I re-potted the plant once I got it home from the store. I've just recently moved it next to the air conditioner to get it out of the direct sun. My back patio gets full sun from noon to 6 pm. I'll have to move it close to my patio glass door to get it out of the direct sunlight.

The soil is still damp, and it rained last night, so I won't water it. I'll move it and let you all know how it goes. Thanks!
Shelly Barnes
Original Author
11 years ago
I've posted a photo of were I moved the plant on my patio. This is the only spot that gets the least amount of sun. There were no white spots on the leaves. I think that was rain drops on the leaves in the previous photos. Shouldn't I be spraying it with something? The leaves are starting to turn brown and fall off.
Shelly Barnes
Original Author
11 years ago
Another photo that shows how much worse the plant has gotten in one day.
User
11 years ago
When you repotted it, was the potting mix also fast draining?
What kind of potting mix did you use?
It might be ok after all the drama of the plant.
Gardenias complain alot when they are stressed, and repotting it really stressed it out big time.
Does the pot you put it in have a real big drain hole in the bottom? That isn't really a gardenia pot.
You may be better off planting it in the ground if it lives until September.
Gardenias hate pots. They love it in the ground.
Shelly Barnes
Original Author
11 years ago
I used Hyponex All Purpose Potting Soil by Scotts. I don't know if it's fast draining. After re-potting, the plant showed no signs of stress and bloomed beautifully. However, after the last bloom, it quickly started showing signs of strees with drooping leaves etc.

Don't know where I could plant it in my yard, were it wouldn't get too much sun. I don't have garden. I might try a larger deeper pot, and a potting soil better formulated for gardenias.
aquadragonfly
11 years ago
I would change the potting soil as soon as I could, I have used that an it turns into cement. Nothing likes to grow in it.
I just recently dumped a bag of it I had purchased a long time ago when I didn't know any better, it was a solid mass of junk.

The plant would be happier in the ground, none I have ever tried in pots made it. My mom has a plant and I got rooted pieces from her in the past. I have gotten a few an wasn't ready to plant them when I got them, the ones I got in the fall didn't make it threw the winter the other ones I got in the spring and didn't make it through the summer.
If I get any more from her, I will have a place ready to plant them and I will get them in the fall.

Good luck with this one, I really hope it perks up.

:) Aqua

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