made a big booboo on my gardenia!

15 years ago

I think the piper blew his piper to soon!!!!!!

But the fat lady hasn't sung yet...

I learned a lesson though!!!

Remember how I said that my gardenias were doing great and no leaf yellowing. Well not soon after I said that, murphies law took affect.

Within the past week, one of my denias started to deteriate so fast, that I blinked my eyes and half the leaves fell off yellow, and even some buds and leaves, the bottom ones were wilty and soft, like dehydrated even after I watered it when the soil was DRY.

I can't be overwatering I said to myself, because I have it in Al's gritty mix that dries out rather quickly. In fact, I thought maybe it wasn't getting watered often enough, because I was letting the gritty soil dry out too much. And if I am watering, dehydration of any plant anyways always spells roots not taking up water because they are sic.

But, as I learned here, how will I know what's wrong unless I have a look at the roots. I decided, what the heck, if I might loose it anyways, I should have good look.

On examination , I found out that all but a few were rotting away!! There was just a couple of white ones poking out of the root ball in the new soil.

Then it occured to me that, in the begining days of my quest to put plants in better fast draining soil, I FORGOT to wash out the old soil from the root ball. So the new soil all round the plants root ball kept drying out, Al's mix, while the peatmoss soil on that the roots were compacted in, were never drying out!! Always staying damp.

When I stuck a wooden dowel in the root ball, it came out damp, I didn't water. When I stuck it into the gritty mix, it was dry, so I watered.

The white outside ones in the new soil were thirsting, while the ones in the compacted root ball soil, were always wet.

Only a few white roots seemed to bust of of that hard dead soil that were getting water, while the inner ones were suffocating. A classic form of death.

I can't beleive I forgot to bareroot it, before I changed it into this better soil in the begining. I wish I had known how to transplant before I learned from this webb. I am so mad!!

So I took it to the shower, and jet streamed all the rootball soil that seemed to fall away in clumps, along with all the roots that were dead and brown, till it was completely barerooted, and the only roots left behind were the white ones. I got soaked and dirty, and my water boiler broke and leaked all over my cellar at the same time.

That root mass shrunk so much, that I went from a 12 inch container to an 8 inch one with room to spare. It had hardly any roots left. I planted in the gritty mix, watered well, fed it superthrive, and will keep it out of sun for a couple of days to recoup. It seem hydrated though and firm after all that, for the first time in days. It was limp for days up till now.

I am so upset, for that was my favorite Gardenia. I hope I didn't loose it. I hope it was saved.:-(

All my other plants, after learning from the container forum, were barerooted first, thank God, then transplanted in the gritty mix, and they are so healthy. Never overwatered. But this one no. I ALMOST KILLED IT!

I guess two completely different soils in the same container is something not good that I wished I had known way in the beginning. I just didn't do this one right before I learned..:-(

Now it is in the plant hospital with the new soil. It did have a few white roots left thank god. All the top growth still looks healhty,and dark green, while all the bottom growth is gone. Long bare branches with leaves and buds towards the top.

All the branches are about 1 foot tall, with all the lowers leaves off or yellow except for for the top 4 inches of each branch, still with buds and green leaves.

Please wish it well.

Man it is amazing how FAST a plant can deteriate when once healthy!!

Sorry, I just needed a shoulder to cry on or a few. Wish I would of known all this info before I transplanted this one last year.

Thanks for listening.

Mike.......

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Comments (74)

monarda_gw
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I think that some plants, those known as "difficult" or "challenging", just up and die for no discernable reason. Over many years I have noticed that experienced plant lovers learn to take this in stride. It's the nature of the beast you are dealing with and not anything you did or didn't do, necessarily.

After growing plants for a while, you also realize that the initial investment in a plant seems small compared to the time and expense of caring for it. In that case, if you love a plant and have the right conditions for growing it, buy another one and try again. You know that you will have at least some pleasure in owning it, at least for a time, whatever happens in the future.

PS. My two (generic) gardenias are now blooming -- one flower on each bush. I never had luck with the named cultivars, but who knows, maybe this year I'll spring for one.
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi everybuddy,

Thanks for the Happy Valentine day wishes Toni! I'm glad you got some wonderful valentine plants! I hope they grow like the mighty oak for you! :) Wow, you have a gardenia tree? You must be a wizard, do you use magic to keep it alive? ;D

Awwww...thanks Mike! (blushing) Shucks, that makes me feel so happy that I can make you feel better about your levitating mind reading gardenia! :D You have a wonderful way with words amigo! :) Remember, don't let your plants get to you, hee hee!

I know what ya mean about not enough windows! Our old house didn't have any at all in the basement, and very few in the house, except we lived in a valley so it didn't matter anyway. Now we have 2 french doors and a big picture window that faces south! Woohoo! I don't have curtains on it either. I wish the whole south face of the house was glass, that would be awesome! :)

Well, think positive, at least you still have buds on, so it's possible it will come back for you. I hope it does, mine is just punishing me for talking to my ma about it, so if I don't say ANYTHING on the phone, maybe it'll forget!

Monarda, congrats on getting some BUDS and FLOWERS! I'm in awe!! What did you do to convince your plants to flower??
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· Posted by: hnwillis z8 SC (My Page) on Thu, Nov 29, 01 at 15:22 Ya'll gotta be some of the funniest people. After going through the ordeal of many a gardenia suicides, I decided it was time to plant them outside (great humidity and heat-Z8 SC). I hate to say this but two years ago I planted 2 gardenia plants on the northwest side of my house. They have been doing just fine. They are just at 2-3 feet tall. I have pruned them together this past sprng into a low hedge next to my white picket fence. I have planted the trimmings amongst a groundcover of Gerbera Daisies in a 24 inch plastic pot that I also planted a 10 ft crooked willow tree on the southside of my house. I also put some trimmings into small pots with cheap Wal-Mart garden soil. To my surprise, they have taken root and are growing like crazy. I put one particular cutting into a pot by itself to be able to bring in the house. I left it outside all spring and summer (it rained constantly when I first planted them). This one stayed in 5 inches of water/dirt for 2 months. I have brought the sole potted plant into my sunroom and placed it inside a miniture greenhouse. I doesn't seem to be growing like it did outside. I'm really thinking that it likes to be outdoors in humidity, heat and southern exposure. Go figure? So from 1 pruning of two plants I have successfully propagated 10+ little ones. I can't wait until they bloom. Also, the main idea for planting them outside is that my neighbor has a 10 ft tall, 7 ft wide "gardenia bush" that is heavenly when it blooms. I have taken pictures of it because people don't believe me. I know she doesn't do anything special to any of her plants. One thing we do have in common is acidic clay soil which our azaleas and camellias seem to thrive on. · Posted by: bedou z10 Ft. L. Fl (My Page) on Fri, Dec 7, 01 at 1:15 Its 1:09 in the morning. My laughter must have woken my husband up, so I suppose I should put the kettle on! From a nude plot of land in Ft. Lauderdale, I have tried to fill it up with fragrant choices. Yes, Gardenia included. Its yellow leaves tend to give me a good contrast against all those green ones that are flourishing. Alas, they tend to fall off, so I just use them as mulch where they land. Time to find something else! I certainly shall not spend time agonizing over it, from what you have all said. Oh well, I had such high hopes!!! Joanmary · Posted by: fpogoda 5 N NJ (My Page) on Mon, Dec 17, 01 at 12:21 Just wanted to be sure regarding the indoor gardenia temp. issue: is the optimum temperature 70 degrees during the day, then 55 degrees at night? Thanks · Posted by: yugoslava 6 ) on Sat, Dec 29, 01 at 20:56 I have been fairly successful with azaleas and rhododendrons and wonder if it would be possible to keep gardenia dormant over winter and bring it out in spring, plant it among rhodos and leave it until it gets cold. I have admired gardenias from afar for the longest time, but I knew indoor conditions in the winter were not the best, so I have never had one to call my own. Would it be possible to keep gardenia cool over winter as I do with my fig tree and brugmansia? The scent is absolutely intoxicating! One word about people who live in warm or coastal areas. You have no trouble growing tropical plants which we can only see when we take tropical vacations for which we have to pay dearly. I live in Great Lakes Region with short seasons but we all dream of exotic plants growing luxuriantly indoors. Which is why we fret and fuss endlessly. · Posted by: Jenn z9/19 SoCal (My Page) on Tue, Jan 8, 02 at 10:16 This has to be the funniest thread I've ever read at the GardenWeb. I laughed so hard I could hardly talk and had tears in my eyes!! I printed out the whole thread to share with other pour souls who have tried to grow Gardenias according to all the best recommendations, only to watch them wither away. We have a Gardenia growing on a slight slope in alkaline clay soil under a Japanese Black Pine tree. It gets mid-to-late sun. It gets watered whenever we run the lawn sprinklers. It isn't the most prolific plant we grow, but at least it's alive and produces some blooms for us each year. The success is probably due to the fact that my husband is the one who cares for it, and he is not a by-the-book gardener... he just waters whenever he thinks the lawn needs water, feeds it when he remembers (I think the last time was about 2 years ago), etc. LOL!!! · Posted by: Rosalie 5-6 salt lake (My Page) on Wed, Jan 9, 02 at 11:30 this thread is hilarious! and now famous -- a link to it is posted at the garden party forum, so some of us have wandered over to check out your battles -- i believe i will stick with xeric types -- no chicken dances for me -- thanks for the laughs! and good luck to all -- rosalie · Posted by: ccl38 8A Savannah, GA (My Page) on Thu, Jan 17, 02 at 15:59 I too have had trouble with vetchii. Mine was so large and so heavy with blooms I decided to prune it. We couldn't get past it down the walk. Once prunned it went into a decline and it has never been the same. I have another variety that I rooted about three years ago from a large bush growing at the edge of the swamp near where I work. It is mostly in shade, never gets watered and would probably measure 5 feet, and it has those huge saucer size blossoms and smells wonderful. I don't shake a chicken so I guess I must have held my mouth right when I planted it. They are my favorite plant. For me it is a pass along plant. I root them all summer and give them to anyone who comes along and wants one. · Posted by: Joanmary_z10 z10 Ft. L. Fl. (My Page) on Thu, Jan 17, 02 at 19:23 cc 138 you must have 'the magic touch'Well done, and I say that with honest envy. The question is, are you ready, willing and able to produce 75-+ rooted cuttings from a 'proven' specimen with the right karma, one for each of the above postings, to restore our faith in this plant and to bring aid and comfort to all of us who have been brought down by this picky, picky plant? lol!!! Joanmary · Posted by: Lily 5 IL (My Page) on Fri, Jan 18, 02 at 21:16 I got a Gardenia "Veitchii" last January as a gift, loaded with buds. Looking for culture info I found this thread. Aftering reading everyone's experience, I thought I was going to kill it for sure. I held my breath when I was anywhere near it. I misted it daily and then decided not to mist after my hard water left ugly mineral stains on the leaves. More then half of the buds dropped and it refused to bloom indoor! It got a lot of half yellowed leaves before I dragged it outside in late Spring. It thrived outside and bloomed! In the mean time I got hooked on orchids. I started using the leftover orchid water (rain water with 1/4 strenth of fertilizer and a drop of Superthrive/per gallon) to water the gardenia. It's been growing like crazy! Now it's back in the house in front of my south facing window, and in bloom! It's in a 12" plastic pot and about 2 feet tall. Maybe it's the rain water or the superthrive, but there is definitely hope for all gardenia lovers! · Posted by: Jenn z9/19 SoCal (My Page) on Sun, Jan 20, 02 at 13:40 So that's the trick... "water with leftover orchid water". Why don't the gardening books say that?!? LOL! · Posted by: Lali z9, 18, So Cal (My Page) on Mon, Jan 21, 02 at 15:16 I can't believe how long this topic has gone on for. It is sooo hilarious! Anyway, I'm trying my first attempt to grow gardenias. I put them in the backyard (northern exposure) with ferns and azaleas, so I'm hoping they will be ok. Now that I've read this post, I'm really really really skeptical that they will bloom or even live by my hand. Thanks for the laugh! Lali · Posted by: freesias Z9 ) on Tue, Feb 19, 02 at 23:35 Oh My GOD! I just planted THREE 1 gal. 'Veitchii' gardenias in my front yard mixed border. I have a feeling, my are gonna DIE on me. I am definitely not touching these guys! Will water once every couple of weeks. THAT'S IT!!!! · Posted by: susan_CA z9 CA ) on Sun, Feb 24, 02 at 16:05 What a great thread! Gardenia culture is such a thrill of success/agony of defeat experience. Anticipating an unknown failure rate, I bought 6 'Veitchii'! The two planted directly under a tree (where I wanted to sit) and northern foundation exposure died. The two planted in eastern foundation exposure with shade mid-day on bloom copiously all summer. The two planted in western foundation exposure, where light tree shade relieves afternoon heat after 4pm do almost as well. All get composted manure in early spring, pine needle mulch, half-strength chelated minerals whenever leaves begin to pale or MirAcid if I think of it, water from sprinkler system early a.m. (including on leaves) daily in summer in the hot, dry central valley, and have FAST drainage. The two that died were in locations with slower drainage and more shade. The only year I had some bud drop was the year we had a late, wet spring, but they bloomed fine all summer. I have seen specimens in full sun in the central valley; they bloom well, but leaves & blossoms show sunburn damage. So I'm going with the sun/shade, wet/dry, feed/not theory. · Posted by: jxnphx Zn9 AZ (My Page) on Fri, Mar 8, 02 at 0:42 Oh my, oh my! The woman at the nursery said I could have an indoor gardenia in my east-window-garden (morning sun, high level of light the rest of the day), but it sounds like she forgot to tell me I'd need to install a swamp for it, as well. I certainly have plenty of heat for it, here on the low desert. I may be joining the ranks of the guilty gardenia group: I'm not likely to "mist" the miserable thing, nor am I likely to change my habits in on-going care (I am sadly irregular about watering and feeding my only other plant--a low-maintenance Madagascar Palm--dracena). I prepared the soil well enough though (a standard potting soil mixed with half-again as much peat moss), I placed the plant "high" in the middle of the pot, added a layer of peat moss on the top, and covered it all with some additional organic mulch, watered it in with an "acid" feeding, and set it above a large, relatively deep saucer with plenty of water for evaporation. I may have misunderstood the nursery lady's comment about the roots, though, because I removed a great deal of the soil from the root ball and treated the roots with hormone before placing it in the new pot and soil mix. I read in the messages above that this plant may not have liked that messing about with its roots. I believe I'll acquire one of those devices that gives a reading of the humidity, to see just how dry my window garden area really is. We'll see what happens. While I may be capable of sustaining this thing's life for a short while, after reading all of this, I'm not planning on much success with it. I tend to move on to other projects, and I'm afraid the poor thing will have to shift for itself more than it is constitutionally capable. Of course, reading about the success of those who largely ignored their gardenia gives me some hope. That's more my style. At least I have a good excuse for turning the AC down to 70 starting in April. I just don't think the local power usage police are going to understand it when I tell them that my astronomical power draw is necessary for the health of a plant. This is going to be expensive emotionally and monetarily. Who would have thought a trip to the nursery would result in such bondage? · Posted by: Joanmary_z10 z10 Ft. L. Fl. (My Page) on Fri, Mar 8, 02 at 13:16 Oh, what a wonderful laugh this has been! My poor old gardenia is there in Florida, with no one to care for it, depending on the sprinkler system to 'do its thing' and I have no clue what is happening to it. However I have my dark moments when I can see the Christmas lights decorating its bare twigs come December! Taking it that I will be using its twigs as mulch sometime soon, I have bought as a replacement, the African Gardenia. Now I wonder if this is in the same category? Here's to Gardenias who can take neglect!! · Posted by: jxnphx Zn9 AZ (My Page) on Sat, Mar 9, 02 at 15:31 I discussed my newly acquired gardenia issue with my elder sister who, smirking, told me it would probably do me good to have something to worry about. I can only think she was being complimentary about my faultless children and long-ago departed harpy of a wife. She herself has a half-dozen off-spring who provide her with plenty of heart-rending despair. Just in case she was being a smart-ass though, I bought my plant an ultrasonic humidifier which pumps 2.6 gallons of water vapor into the air each day, and I hurried to the used book store and increased my holdings in James Lee Burke (setting: southern Louisiana). I suppose I could have picked up some Faulker, as well, but he's so damned hard to read. I can't stand Tennessee Williams. I am thinking that a few dark and decadent thought-waves might make the gardenia feel a little more at home here in the bright, parched protestant desert southwest. Although it's only been a couple of days, I'm sure it's looking a little better than when I brought it home from the nursery; but just the same, I'm going to keep my eye on a new leaf that is looking a little yellowish. I don't want my dear sister to have the last laugh. · Posted by: BarbC coastal SC (My Page) on Fri, Apr 12, 02 at 15:53 LOL - I have tears rolling down my face and flooding the den. I have 2 unknown variety gardenias that I bought at HD 4 years ago. Since then, I have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to them and yet they thrive. They survived the great flood of '99 (were under 6 FEET of nasty swamp/river water and were still green 3 months later when the water finally went away) They were only 1ft tall at the time, so literally had 5ft of nasty black water on top of them. I even had to pick dried toilet paper off them, as the flood had taken the contents of 1000 septic tanks along its path. Those two gardenias and the roses were the only plants to survive that mess. Anyway, once I could finally walk through my yard again (without sinking up to my eyeballs in slimy mud) I dug those suckers up and moved them to my new (dry) house (roses too). They are still there and doing beautifully in full southern afternoon sun. I do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING special to them. I don't even ater then during droughts. Maybe that's the secret? The guy across the street has a couple and he also does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to his and his are even nicer than mine. Perhaps we are killing these plants with kindness? Maybe what they really want is to just be left alone?
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meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I HAVE ASPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

All my friends here need to know, that my prettiest gardenia, "Tina", the one described upbove has passed on to a far betetr life!! :-(

The announcement is as follows.

You are all invited to her ulogies starting at 8 o'clock in th am tommorrw, at the "Walter Parish" church here in Lowell, Mass.
Soon after that there will be a procession leading to the grave site where she will be carefully been placed in a far better soil than she was in before. "Organic mind you! The process will take you up my driveway, along the brook, up to the maple tree that she has always enjoyed sitting next to all summer. She wanted to be buried next to that tree if she should pass on. So she will be.

Don't feel bad. At least she was baptized with me in her last shower with me, and repented of all her sins. So now she will be a far better place where she will no longer have to struggle in this sad harsh world and enviroment up here in the north.

No more spidermites, no more faucet water, no more douses of iron, no more hearing my voice, no more showering with me, and no more dropping her leaves do to what I think she thought was abuse at my own hands. No more suffereing!

May she rest in peace tommorrow. If any of you can not make it, I'll understand. Also, any contributions to the "Take Good Care of Your Gardenia" foundation would be much appreciated. That would be addressed to me... Even better, maybe another tree gardenia shipped to my home, in sympathy, would take the pain away from me, mend my broken heart, fil the lonliness in my other plants who so much miss her,as we have been crying all day....:-(

Thanks for all the support you all gave me all this time, but, she will be a much better place now, and have fun in "planty heaven". At least she won't feel the chill outside tonight as she waits to get buried...

Love you all, and I hope I can move on now.:-(

Mike
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
P.S

I will try to remember to take a picture of her so I can post it, and you can all be part of an open casket viewing... I will show you before and after pictures in her rememberence...:-)
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Please accept my condolences, Mike!! You know, after I gave my gardenia a shower, it started to go down hill from there. I think I washed out all the nutrients from the soil when I did that!

Should we send flowers for the funeral??

:( Sorry for your loss!! :( I hope that you can find a great replacement soon that will bloom for you.

I hope that mine at least blooms once before it dies, the leaves are starting to turn yellow, I had fertilized it lightly with iron, and do you know that they are still turning yellow, and some of the 'new' growth at the base of the plant the leaf tips of the new growth is burned.

I'm going to GO CRAZY WITH GRIEF, ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
!!

Sorry about Tina, amigo! I know if my gardenia dies, it will go to HELL..ha ha ha!!
puglvr1
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Sorry Mike :o(

Thanks for making us a part of your grieving and memorial ceremonies...the only thing that will heal your pain
is to get another one, LOL...or maybe try a
"Stephanotis Floribunda"...I just very recently
discovered this very pretty plant. DH gave me one for
Valentine's Day...I love it! Hope it blooms for me!

We say goodbye to one gardenia...and say hello to another
jeelli
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh Mike- I'm so sorry for your loss! That stinks! But you know what? Monarda is right! I guess you win some and you lose some. It's the challenge that makes it "fun."
My beautiful Gardenia (unnamed variety) from Whole Foods looks ratty. The leaves look like there may be some root rot. I had checked before and everything looked okay, but I am going to investigate further. She was doing so well- kind of draping herself over the edges of the pot...at least I have some photos.
Yes- we love our new house. I have a daily morning ritual of raising up the stubborn roman shades the previous owners left us, moving smaller plants to the window sills. At night I cover up the windows for the sake of energy efficiency, and privacy- the room is on the side of our house.
But yes- that sun she's shining warmer. ahhhh
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Here a picture of the poor plant before I buried it...

Roots and plants.:-(

Thanks everyone...
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
OMG..what gruesome pictures..AUGH!! It's like a horror movie with blood and gore everywhere! =:O

Your poor, poor plant!! :( Sniff, sniff, I am so sorry, it was so beautiful! Well let's hope it goes to gardenia heaven, if there is such a place. :( I'll make a donation the the Arbor Day Foundation in her memory.

I tell you, you will think I am crazy (well you probably KNOW I'm crazy already). BUT. I keep my plant in a big tub, and let it soak up a little bit of water that is always there for humidity control. I'm not going to take showers with it anymore, because 1) I think I horrified it so much with me unclothed that it took awhile to get over the shock) and 2) it leached any nutrients out of the soil.

Ok. If my plants lower leaves are turning yellow, then it needs a little fertilizer. If you give it too much, then the new leaves that are coming out will turn black or have black tips on them (muffled scream).

If your plant has leaves on the top only and looks like a 'palm tree gardenia', then it's been growing too dry and needs more watering.

For some reason, my schizoid gardenia actually seems to grow better when the soil is constantly moist! Yes, isn't that contradictory?? Yes, it is. But, anytime that I have let it dry out, it started doing worse and worse. I do grow it in a clay pot however.

When I have a little bit of water in the bottom, it seems to do well. I don't have a lot, and I do let the water evaporate every few days, and then add some more. Sometimes like maybe 1 time every 2 weeks I totally give it a good soaking with some very dilute fertilizer (algoflash) and a titch of liquid iron. If I give it too much iron, the new leaves seem to turn black. Oh yeah, and I also give it a half teaspoon of vinegar with watering every month or so. You can also just use an old tea bag too, to keep the soil acidic.

For some reason, this has been working for me for the past 2 weeks. I don't know why, lol!

If the leaves are green and dry and falling off, that is definitely that the plant isn't getting enough water.

I actually just used miracle gro potting soil to grow it in last year, and it seems to like it.
snasxs
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I am not surprised.

You are the person who showered your root-rotting gardenia and claimed victory!

This is the definite result.

Now you know why I was so concerned.

Humidity is NOT an issue (the root is), get it?
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Snasxs...he's in mourning. His dead gardenia hasn't even been planted for a week yet.
snasxs
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I am mourning for the Gardenia, the lost love, the wasted money and energy ... ...
beetle_2007
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi meyermike,
I'm so sorry to hear about the big girl! At least you didn't kill her on purpose [like I did with mine!] I could post identicle pics, only the leaves blackened! lol] My plant never looked better last fall,[Sept] then for whatever reason, I brought it in, and gave it a good fert.! all the while, back of the brain, knowing better! It was a long process, but finally,in the trash she went.
I do not consider this whole exsperiance a waste. For almost two years, I had the JOY of the shiney leaves, and those Heavenly flowers! Its a learning exsperiance, and I fully intend to get anouther![maybe a tad smaller!
Again,sad to hear you lost one, but don't forget the ones out there, waiting to be loved!
Good growing, Fiona
jeelli
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Snaxs, I think it's up to Mike to worry about his time and money, esp. when he has bigger fish to fry these days.
Half the fun and the challenge for us northerners is learning by trial and error. If something didn't work, then it's up to Mike to make adjustments. I love my plants too, but it's not like he killed a pet!
(Family is #1, pets #2, plants #3)
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Jeelli, you are 300 percent correct! :D Although depending on the family members (for me anyway), the order can be a little different, ha ha! :D

Everyone makes mistakes, ESPECIALLY with gardenias. Heck, all I have to do is breathe on mine and they turn black! I have that affect on all my plants though. ;D
jeelli
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mersie you are too funny!

I love my boys, but today once again our dog gets the gold star for best behaved- and she's a Boxer!!!

The only Gardenias I have going for me are the wacky varieties from (you guessed it) Logee's, and an unnamed "bush" from a small greenhouse. The Veitchii's are for the birds (or compost heap) and yet I bought ANOTHER one from the grocery store. I guess there's something about being a glutton for punishment!

Why? Why do we do this to ourselves? Why set up for failure? For what? The hope for one, just one fragrant flower? Why? Why I ask!!

Oh yeah- cause my kids don't need me so much (outside of taxi service and to buy/ pay for things and make sure to shower and feed them and tuck them in at night...) and I need to fill my time buying weird plants that on the off chance may someday produce flowers that smell good. Oh yeah. And to make my husband crazy, like his X-Box makes me crazy. There you go. rotflmao!
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi everyone!!

Ok I got the courage to come back....:-)

You are all making me laugh.
That is what I love about coming here.
You are all good people!
Thanks for caring!

Our denias on the other hand?..Hummmmm

Do you really care to know what happened "snasxs"?

Or anyone else...?

Mike:-)
jeelli
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mike you need to stick with THIS forum!
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mike, did you toss your Gardenia?
I stared at your pic 2 mins, looking for new growth.
In a way it looks like fertilizer burn, but possibly something else. Did you fertilize a lot? Toni
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi everyone!!

Ok,

This was a true case of a plant that self destructed over a time, from transplanting it incorrectlty into new soil from the beginning.

My plant died from having too much air around and through out the root ball. If I had filled in the roots thoruoghly with the new soil, the poor thing would of never thirst to death every other day...
The showers were the only thing that gave this plant a break.
Am I the only one that makes these stupid mistakes with plants...? :-( :-(

Thanks for caring so much everyone..

Hope you are all fine tonight.

Goodnight...
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
P.s..

Ok,

Now you all know that I killed TWO plants.. I couldn't hold back anymore...Where else can I go to admit a stupid mistake twice. This last post I described is in reference to yes, a different one I lost shortly after losing the first one that started this post!!

So from my two mistakes, I hope you learned to make sure to clear the old soil away correctly as in the first one, then to make sure you fill in new soil correctly around one that you bareroot, or you'll lose two..:-(

So neither one of my babies died from overwatering, but from incorrect transplanting.:-( :-(

Now goodnight! I feel better now that the guilt has been lifted off my shoulders!! See, maybe our denias are not that evil anymore, maybe it could be the other way around...
monarda_gw
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I know they always warn you about overwatering, but I find I find that I lose more plants to letting them dry out inadvertently than to overwatering. (My 2 cents). You have to watch these darn things like a hawk.

I have found that a bit of warm, verging on hot water sometimes helps to moisten the rootball better when I have let things get too dry. When they get to a certain point of dryness they just won't accept new water -- it runs right off. And I know it isn't kosher, but in the heat of summer the plants that seem to do best (outdoors) are the ones that have a bit of water in the saucer at all times. When they are growing well they are thirsty devils.
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
After a while, watering is no different than breathing. It comes naturally, we get a feel or a sense, hey, wake up, it's time to give 'x' plant a drink.
Sometimes, people hear that little voice way too often.

Watering depends on soil, or soil-less, room temps, humidity or lack of and pot materials.
If one is using a completely soil-less mix, it's natural plant is going to need more water and fertilizer than a plant potted in soil.
If room is hot, soil dries out faster than cooler rooms.

Some people ask why I use soil instead of 100% soil-less. Well, the answer is, soil is something I'm familiar with, so going completely soil-less would be like starting from scratch.
Don't get me wrong, depending on the plant, I add peat, perlite, etc, but most plants are potted in some soil. Since soil is heavier, a plant needs less water.

Mike, were the two plants you lost in soil or soil-less?
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Right, then once the roots dried do to a lack of enough soil around the roots, or soil to compacted around the other, they got stressed over and over again, until they just shut down. Then the rot.., because they couldn't take up water anymore on their overly dried roots..Their root system basically died before they even drank.
Another cause for rot.

I have had this happen to cactus and clivias. I have held off on watering far to long on a couple, then when I finally decided to water, the roots just sat in that water and rotted. My clivia turned yellow, and my cactus heeled over!
I guess we can kill roots before they even ever get a chance to drink from drought.:-(
And when they finally do get water, they just turn to mush.
I guess this is a big reason why they say not to let denias overly dry out, but to keep them evenly moist.
The same could happen to my ferns too.
How was my poor plant able to drink without soil completely covering its root sytem, especially the inside of the root ball in which I completely shook all the dirt out?

These did not die from overwatering or the soilless mix I used, but the way I handled the root sytem when transplanting. I have no one to blame but my own stupidity!
:-((. SO I have realized that there are many factors to root rot, especially to denias..

Toni, HI!!
They were both lost in a soilless mix..
You see, I was loosing plants at one time in a soil mix to overwaterting. That is why I went soiless.

This time I lost them, due to a lack of experience transplanting them into an entirely different soil mix..

If I had transplanted them correctly, I would of never have lost them . While it is true that it is almost impossible to overwater in the mix I have them in now, it is a BIGGER possiblity to kill them if the soil I use is not in contact with all the roots after a barerooting and to drought.
Especially with big air pockets, voiding the roots of soil in the center of the root ball. I should of used a stick to push the soil deep into the center of the roots.

I sure did learn from all of this though, the hard way.

Lesson: 1 If I don't break the old root ball up enough for the roots to take hold of the new soil, then I will kill yet another..
Lesson: 2 If I don't fill in all roots with new soil correctly, including the the rootball, after barerooting, so that these roots have contact with soil, then I will kill another.

Is anyone confused yet? Does everyone see what I mean?
I think I might of helped someone here....;-)
It is hard to explain, but I gave it my best shot.

Sorry so long,but I enjoy your company everyone. Thanks for a listening ear!

P.S.

The only time any of my both denias, and yes, a couple of my meyers from the same mistake, got a good watering,when all the roots got a good drink, even with soil was to dry to permeate, or when the soil was not surrounding roots, is when they got a shower. This is why these two babies were wilting every other day until I did gave a shower! When I stopped due to someones advice, they died very quickly......:-)They just asumed I was overwatering my plants, instead of the latter. But they meant well..:-)
They were wilting from drought from a diferent cause!

Thankyou everyone....

And Toni, a special thanks on one of my other posts!!! I will explain later..

Love you all,

Mike
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Monarda, you are SO right! Anytime I have had problems with my stupid gardenia (well, more problems than usual, that is), it was when I would let them get dry. They would start getting yellow leaves almost overnight, I swear.

Mike, hey don't be too hard on yourself buddy, everyone kills plants. I still think that gardenias are evil though, lol! Mine has one big fat bud on it, just waiting to turn black and fall off if it even senses that I have any hope that it will bloom. :D

You guys are right about air around the roots not being a good thing. My stupid plant is losing it's lower leaves, they are just turning yellow and dropping. It's not iron chlorosis. So, I took it out of the pot (it's in a big pot for its size). The roots are a healthy white and not crowded in the least, but I noticed that I had balled up a bunch of newspaper in the bottom of the pot, and some of the roots were trying to root into the paper. HA! So, I took out the paper and added some soil to the bottom and put the denia back in. I did this a few days ago, and hopefully it'll come back. Strange thing is, there is new growth at the base of the plant, so I guess I'm not totally killing the dreadful thing yet.

So, you are all right on the money about not letting any air (or newspaper)into the soil at all. :)
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mike, I am totally confused about your soil problem. lol. What do you mean soil didn't cover the rootball?
Is this something that happens when a plant is potted in complete, soil-less mix?
I can't fathom how this happened.

Mike, when you use soil-less mediums, it's imperative to water more. That's one reason I refuse to go soil-less. One reason. I don't have time to water daily.. it'd take a week, then when I finished, it'd be time to start over, rewater. lol. The soil my plants are in dry fast as it is, so I can't imagine potting in something that dries even faster.

Since your mix doesn't include black soil, check first, but you will have to water more than say me..Good luck. lol
It also depends on size of pot..the larger the pot, more water. Some containers need 2-3 gallons. My Manderin orange is in a 24" plastic pot..in summer it takes 4 gallons of water for a full soaking. It's potted in soil! I don't know how muchw water it'd need in non-soil medium.

Mike, for many many years, people potted in nothing but what they could find at their nearest nursery..heavy, black soil. No perlite, sand, peat, etc. Yet plants survived. It's a matter of aquainting yourself when to water.

I'm sorry you lost your gardenias though..Are you certain they died? Sometimes leaves fall, but once outdoors, baby leaves resume. Toni
puglvr1
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mike,

Check out this gardenia that they sell at this website. I've never ordered from this company before, so I can't vouche for them...but they supposedly have a "frost free", "disease and bug" resistant variety...might just be what you may be looking for? "If" their claim is really true?

Hi Toni **waving hands**...lol..You might want to see this one too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Frost Proof Gardenia
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow merciepoo, WOW!! I wish..lol

Everyone, when I get a year, I will explain what I meant by what not covering the rootball and bore you all to death with the long story...

Toni, I will definately explain what I mean to you later.

Just to let you know that I can grow gardenias "in anything less than an 8 inch pot, here's the proof. I took pictures last week in my yard with the first day into the 60's...I have a few other smaller ones, but no larger ones anymore..:-(
Can't wait till the grass turns green though..lol

An extra...My ponderosa giving me fruit!
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Pug,

What do you think? Is there such a thing as "freeze proof" gardenia for my area...?lol

That is one nice plant. If I were you, I would be planting one in my backyard quicker than you can blink an eye...That is one nice plant! I think this is where toni orders alot of her plants?
Imagine the fragrance walking into a yard with that one.
Really nice..

Enjoy your weather!! I wish I was there. It is only in the 20's right now..When is this going to end?
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Merci, where did the newspaper come from? Was your 'denia purchased with newspaper? The poor roots were probably seeking soil, asking, 'where are you, where are you???' lol. Don't give up. If it's producing growth, your plant is alive.

Pug, thanks for the site..but we're in zone 5, not 6.. the GArdenia is hardy to zones 6 and up. Also I checked Gardenwatchdog.com. The company has negative feedback..If you get a chance, take a look-see. More negs than positive. I WISH we could grow Gardenias outside, yr round.
One fragrant, hardy perrenial, Mock Orange is hardy to our zone..it smells heavenly. A couple yrs back we went to a nature garden. They have a deeply, variegated Mock Orange. Not only was it sweetly fragranced, but the leaves were gorgeous. So much variegation. I've been trying to locate one, but they're hard to find, especially Mock variegated.

Mike, are plants pictured those bought at Logees? They're huge, 100 times larger than those ordered via mail. From Logees..
They're beautiful. The gardenia and citrus are so, very nice, healthy, dark green leaves. You did great! I wish we lived near Logees..it'd be one heck of a drive going there. lol. Toni
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi toni and everyone else!

The citrus were purchased at Logees. I have been able to keep them alive all this time. The ponderosa in particular are very rapid growing.They also seem more resiliant to pests..the best part of all!! lol

I have had it for about 3 years now.

The denia was bought at a local nursery last fall. That baby gets the sunniest window in the room, with a plastic bag over it, to keep it clean and bug free from my other plants, along with a self contained humid enviroment. I don't close the bag completely so it can't breathe though. I treat this one like gold. It seems to be working for it for its first winter.
Having a bag over it though, amoungst the others, doesn't look that nice. But if it is helping it to stay alive, who cares, right?
I just wish the others would of done just as good without plastic over their heads....
Hey, maybe merciepoo should threaten hers with putting plastic bags over their heads, and then telling them that she'll seal the bags if they don't perform well. Lol

You seeing this merciepoo..?

I never transplanted this one from the original pot either. Maybe once I do, its bye bye?

We'll see.

Take care:-)
puglvr1
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Beautiful Gardenia and Ponderosa Citrus Mike!! Congrats on your success!! You know all those blooms that I had on my Meyer Lemon? Almost all of it fell off after the bees were all swarming around it...I'll be lucky if I can find one or two that set fruit out of it? Oh well...back to getting free lemons from the neighbor's, LOL... You know we can't win them all...we all have lost a few plants here and there. I will say that I am losing a lot less than I used to once I starting using the faster draining soil(Al's Mix). So for me its worked out well. I know that everyone has their own preference on the soil that they want to use...and I am okay with that! I say grow it whichever way works the best for you and your lifestyle!

Toni, I'm glad you looked on garden watchdog...like I said I have never ordered from them before, just caught my eye on that frost free gardenia...Oh well!!

Hi Mersiepoo!! How's everything growing for you? Hope all is well in the gardenia/plant world!!
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mike, I thought you bought both plants on your last visit to Logess..didn't you go there last weekend?
What did you end up getting? You didn't walk out empty-handed, did you? OMG!!! lol
Hey, if the bag works, so be it, right? Do you keep the plastic on in summer? It'd get too hot, especially outdoors. Overheat, etc..

Hey Pug..I'm with you on the soil..whatever works, then by God, use it. How many people filter water from their aquariums, 'fish poop,' to water plants. Works great! Not much different than FE, less expensive, in fact, free. lol

Pug, thanks for the site..it was thoughtful of you to think of us poor souls in cold climates who can't grow Gardenias outdoors in winter..
I have two Phlox plants, one white, one lilac color, at least I think they're Phlox. They smell sooo good..Stargazer lily's are fragrant too..scents up the block.
One nursery I shop at sells what the owner calls, 'hardy orchids.' Hardy to z4-5 and up.
I ordered a few last year, and planted..it was dumb..they were too small to set in the garden. I should have overwintered them in the gh, (if that worked) then planted this year. Some are very frangrant.
One was so small my dh thought it was a weed and plucked!!! I was not a happy camper by no means. Bozo! lol
Some require a ton of water, others need dry soil.
I was going to reorder these 'orchids,' but I might need surgery so will hold off. I already contacted the owner and told him I wasn't going to buy the hardy orchids afterall. We'll see what happens.
I'm now into fragrant and variegated plants..both in and outdoors.
I dont know how many times I walked around the house thinking, if I was to sell a plant which would it be? Guess what, came up with 0. lol..
Every plant has special meaning. How can I possibly give up any one plant? My sister rents space in a huge lot every summer. Ppl bring their tables and chairs and sell stuff. It's like a huge yard sale. I thought it'd be a great place to sell plants..Right! I can't do it. It might be a good place to sell cuttings though..hmm..Toni
puglvr1
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey Toni,

I do really feel for you guys that have to bring your plants inside for the winter. We also have to do it occasionally, during the few days of freeze and or hurricane, LOL...well you can't win them all!! No matter
where you live there will be life's unexpected weather related issues, right?

Funny story on your DH plucking the orchid thinking its a weed, LOL...I'm sure you weren't laughing at the time he did it though?

The problem with selling some of your plants...all you're going to do with the money is just buy "different Plants", so I guess its kind of counter productive,lol...but if you have some that you're not too happy with, sell those, then get some you really like. But it sounds like, you don't want to part with any of the ones you have. You'll just have to knock down a wall and enlarge your house...lol!

Sorry to hear about your surgery...hope it's nothing serious, please take care!
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Pug, guess it's up to the individual where they live..Some people love the cold..in fact, 90% of the people I talk to 'online' prefer winter to summer.
One forum had a discussion 'moving to a warm climate.' Most agreed they'd miss our 4 seasons, snow, and native plants.
I didn't join the chat, I'd have been solo..lol.

No, I didn't think it'd funny when hubby plucked the orchid.

Pug, selling older plants for new was the idea..Like I said, fragrant and variegated. There are a good number of sellers on Ebay, from HI and Thailand who sell gorgoues plants. Come warmer weather, I plan on ordering a few variegated Adeniums. Those bought in winter died. It was just too cold, -4F, and shipping took a long time.
Pug, don't know if I mentioned this to you, but last summer I gave most of my Philos to a friend. Never thought I'd do it, but did..
Thanks about the surgery..Toni
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi everyone!

Toni, no I didn't get the gardenia there at Logees!

Are you kidding. They don't sell anything larger than a 4 inch pot there. In fact, I saw a most beautiful 4inch pot fully flowered denia that had a sign on it.."NOT FOR SALE".
Why the heck run a buisness if you can't even sell a plant to a customer who has been shopping there for years to make money? I really wanted it! I don't get it.
I left it there and ended up buying a couple small 2 inch denias.. Then a ruby red grapefruit in a 2 inch pot, and another lemon meyer in a 2 inch pot.
You know I can't drive all the way down there and leave empty handed..lol
I even take orders from friends and pick them up plants too...
How dumb do you think I am? lol duoble lolol
Of course the plastic bag comes off as soon as I can put it outside.....Maybe merciepoo would threaten hers with suffocation, but not me....lol

Take care everyone, to sick to continue.

I hope you are all well..:-)
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mike, are you still sick? What's wrong? You better see a doctor.

I thought Logee's sold larger plants at their greenhouse. I once read a thread where a group of women spent an afternoon at Logees. One woman said, she left with both hands filled. I 'assumed' buying directly from their gh, differed from plants shipped out..

Do you know if your new citrus is grafted? 2" pots? You're kidding? Wow..
I used to order from Logees, frequently, in the 90's..At the time, their plants were shipped in 4" pots, good sized. Even though they looked nothing like those in their catalog, one figured, with care, plants would one day look similar.
Their shipping was always on the high side, but nothing like nowadays.
Around 2000, they started shipping plants in 2-2 1/2" pots, and increase prices..
I continued ordering, (less often) but 90% of the time, these little, tiny, almost-rootless plants died.
One variegated lemon stood 2" tall, died within days. The last plant I ordered was Acalypha, Copperleaf. One dead Copperleaf. I don't remember how it started, but someone from customer service phoned. She was a sweetheart. I explained the situation..She apologized, and sent a good-sized Copperleaf. It stood about a foot..Now why didn't they ship out a similar sizes in the first place.
When the replacement plant arrived, I was baffled by its beauty..the only problem was, it was loaded w/mites..that was the last time order from Logees. 2001/2.

Copperleaf is sold here in spring as an annual..1.50 at Walmart..I bought one a few years ago..it's alive and well.

Mike, I wish you luck with your new plants. And get to a doctor, please..Toni
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi guys!

Mike, I hope you are okay, you have been sick for a looong time! Maybe those gardenias of yours are trying to poison you. I've heard stories.... Seriously, I hope you go to a competent doctor or ND to find out what is wrong. :( Don't let the plants get the best of you!
I can't believe that Logees wouldn't sell you a gardenia that was blooming..was it reserved for someone else? Geez Louise!

Another logees plant I had just bit the dust, it was an easy care one too, a strawberry guava! The lemon guava seeds I had planted and grown are doing great! So why did theirs die? Hmmph, who knows. :( I'm still battling the spider mites that I got from that company. >:(

My gardenia is still alive, it seems to be losing less leaves since I removed the paper and added soil to the bottom of the pot. I was daring and gave it a tiny bit of epsom salts in the water. I just bottom water it now, since it seems to hate any other watering method.

Pug, I am sooo jealous of you and your beautiful plants! I'm also so happy for you that you can grow these tempermental beauties! :D

Toni, I hope that you are doing well, I didn't know you had surgery, or else I would have sent you my best wishes! So, here they are (a little late), best wishes for a complete recovery! :)

I think these plants are conspiring to do us in..the only reason Pug isn't sick is because she has her plants outside, lol! ;)
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Don't feel so bad everyone......

I have had over 20 Logees plants die on me too....lol
I only have about 4 original ones from the begining. My ponderosas, and one bourvardia.
Toni, the ponderosa is a true cutting. Not on a root stock.
Are all your meyers you have on root stock?
I bought one from Logees a few weeks ago, a true cutting, let's see if this one survives this time..

And yet there is still something I love about going to Logees..It is a special place! I could spend all day in there..Just set me up a bed there, and I could live there until spring....That place is so warm!!

I am going to call and speak to the owner tommorrow, and ask why they wouldn't sell me that 4 inch pot one. I fell in love with it. It has 4 big beautiful blossoms on it and it was in a hanging pot. It was so nice. I couldn't believe they didn't want to sell it to me after I have invested so much money into that place.... They said it was there to advertise the 2inch pot ones and what it could look like if ones can get them to grow that big... SURE....We'll see...

Still too sick to say anything much further, after I just finished my last gasp on the houseplant forum. I missed you merciepoo. I wish you well toni. And puglvr1, well, you can keep Florida with all its sunshine and denias, lol :-)

Thanks for all your concern everyone...

Love you all!
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mersi, which nursery, 'did you buy' mites from? :) + :( But seriously, was it Logees?

Is Logees owned by different people, (in the last 10 yrs?) Logees was my favorite place to shop, locate those hard-to-find rarities. Plants were insect-free and decent sized.
They still send catalogs. For the life of me I can't figure it out.. :)

Thanks Mersi, actually surgery is this coming Tues, Mar 31. I am soooo scared. One out of 3..sheesh.

Mike, so are you saying Logees doesn't sell grafted citrus? If that's the case, another point against them.
Mike, all my citrus are grafted. The only non-grafted tree was one started from lemon seeds..It was very pretty, but thorny as a Cactus. Ironically, its leaves were lemon scented, something I don't detect in nursery-bought grafted lemon trees..strange.

Mike, don't be surprised if they won't sell the 4" Gardenia. Many nurseries keep a plant for display purposes.
A local nursery had the biggest, most Beautiful Variegated PonyTail Palm ever. Not common variegated with stripes. This tree has long leaves with yellow circles. It was absolutely beautiful. On the bottom were 4 offshoots. I asked the owner how much it cost..he joked saying, you'd need to take out a second mortgage..lol. He had many offers from other nursery owners all over the US, but he refused to sell. He got hold of this tree in the 40's..they tried rooting offshoots, but they either died or grew in green. I wanted to try one SOOO bad.
Anyway, we stopped at this nursery in Feb. The owner is in his 70's or 80's and has since lost interest. The PT was thrown in with other tall plants, all crunched together. Its ends were brown, soil so dry it cracked..I don't see any easy way to repot since it's been in the same 32" container for years. It looked terrible. I asked a clerk why the owner didn't have it on display, she said he lost interest. It's ashame seeing such a beauty smashed with other trees.
Sometimes, when plants have disease or pests, they place a Not For Sale sign. But in your case, I think they're keeping the Gardenia as a model, an example of what another 'denia will look like.
It sure doesn't hurt to call. I hope they agree to sell. If for some reason they owner declines, try not to be disappointed. Keep us posted..Toni
puglvr1
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi guys,

Mersie, so glad to hear from you...I'll try and post some pictures of my gardenia when I get more blooms. Believe me, I've had my share of yellow leaves/pests also. I think they just come with the territory, gardenias and bugs...tom and jerry, peanut butter and jelly...well you guys get the picture, lol. Glad your denia is still alive(I have faith in you). This is one plant that you can't blink and not have something go wrong...

Mike, please feel better soon...let us know if they sell you the plant!

Toni, good luck with your surgery...will be thinking of you.
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks Pug..Can't wait until Weds..lol..hugs, Toni
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi everyone!

MM, I hope you are feeling better! The pics of your plants are stunning, you really can grow those gardenias! The ponderosa lemons are nice looking too..I love the scent of citrus flowers. :) What kind of gardenias are they? Where did you get them?? Beautiful!! :)

Toni, I hope the surgery went well and you are recuperating as fast as possible! Hope all is well with you, hey you better get better soon and sniff those gardenias, lol!!

Hi Pug, glad you are doing well, thank you for the encouragement..lol! Well, to make a long story short, I was in a not so happy mood a few days ago. I had had to move the plant because I needed the tub for my new chicks that I got. So, basically this move accelerated the yellow leaf drop exponentially. ALL the leaves fell off, except for the one big bud. I was not happy..not happy at all, and the gardenia met with an unfortunate accident. It somehow was thrown off the back deck and plummeted to it's death about 15 feet below. The police have already been here to take pictures of the crime scene. So tragic, no?

So, I'm in the market for another gardenia, ha ha ha!! I got the cursed plant from Logees. And yes, that is where I got 1) spider mites, 2) thrips and 3 some sort of leaf spot that only attacks succulent plants. It's now on all my succulents, except for my Christmas cactus for some reason has escaped it. I noticed in the photos of logee's epiphytes that if you look closely you can see the spots in some of their catalog pictures.

Yeah, they still send me catalogs..but I am no longer tempted as their prices are outrageous! I only have 3 plants from them, one fig, the epiphyte (night blooming cereus), a sad looking blood orange (it's alive, barely but I have a key lime purchased from a cheapo company (maybe burgess) that is doing great and has survived for 3 years with me, ditto a meyer lemon I got from them and it's still alive too!)...oh what else..hmmm...well I guess that is about it! I have other plants that are still alive and doing well.

I had just read that its not good to use vinegar on gardenias, someone said that it is used as an herbicide. Maybe that was the problem? That and giving it a shower, which leached the nutrients out of the soil.
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey merciepoo!!!!!!

Welcome back...
Remember when I first started on these forums, and I was looking for help with pests?
That is at the same time when I started getting plants from Logees, and never gave it a thought!!!
My God, what if I did get them from there? I AHVE BEEN GOING THERE EVERY MONTH for the past year!!! OH MY GOD!!
What the heck am I suppose to do. Also, the only plants I ever have from them that keep growing are just a couple. So many have died, and I keep going there to replace the ones that I loved..Mayde I am on a merry-go-round and need to get off........OH BOY!!!!
Please, is there anyone here that has had sucess and great plants from Logees? Anyone?
Yes I am gettting better. Even I was to sick to come here.
By the way, I got that denia last fall from a local nursery. I have been afraid to transplant it. I have even been afraid to take the plastic off from it all winter, for fear I might stir up the gardenia demons. God forbid allow another spot for any mites to hitch a ride on my only clean, bug free, plant!
I am writing fast because I have to leave here at work in two minutes to head home.
I wanted to say hi, and hi to all of you.
Toni I hope your surgery is going ok. And I hope you don't let it get you down,because of being limited in what you can do for now...I am so sorry.
Take care everyone, and please excuse any spelling errors!! I goof up when I am writing slow, let alone fast.
Stay healthy and happy everyone.
Thanks fo all you do for me in my sucess with the hardest plant to care for, yet the most fragrant that we all really wish we could love..lol
Mike..:-)
birdsnblooms
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mercipoo, thanks..I'm better..been working on plants.. had to go back yesterday, more tests! so we'll see.

Anyway, you tricked me. I was in awe with your story about, what I thought was human or pet, fall 15 stories. THE crime scene. I thought tragedy struck. You are a clown, a good clown, funny but a clown. You sure you're not a commedian? lol
Now about the chicks..is that a joke or did you really adopt chick-chicks? Little fuzzy birds that don't fly, walk around saying, pluck pluck pluck..lol. If it's true, how cute. Are they Easter birds??? lol.

Mike, back in the mid 90's, Logees sold very healthy and rare plants. Never did they ship 'plants w/their insects' like they've been doing since 2000.
Ohh, did they give in, sell the Gardenia?
Let's see, plants bought at Logees. Spotted begonia and a Blue Dawn Morning Glory, (evergreen.) I think that's it. A Scillia might have come from Logees, can't recall.

Hope you were poking-fun about feeling blue last night..part of your mystery, building suspense.
mersiepoo
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi everyone!

Pug, I can't wait till you post your pictures!!! I live vicariously through anyone who can grow and flower gardenias!! :D I'm already stalking the internet for my next gardenia....victim...heh heh heh.

Toni, I'm glad to see you back online! I hope that you feel better and better every day! :) One thing that I am taking (and so is my hubby) is kombucha. This stuff is like your own home grown medicine cabinet! I am hoping that it will clear up the floating spots I have in my eyeballs. My husband says that he can notice improvement in his health already, and he's only been drinking it for about a week now. It's cheap to make too, and doesn't taste bad, sort of like a combination of apple cider and champagne. It's been around for hundreds of years. :) Look up kombucha mushroom. I got my culture from kombuchausa. If you want more detailed info, let me know. :)

Mike, glad to hear you are feeling better too! I wonder if these gardenias are trying to do us in! You never know.....

LOL, Toni! Actually the gardenia was thrown off the deck, it was 15 feet approximately to the ground. It had it coming, you know. I knew it was messing with my head, and waiting for me to see the bud getting ready to open! I foiled its diabolical plan!!! HA HA HA!! Now it can't torture me anymore.

Actually, I did buy peeps, here are some pictures of them.

:) Notice they are in the plastic bin that the gardenia used to inhabit? Not anymore..HA HA HA!! I will get another doggone plant...I will! And, this one will bloom, or else it'll DIE!! I will TELL IT as soon as I get it that it BETTER BLOOM or else! I'll show it where it will end up if it doesn't bloom its little green head off.

{{gwi:38927}}

RIP, poor little guy didn't live very long. :(

{{gwi:38923}}
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
merciepoo,

I will trade you a chick for one of my denias!!!!

They are the cutest things. I almost bought some just for the fresh eggs since I eat them alot!!

I love them....That is gardenias and chicks....

Give me your address if you want and I will send you a hardened off surviver denia from the winter actually doing great and not possesd by the devil..ok

A denia that actually loves showers and being talked too. In fact, mine actualy seem to respond well to classical music and rap...lol

Hi toni and pug, monarda,Jeelli which you are missed,jimshy, yellowthumb, and snasxs, I hope you are all happy and doing well!!

Mike
puglvr1
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mersie, those are absolutely ADORABLE!! I wish I could have some of those in my backyard!! They are soooo sweet!!

BTW, I posted some pics of my gardenias on another thread, if you care to see...Thanks for those great pics!!
quinnsellars
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
When we got the house here in az it had 3 gardenias in the front walkway. 2 on the east wall and 1 on the west. I love gardenias for their fragrance. The 2 on the east wall walkway were not that great looking when we bought the home and I would imagine that they are part of the original landscaping so could've been close to 15 yrs old in '09. I got all of them to bloom somewhat after the first year but since then the 2 just got really spindly and finally last fall I yanked them out. I couldn't even get to the entire rootball of one of them but that's okay because I have this ground over vine that produces a small white flower that soon covered the area. I forgot you could grow these in zone 6. Maybe I'll put one in the ground or in a pot outside one of the bldgs in bklyn.

made a big booboo on my gardenia!

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