Lucky you--you live in one of the places where gardenias thrive! I used to live in Richmond Hill, and even I could grow them. Mine didn't like s full sun exposure there, but they absolutely loved a "shifting shade" area under the trees (we had a very wooded lot, too). I ammended the sand with lots of organic stuff. Seems to me now is the perfect planting time, there, too! Go for it and enjoy!!!

Gardenias are not hard to grow in south Georgia. They will root in a bottle of water and grow in near sand. They do appreciate rich soil. Mine grow in sun and in shade. The ones in sun need extra water when it's hot.

The biggest problem that I have is white fly and black mold brought on by the white flies. I spray with Murphy's Oil Soap, the one you use for cleaning furniture. In early spring, I spray with a bit of horicultural oil.

Nell

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Gardenias in the SE

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I needed them. The gardenia suicide thread has me so nervous! I'm praying once I get them in the ground they will thrive. However, I'm still searching for the perfect spot for them. I hear that they like morning sun and afternoon shade. Which I'm afraid leaves only one choice, to dig up my azaelas that I planted last year and move them. I'm confident that the azaelas will live wherever I put them, since they are such hardy plants.

The gardenias my husband bought came in a huge container. At first I thought it was one big gardenia plant, it's not, each container has three small plants in them. I don't know if I should seperate them or to plant them like they already are. Anyone have any ideas about that?

Foxesearth, how do you spray the plants with the murpheys oil soap?

Jessay, I take the little spray bottle that Murphy's came in and spritz, spritz until every leaf is covered. I've since bought a bigger bottle of Murphy's that requires mixing with water. I just keep refilling that little spritzer bottle with the diluted soap. There is a horticultural soap called 'Safer' if you'd rather not use household soap.

I have gardenias along in front of a row of pine trees that have azaleas under them. The gardenias face south and get evening sun. I have one that's shaded on the east by a huge juniper tree (eastern red cedar) and gets full afternoon sun. That one is shorter, fuller and wider than the ones under the pines and requires more frequent watering. The old original gardenia is on the south side of the carport in full sun until late afternoon, and others are in deeper shade. They all bloom well, don't obsess. They'll bloom well on the north side of your house. I didn't have a spot on the north side, but remember my MIL having them there, near a pecan tree.

It probably won't make much difference if you divide them. I'd probably divide them, so they could be planted in different locations. A single trunk will put out multiple stems over time, be sure they aren't joined underground to a single main root before you yank them apart. The only other thing I can think of, don't plant them deeper than they're growing now and plant where the ground drains well.

The gardenia suicide thread is funny, isn't it? Some yellow leaves are a fact of life with gardenias. The same with azaleas -- off with the old, on with new growth.

Best of Luck,
Nell

I also know that thread. Most of them wanted Gardenia to naturalize in the desert of California. Your state is a different story.

Nell is very knowledgeable on this. I need to add one more point. Plants are living things. Newly moved/planted Gardenias (or any other bushes) require shade. Keep the location moist and shady until you see brilliant new leaves restart in large number.

Then, they can take full sun as long as the moisture level is high. If you prefer a willow-like, leggy plant, you can plant them in partial shade. They will survive too.

Imagine, every year, they reward you with heavenly fragrance and elegant flowers complemented by the shiny dark-green leaves in the background. If Mother Nature keeps the night temperature below 62, they will continuously bloom for months ...

Oh, Nell, do you need to check and adjust your soil PH every year?

I was afraid you might ask about the soil sampling, shic. I sometimes try to give the advice that you would get from the extension agent. My own methods are less scientific, as are many of my results.

Nell

Nell, experience is much more valuable than paper-knowledge.

Thanks again for all the great advice and encouragement!

Foxesearth, just visited your site and it is wonderful. So much land!! And all those plants!!

P.S. I've fallen in love with your dog, too cute...

Wow, it must be the magic of gardenia on Valentines Day. Jessay has fallen in love with "Foxesearch's dog". Dog ... is it a pun?

It isn't a pun. There are no gardenias blooming for him to pose with, so here's the Foxes Earth Dog, whose name is Cur, posing with wisteria. He was chasing birds from the boxwood.

How nice! We are still all snow here.