Not to scare you, but that gardenia you have? It knows you want it to LIVE. THAT is why it's dying, just out of pure, unadulterated SPITE. It can read your mind you know. They sense fear and they WILL die because they KNOW you are a novice.
Coincidentally, I was going to come on here to post what happened to the gardenia I sent my mom for mothers day, it produced a SINGLE small flower and had a second bud, but that turned black and fell off. Oh, and it's got spider mites as well. So much for 1800 flowers.

I actually was able to keep a gardenia alive (more or less) for a few years. The plant terrified me, which I think helped keep it alive because it must use the aura of human fear as some sort of food. I kept the accursed thing partly shaded, watered it with dilute pee water (I tried blood sacrifices too) and it kept me 'happy' by putting out green leaves and actually threw me a couple of blooms just so I wouldn't throw it off my back deck (like I did with a banana plant). BUT...after a few years, it just started slowly becoming more decrepit (just because it could!), and then finally started melting into dust....I swear I could hear it giggling faintly as I wept over the lousy (expletive).

If you still want to torture yourself and try to keep it alive, here is what advice I can give you. Take it for what it's worth.

First. Prostrate yourself in front of it while chanting the following: "OH GREAT GARDENIA, Please grace me with one of your blooms! Please please please! I beg of you! I am totally in your power! I will do whatever thy asks of me!! Your wish is my command oh Great Gardenia!" Repeat three times for added oomph.

Second. They love to be humidified, spritz with water all the time. I even got some cuttings to root, I put them in good dirt and put a plastic bag over them and they loved that. If you have a huge plastic bag you can put the plant in, so much the better. They like moist soil, but not wet. They like water, but not too much. They need to not be waterlogged, but don't let them dry out.

Third. They need a 10 degree (minimum) temperature change during the day/night.

Fourth. They do like pee, just don't eat a whole bag of salty potato chips before using the pee. I've killed pee loving plants that way. Tell them when you water them with it that this is one of the many gifts you will bestow upon the Great Gardenia if it will bless you with a single frigging flower. Just don't be sarcastic, they hate that.

Fifth. Don't fertilize them when they have buds, or they'll laugh and drop them just like that.

So far that's all I can think of. They also like acid soil, so if you do fertilize, keep that in mind.

I have NO idea how these things can grow in the wilds of Asia. I think they are demonically possessed alien plants that came here on a spaceship for the SOLE purpose of driving nice, kind, well meaning gardeners into an early grave or the psych ward.

While you're at it, look up the 'suicidal gardenia' thread. I think it's still on here.

Good luck!!!!!

Quincy,

First off, gardenias do fine in a small pot, they prefer it actually. Transplanting it probably upset it a bit, and I hope the soil is well draining. If it is, it should be fine.

Stop fertilizing it. Seriously, you are killing it with kindness. Never feed it when it is blooming. USE the moisture meter. Finally someone who uses one. That will save your plant.

Let it dry out a bit before watering it again, always use your meter. Just water when necessary, keep it out of the hot sun in the afternoon and see what happens with it.

It should grow the leaves back. Sounds like it had a bug attack, but they are pretty hardy if you just don't let them dry out altogether. It's already leafing out anyway.

When it looks better, post another pick. I'd like to see it in leaf.

Gardenias can be complicated and picky, yet some will thrive nicely with neglect. My grandmother grew the healthiest Gardenia bush I ever saw. If her bush began to yellow she would throw a few fists full of Epson Salt around the base and outward to the circumference of the leaves to boost the magnesium in the soil. I am sure there is a ratio formula on the back of the bag per gallon. I wouldn't use the Epson Salt mixture over 1 x per month. Ha! I've seen her pour dill pickle juice on her bush; said it kept the mites ran off. Gardenias are acid loving plants, so you can put some of your used coffee grounds on top of the soil; this will also help with yellowing. I also notice your bush is up against your home; Gardenias prefer good ventilation so try to find a location where 'it is happy' then try not to move it around as they prefer to be stationary. Good luck with your plant :-)