Indoor gardenia struggling to survive
I have been caring for the gardenia that is shown in the attached photos for several years. However, approximately 8 months ago, the mature leaves began to turn yellow then brown and eventually die and drop off. Since it had been in the same pot and soil for at least a year, I guessed that it needed to be repotted in fresh soil, which I did. I also trimmed the plant back to remove the branches that no longer had leaves.
Following that, new leaves began to emerge at the various nodes on the branches, and it appeared things were returning to normal. However, in the last week or so, the initial problem has returned - affecting the newly emerging leaves. I water with de-chlorinated water adjusted to a pH of 6.3. I am very conscious of the watering frequency, so I'm fairly confident it isn't due to over watering (or under watering.) The plant is indoors with a controlled tempertaur of about 80F and a humidity level of around 55%.
I am looking for advice on correcting her downward health spiral.
This shows the new growth at the base of the plant. The one leaf at top center shows the browning at its tip.
Two new leaves showing brown atthe tips. An older leaf at the top badly affected.
The overall plant as she stands now. (the leaf in the soil is not normal for the course. It dropped off while photographing.
Comments (7)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Frost Proof Gardenia - Indoors Possibility??
Comments (3)Monkey, First, DON"T transplant your gardenia. THey love being root bound in a pot. their roots might look like they are root bound, but they grow slowly, slower than the foliage, so don't do anything to it. When the nights start to get below 40 degrees, bring it in. FInd a room with a bright window. Get one of those things that are round that you can stick under a pot if the water comes thru, I don't know what it is called, sorry. Fill it with stones, cheap stones you can get even at HD or the dollar store, but lots of stones so the pot isn't sitting in the water. When you water it, let some water seep thru the exsisting pot that the gardenia is in now, down thru the stones that the pot is now sitting on top of, and into the big "saucer" type thing . I dont' know what they call those things. I will call it a saucer. The water sitting under the stones will provide some humidity for the plant for the winter. Your bathroom during showers will too. If you have a skylite, you can keep it in the bathroom alot since it will get some light. THose are just a few suggestions for you for the winter. I grow gardenias all the time, outside, and I used to live in PA, so we had long cold winters. I could never get a gardenia to live through a cold long winter in PA. The heater always did them in. Oh, and don't water it very much either in the winter. Make sure it is really dry when you do water it. Good Luck....See MoreIndoor Gardenias and hi, im new here
Comments (33)I have been incredibly surprised with this bougainvillea vine over the past week. Its growing much faster than i could have ever anticipated. I would not be surprised at all at this rate if i get flower buds in the next 5-10 days. I've never seen such growth in such a short time on any houseplant. In the last 5 days its gotten over 18 inches longer, grown over 40 more leaves, all of which are now a vibrant glossy green. Keeping in mind this is a small plant and its only in a 5 inch pot. I dont even recognize the pictures i took and posted on here from Saturday. Think of those pics above only completely covered from head to tail in leaves....See MoreGardenia 'Chuck Hayes' Struggling After VA Winter
Comments (2)I would wait before giving up. I have had plants leaf out that seemed completely dead. One was an indoor-in-winter-outdoor-in-summer gardenia and it is now good as new and really, there was not one decent leaf on it for a while. I wouldn't fertilize any more though and don't overwater. Good luck....See MoreGardenia and gardenia like flowers
Comments (14)I live in the very cold state of Massachusetts and one has survived in ground for me for two years. I got confident in February when it hit the 70's, uncovered it and it was killed. I was so upset. So I bought another two and planted them in ground again only to protect the until at least April! I do have several planted in ground in my greenhouse house too, doing very well. Here is a couple of pics I took the other day. They are much easier to keep happy than one may think, if you know what they like and can provide the basics to hold them over until spring. Once someone posts here, it will alert me in my e-mail on my Iphone, then I can post pics)...See MoreNeil Mathison
7 years agoNeil Mathison
7 years ago
zzackey