I transfer this post to garden clinic

Hi Bree! Not to butt in here or anything, but I noticed the 'flaking' stems, and mine does that, I think that's normal. I've murdered lots of gardenias in my time, for some reason the one I have is actually staying alive- it's right next to our wall heater and gets dried out very fast! I had trouble when I would bring it in for the winter (it was outside on the deck all summer and fall), all the leaves would turn yellow and almost fall off. Then, it was a balancing act to not over or under water. Mine is in a huge 4 gallon pot (I got it that way). It's pretty pot bound, but it seems to like it like that. My 'secret' for keeping it alive so far is to use an old tea bag in the watering can every month and fertilizing it with pee and also giving it some chelated iron/copper in the spring. I withhold fertilizer in fall and winter. Some of the younger leaves and stems on my plant are drooping like yours, I think it may be because I was underwatering it. Oh, also I also fertilize it with some worm casting tea from my worm farm as well, just don't go hog wild on fertilizer because they really hate the attention! Mine rarely flowered at all until my hubs put 2 nice big grow lights above it in the ceiling, and now I'm getting loads of buds!! Took long enough, I think I got the plant in 2009. If you really need a laugh, check out the suicidal gardenia thread. It's got tragedy, triumph, hysterics and mental illness, all courtesy of this beautiful and tempermental plant. Between you and me, I think the reason my gardenia is surviving and thriving because it knows that I'm fawning over my arabian tea jasmine and my plumeria who are flowering wondefully! So, make sure to show your gardenia who's boss! You also may want to read one of the most fascinating book on plants I've read "The Secret Life of Plants". Here is a link that might be useful: suicidal gardenia thread

wilcinbro1, I am pretty sure that it is not a coffee plant (Coffea arabica) because that would have two opposite leaves at each node. I am unconvinced that it is a gardenia. The history you outlined points to over watering, possible over fertilizing and untimely pruning. Feel the weight of the plant and container (if the rules permit) and compare the weight of a same-size container and plant (healthy) that has not been watered twice a week. If yours is heavier, then it is overwatered. Dry it out by placing near a fan or similar place that will allow it to dry out. Also, a knowledgeable guy who posts as "Tapla" says that you can help the soil to drain out by inserting wet wicks into the drainage holes of the pot. And if Tapla says so, is so! If it is not much heavier then it may not be over watered and over fertilizing might be the cause. Bob the container and plant up and down in a suitably-sized container (the sink is good) full of water. We are trying to wash out the excess fertilizer. Again, use all the tricks to dry out the soil quickly. There is nothing you can do about the pruning but I do believe that the plant is struggling to put out new growth in response to the pruning; it needs energy to do this but there are many other demands on its energy resources so that the plant is severely stressed out, and looks it. You and I would probably look a lot worse if subjected to such stress levels. I do not know what else to say other than "Good Luck!" I have a strong feeling that you are going to need some of that also. But don't feel all alone. We all need some of it.

Yes it is scale, black scale more specifically.... And I suppose obviously! :P The ants are probably attracted to the honeydew they're extracting. I've heard ants and scale are notoriously hard to get rid of but have never had to deal with them myself. Someone else will chime in on proper control methods as there are tons of them. Such a neem oil and rubbing alcohol. I'd try getting rid of the ants first as they're defending the scale from other insects that would feed on them. I'm assuming this plant is outside and is going to come inside? Definitely don't want ants to come in the house or have a break out of scale! Good luck