My Thousandth Gardenia-Trying Again ! - Page 2

Deborah · December 3, 2012

OIC. Thanks.

Deborah · December 3, 2012

Linda, are you really getting one? Good-misery loves company. We can console each other !

Sun City Linda · December 3, 2012

No new gardenias for me, I went to Lowes but all they had were smaller ones with no blooms.

peebee · December 4, 2012

Okay, so I broke down when I visited HD last week and saw a big, lush gardenia on sale for $7. This, after I finally laid to rest another big, formerly lush plant that lived for 3 long years and produced a total of 5 flowers. That was my fifth attempt at growing this diva of the plant kingdom. I did exactly what others had done--fed it iron when the leaves yellowed, overwatered, underwatered, exactlywatered, protected it from sun, shade, cold, heat. I put the planter on coasters so that I could move it around in an attempt to appease it. After it died, I bought a smaller plant, that started to die as soon as it saw my yard. No more, I swore after that. Now this. I plan on acting casual around it, throwing it an occasional glance to see if it's still alive. So far, so good. But if this one goes...really, I'm done with them.

Deborah · December 4, 2012

I just spit ice cream laughing. The casual glance part is hilarious !
Mine is still alive. It gets stern reminders every day. The "It's me or the dumpster" talk.

Deborah · December 8, 2012

It's still alive! Still glossy, deep green and three more flowers !
All I've done is water it. No food, not taking it in on cold nights, no pampering at all !

greentiger87 · December 8, 2012

Have you tried acidic irrigation water? This seems to work a lot better than acid fertilizers or acid mediums. That means using rainwater or adding some vinegar (the amount depends on your tap water pH and alkalinity that you can find out from your public works department) at every watering.

What's the burrowing insect problem you're having? I've had blossom midge devastating my hibiscus and Sambac jasmine for a long time now

There are control options, but I hate spraying things unless I have no other choice.

Deborah · December 8, 2012

No bugs with this one. I don't know what bugs my former plants had. No more pampering-tap water's good enough.

livinonfaith · December 8, 2012

You want to know how I finally got Gardenias to grow in my yard?

I moved to a yard that already had Gardenias.

Okay, it's a little expensive to move just for flowers, but I highly recommend it. I mean these are Gardenias we're talking about!

Deborah · December 9, 2012

Agree !

Deborah · December 25, 2012

Can you believe the gardenia is still alive, green and glossy and covered with flowers and buds??? It's still in the original nursery pot, has only been watered when I thought of it and hasn't been fed.
GO FIGURE !!!

Sun City Linda · December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!

livinonfaith · December 26, 2012

You Californians make my day sometimes with your out of season (for us) flowering and harvesting.

I can almost smell the Gardenia blossoms right now. It's like a little piece to heaven!

Deborah · December 28, 2012

Yes, talk about a nice gift ! I think tough love is working ! For now......

Deborah · February 1, 2013

It's still flourishing ! Incredible !

December 3, 2012	#16
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	OIC. Thanks.

December 3, 2012	#18
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	No new gardenias for me, I went to Lowes but all they had were smaller ones with no blooms.

December 4, 2012	#19
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Okay, so I broke down when I visited HD last week and saw a big, lush gardenia on sale for $7. This, after I finally laid to rest another big, formerly lush plant that lived for 3 long years and produced a total of 5 flowers. That was my fifth attempt at growing this diva of the plant kingdom. I did exactly what others had done--fed it iron when the leaves yellowed, overwatered, underwatered, exactlywatered, protected it from sun, shade, cold, heat. I put the planter on coasters so that I could move it around in an attempt to appease it. After it died, I bought a smaller plant, that started to die as soon as it saw my yard. No more, I swore after that. Now this. I plan on acting casual around it, throwing it an occasional glance to see if it's still alive. So far, so good. But if this one goes...really, I'm done with them.

December 8, 2012	#21
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	It's still alive! Still glossy, deep green and three more flowers ! All I've done is water it. No food, not taking it in on cold nights, no pampering at all !

December 8, 2012	#22
greentiger87 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Houston, TX - 9a Posts: 211	Have you tried acidic irrigation water? This seems to work a lot better than acid fertilizers or acid mediums. That means using rainwater or adding some vinegar (the amount depends on your tap water pH and alkalinity that you can find out from your public works department) at every watering. What's the burrowing insect problem you're having? I've had blossom midge devastating my hibiscus and Sambac jasmine for a long time now There are control options, but I hate spraying things unless I have no other choice.

December 8, 2012	#24
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	You want to know how I finally got Gardenias to grow in my yard? I moved to a yard that already had Gardenias. Okay, it's a little expensive to move just for flowers, but I highly recommend it. I mean these are Gardenias we're talking about!

December 9, 2012	#25
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Agree !

December 25, 2012	#26
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Can you believe the gardenia is still alive, green and glossy and covered with flowers and buds??? It's still in the original nursery pot, has only been watered when I thought of it and hasn't been fed. GO FIGURE !!!

December 26, 2012	#28
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	You Californians make my day sometimes with your out of season (for us) flowering and harvesting. I can almost smell the Gardenia blossoms right now. It's like a little piece to heaven!

December 28, 2012	#29
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Yes, talk about a nice gift ! I think tough love is working ! For now......

February 1, 2013	#30
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	It's still flourishing ! Incredible !