Gardenia Care Tips

Gardenias are classic landscape plants that even non-gardeners are somewhat familiar with. They’re known for their hallmark jasmine-scented flowers that might take you back to Southern summers when the porch swings were swinging and the mosquitos were thirsty.

Many gardeners will tell you that a landscape isn’t complete without a few, and we would tend to agree. But these bloomers know what they like in their planting location. Therefore, we’ve laid out some basic tips below to help them succeed in your garden.

1. Gardenias need slightly acidic soil (or at the very least neutral).
   1. Before planting your gardenia(s), check your soil pH. An acidic pH of 5-6.5 is optimal. However, a neutral pH of 7 will also work in most instances. It will prevent your gardenia from absorbing essential nutrients if it's any higher. This results in yellowing and loss of leaves, as well as the expiration of your plant.
   2. If your pH is too high, supplement the soil with peat moss, a soil acidifier, or apply elemental sulfur.
2. Plant your gardenia only as deep as the root ball is tall, but dig the hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball.
   1. Digging a wider hole loosens the soil around your new plant’s roots. Therefore, it can spread out more easily and establish itself quickly.
   2. If your soil has slow drainage, dig a shallower hole, allowing your plant to sit 3-4 inches slightly above the ground.
3. Gardenias need reliable moisture but not constant sogginess.
   1. You’ll need to water your plant on average 2-3 times per week for the first growing season. However, if you’re regularly experiencing wet weather, you probably won’t need to provide any supplementary water.
   2. If you’re going through intense heat and/or drought, you may need to provide water 3-4 times weekly.
4. Don’t plant in heavy shade.
   1. Gardenias like and need sun quite a bit. For best results, we recommend 3-6 hours of direct sun. Less exposure will result in less dense foliage and fewer blooms.