Things Needed
Sadly , gardenia augusta plants are moth-eaten hardy only in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10 . That leaves Ohio out when it hail to develop this temperamental beauty outdoors year around . And it is n’t hardheaded for many gardener to plant gardenia outside , only to drudge them up to bring indoors for the cold months . Ohio ca n’t proffer idealistic gardenia weather much of the metre . But that ’s no ground for you to deprive yourself . Simply purchase a endearing baby’s room - produce specimen , and grow your gardenia indoors .
Step 1
Move your gardenia plant to a clay pot with drainage hole immediately . compound two part good all - purpose potting soil and one part perlite or vermiculite to create your planting medium . stiff or terra cotta container are best because they allow the planting mass medium to " rest . " They also ease the maximum amount of drainage for any industrial plant .
Step 2
contribute about an inch of organic mulch to the top of your gardenia ’s potting stain . This will be helpful for keeping the roots moist , as well as for increasing the plant ’s humidity .
Step 3
Pour a smattering of coarse crushed rock into the drainage dish . get across the gravel about halfway with water and station the gardenia on top of it . Do n’t permit the water in the dish to pertain the potful . This setup is helpful in maintaining the gardenia ’s humidness , particularly during times when you ’re using artificial heating in your dwelling house .
Step 4
Set your potted gardenia in the sunny spot useable in a fond way . A windowpane with southeasterly exposure is the best selection . This works demand all the bright light that you may perhaps provide . consummate temperature ranges for ideal gardenia performance are 65 to 73 degree F during the day and 60 to 62 F at dark .
Step 5
irrigate your gardenia just enough to keep the soil control surface evenly moist . Never allow the ground to become soggy or waterlogged , but do n’t leave the plant to dry out , either . When the Earth’s surface dry out , intrude your finger 2 inches deep into the soil . If it feels at all moist , do n’t water the gardenia .
Step 6
cloud your indoor gardenia day by day to add together humidity to its environment . When circumstance are peculiarly ironical , you may need to mist two or three times each day .
Step 7
give your indoor gardenia a good azalea solid food throughout the growing season according to the packaging instructions . Like rhododendrons and azalea , gardenias love acid soil and favor a pH between 5.0 and 6.0 .
Step 8
Use clean , sharp shears to nip out any stems that are numb or damage at anytime . Otherwise , the indoor gardenia generally keeps a goodly shape and drug abuse . Snip off the occasional shank that becomes a slight too long for your taste to keep your gardenia attractive . Pinch out point to promote bushiness during wintertime dormancy .
