Under natural conditions, gardenia lives in a tropical and subtropical climate. This is an evergreen shrub that grows to a half meter height. In the wild, it blooms in the summer-autumn period, the flowers are in the shape of a rose, large and very fragrant.
Basic gardening care
At home, grown gardenia jasmine, shrub up to half a meter. It has glossy bright green leaves and white flowers with a delicate scent.
Planting and transplanting plants
Gardenia is a capricious plant, and in order for it to delight you with flowering, all nuances and requirements must be taken into account in its breeding and planting. The soil for gardenia needs nourishing, loose and sour. You can prepare the desired composition of the most equal proportions of turf, coniferous and leafy soil with the addition of sand and peat. You can buy ready-made soil, the best soil for azaleas. To remove excess alkali from the soil later, add a couple of drops of citric acid when watering. Young bushes are recommended to be replanted every year, and adult flowerpots in two or three years, the field trimming of the roots.
If you have just bought a plant, do not rush to transplant gardenias into home conditions. Gardenia is capricious, and it takes several weeks for her to come to her senses after transportation for a transplant to a permanent place. Gardenia has a delicate root system, so it is necessary to transplant and remove from the pot extremely carefully, along with the soil. Then gently peel off the stuck land, spread the roots and plant in fresh soil.
Illumination and temperature
For gardenia it is very important to choose the right place. In the summer, she may get burned on the southern windowsills, but she needs a constant light. Therefore, the east or west side will be optimal.
Important! During the development of the buds it is not advisable to rearrange the pot or turn it to the other side. Gardenia is sensitive to any changes.
The best summer temperature for a flower is + 20-22 ° С, in winter try to keep at least + 16 ° С. Remember: the plant does not tolerate drafts.
Watering and spraying a flower
It is important to know how to properly water the gardenia at home. When watering is used separated water at room temperature. Many growers advise for these purposes to collect rainfall. When the pot grows, watering should be frequent, but make sure that the water is not standing. The leaves of the pot should be often sprayed, trying not to fall on the buds or flowers. For good moisture you can make a pallet for the pot and fill it with wet river pebbles. In winter, watering should be reduced, but not allow the soil to dry out. If you forget how to water a gardenia, for example, pour cold water, the leaves turn yellow, start to fade.
Top dressing and cutting of plants
It is not advisable to feed the plant within six months after purchase. To give it the best presentation, the plant in the store is usually overfed. During this period, spray with a weak solution of top dressing - 1:10. In spring and summer, the plant is fed every two weeks with a complex composition (Uniflor, Pocon). The best fertilizer for gardenia during growth is a composition containing iron; it is enough to feed it once in early spring and a second time in June. At the end of March, a 14-day break in watering is necessary for the formation and good development of buds.
How and when to properly trim gardenia? After a period of flowering or before transplanting gardenia must be cut. Shoots are cut to half their length, in the period of growth, you can pinch the tops of new shoots. This stimulates the growth of lateral shoots and beautifully forms the crown of the bush. In the period of blooming gardenia faded buds are removed.
Breeding methods of gardenia
Reproduction of gardenia is a long and meticulous process. After planting do not wait for flowers in the same year. Gardenia should get used to the conditions and take root well.
Cuttings
Consider how to propagate gardenia at home cuttings. At the very beginning of spring, cuttings are cut to 10 cm in length. You can root in the water, pre-diluted in it a growth promoter of the root system. For rooting in the ground, the tip of the cutting is dipped into the root-forming stimulator and planted. The soil for grafting Gardenia in advance prepared from peat, sand and coniferous soil. Cuttings after planting need greenhouse conditions, cover them with a glass jar. Do not forget to constantly air and spray. The first shoots will appear in a month.
Seeds
For the seed method, the freshest seeds are selected. They should not be damaged or stained. In early spring, they are sown in the soil, powdered with earth, then moisten the earth. In the room where the sown seeds will be kept, the temperature must not be kept below + 23 ° C. Shoots appear quickly with proper watering and temperature control.
Winter Gardenia Content
The plant requires special attention in winter. If the gardenia lacks light, she will be exhausted. In the winter season, provide her with additional artificial lighting. The soil of the pot should be moistened, despite the reduction of watering in winter. The temperature should in no case fall below + 16 ° C. The gardenia root system should also not be supercooling. In the period of severe frosts outside the window on the window sill under the pot it is worth putting a piece of foam for greater thermal insulation.
Useful properties of gardenia
Home gardenia has long been used as a medicinal plant. For treatment, use the roots, leaves and petals. In cosmetology, essential oil of gardenia is appreciated.
The plant contains substances that have a diuretic and hypotensive effect. The plant helps to reduce the temperature, to remove all sorts of inflammation. It is used for colds, viral diseases, diseases of the liver and kidneys, and for bleeding. Lotions of decoctions heal wounds, relieve burn pains, hematomas with bruises. Gardenia is used to remove toxins from the body. Broths are used by people who want to lose weight.
Did you know? The aroma of gardenia cannot be extracted. So the famous perfume of Chanel Gardenia does not really contain the smell of a flower. The aroma is transmitted by perfume and close to gardenia jasmine and tuberose.
Many gardenias growing in the wild solid wood from which make furniture, souvenirs and musical instruments. Gardenia flowers use in cooking, flavoring them teas, brews and jams. In aromatherapy The smell of gardenia treats and restores health after illness, experienced life dramas. The smell of flowers improves mood, gives strength. The essential oil of gardenia in perfumery is used as a fragrance when creating aromatic compositions.
Diseases and pests of gardenia: solutions
Gardenia is prone to attack by parasites and diseases. If gardenia drops buds, the reason is the lack of heat or humidity in the air.
Attention! Divorces on the leaves mean that the soil is not acidic enough. You can remedy the situation by adding lemon juice to the water for watering.
When appearing mealybug on gardenia plant leaves are covered with bloom. This parasite sucks the sap of plants, which can lead to death. The parasite must be removed and sprayed with a special solution, following the instructions. In the shops for the flora there is a wide selection of such tools. Spider mite leaves a white cobweb, leaves dry and brighten. It is necessary to treat the diseased gardenia with insecticides. At defeat guardia gardenia stained brown. The Actellic solution helps a lot.Interesting fact! Gardenia symbolizes secret love, and men of France use flowers as a boutonniere.
If you know how take care of gardenia at home, and follow all the rules, then according to the ancient science of Feng Shui the plant will bring good luck and good changes in your home.
