Any plant for productive or ornamental use requires care that includes watering with good drainage, fertilizers, particularly plant with flowers and or fruits, and, of course, the control of its growth by pruning and trimming when is needed and at the right season of the year. Gardenia, also known as Jasmine, is not the exception. In this article, learn How to Gardenias and When to Prune Gardenias. We hope you find this complete guide about Prune Gardenia useful.
Gardenia plant, also named Gardenia jasminoides is an ornamental plant with fragrant white or white-creamy flowers and is popular in traditional Chinese medicine.
Gardenias are shrubs, an evergreen that can grow and turn into small trees that can reach a height up to 49 ft (1 to 15 meters). Leaves are opposite or in three or four whorls, 5-50 centimeters long and 3-25 centimeters wide, dark green and glossy with a leathery texture, and 5-50 centimeters long and 3-25 centimeters wide.
Flowers are white or pale yellow, solitary or in small clusters, with a tubular-based corolla (botanical) with 5-12 lobes (petals) measuring 2-5 inches (5 to 12 cm) in diameter and a tubular-based corolla (botanical) with 5-12 lobes (petals) measuring 2-5 inches in diameter. Many species have fragrant flowers that bloom from mid-spring to mid-summer.
The strong, sweet scent of gardenia flowers, which can be quite large in some species, is highly prized.
Gardenia jasminoides (also known as Gardenia Grandiflora or Gardenia Florida) is a houseplant. Because it is a native species, it can be difficult to grow.
Because it is native to hot, humid tropical climates, this species can be difficult to grow. It requires high humidity and bright light to thrive. It does not require direct sunlight, and if it does, it should only be for a short period of time and not during the hot midday sun. Gardenia plants require acidic soils with excellent drainage to flower properly. The Gardenia plant thrives at temperatures of 20-23 C (68-74 F) during the day and 15-16 C (60 F) in the afternoon or evening. There are gardenia-specific potting soils available.
When grown indoors, Gardenia jasminoides reach a maximum height and width of 18 inches. It can reach a height of 6 feet in climates where it can be grown outdoors. Watering should always be above ground. When the plant is grown outside, the flowers quickly deteriorate due to rain or irrigation water. Flowers turn brown when they come into contact with water.
Why Prune Gardenia Plant
First, let’s understand Why is necessary to Prune Gardenia Plants.
As for Gardenia, the Gardenia plant should be pruned at least once a year, preparing the plant for the future season and flowering.
Pruning Gardenias is recommended at least once a year to promote proper and lush flowering. In addition to pruning Gardenia plants, some trimming of smaller or damaged branches may also be required to complete the maintenance of the plant.
The Gardenia plant belongs to a category of climbing species of rapid growth and striking and very fragrant flowering. Pruning Gardenias helps to control its growth, encourage the emergence of more vigorous stems and improve flowering.
Do I need to Prune Gardenias?
Many readers usually ask Do I need to Prune Gardenias? All species? And the answer is yes, you will need to prune gardenia plants regardless of the species. Gardenia plants may need some pruning to re-shape as a shrub every year, but also to improve the blooming.
Likewise, you will not require too many instruments to prune gardenia plants, since with some good quality pruning shears It will be enough.
Nor will you need, in most cases, a ladder or scaffolding to work, since the cuts are usually at the bottom. Of course, the use of gloves is convenient and highly recommended.
How to Prune Gardenias and When to Prune Gardenias
We encourage you to continue reading to learn important tips related to Prune Gardenia Plants. In the following paragraph let’s review How to Prune Gardenias and When to Prune Gardenias.
Pruning Gardenia Plants are required to avoid the crossing of stems and the formation of intricate and aged woody branches that can harm the development of the plant.
It is very common to see hickeys, dry stems, sprouts from below, stumps, etc. All of that, with a lot of skill and without the need for much force, will go out and we will eliminate it from the plant.
If the Gardenia plant is still young, it may just need some little trim, and pruning can be done in-depth, leaving stems 1 meter high.
If the Gardenia plant is grown up, the prune should be done respecting the main stems, since they are part of the structure of the plant. Of course, we will cut the secondary branches, which will be born from the new shoots that come out of the primary ones.
First of all, remove affected stems, diseased or damaged. With this, we rejuvenate the plant and gain in health.
Once the first step is done, we will focus on the crossed stems or tangled, since most of the time, they are vegetative stems and will not produce flowers. Many times, we will find ourselves with a tangle of stems without knowing where to start. Go to the bottom and cut the main one.
focus on keeping the main stem, cutting the secondary ones or those that are not part of the “support branches”. This will control the future development of stems to prevent them from growing in the wrong direction.
Makes rejuvenation pruning, with important cuts 20 inches (50 cm) from the base of the stem for aged Gardenia plants or in need of revival.
Don’t be afraid to go overboard with Gardenia pruning, as its growth habit is quite vigorous.
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How to Prune Potted Gardenia Plants
How to Prune Potted Gardenia Plants. There are no differences between how to prune a potted Gardenia plant or another Gardenia plant growing in the ground. Rather, the differences are in growth habits or the ability to develop branches.
It is very easy in this type of cultivation that there are branches that intersect and there is a lot of confusion about which part to remove. Basically, focus your efforts on cleaning the lower part, which usually accumulates dry branches, and promoting the aerial part, where it has more flower buds.
- Green leaf foliage with white blooms
- USDA zones 7-9
- Plant in sun to part shade
When to Prune Gardenias
Now, let’s review the appropriate time of the year to prune gardenia plants. In the following paragraph, you will find tips to understand When to Prune Gardenias.
Gardenia shrubs should be pruned after the flowers have faded in summer. Gardenias generate their buds for the following year in the fall, so pruning in summer allows some of the old wood to be removed without cutting off the newly formed buds.
From May to July in the northern hemisphere, trim the branches by 2 to 3 inches just after flowering. Gardenias should not be pruned too late in the season, usually after August but as late as October in some areas. The tender green shoots that result will not have time to harden and will be killed by a frost or freeze.
When to Prune Gardenias in Georgia
When to Prune Gardenias in Georgia. After the blooming season is done, but before the daily temperature drops below 65 °F (18 °C), prune your gardenia bush. When the blossoms start to fade, you’ll know it’s time to prune the bush. After the flowers have faded, prune the bush 1 or 2 weeks later.
These are our recommendations to know When to Prune Gardenias in Georgia. If gardenia pruning were to occur late when there is a risk of frost, this could be dangerous to the forming and developing buds. If you notice that the weather is cold, with frost, it is advisable not to prune the gardenia plant and wait until the end of winter, when there is no more frost to prune the gardenia plant. This is not the ideal time, but the buds will still be able to develop. However, you should be careful not to remove branches with buds that are already formed and developing. If the developing buds are removed, the bloom will be lost until the following year.
When to Prune Gardenias in Florida
When to Prune Gardenias in Florida. Plan to prune your gardenia bush after the blooming season, but before the daytime temperature drops below 65 °F (18 °C). When the flowers start to fade, you’ll know it’s time to prune the bush. After the flowers have faded, prune the bush 1 or 2 weeks later.
These are our recommendations to know When to Prune Gardenias in Florida. In Florida, there is no danger of frost that could affect the branches. The only precaution is if pruning is done too late, as the buds on formation could be removed and this would cause the loss of flowering until the following year.
Prune Gardenia: Care After Pruning
Gardenia Care After Pruning. After trimming and or pruning Gardenia plants, and in the spring, don’t forget to fertilize with phosphorus and nitrogen-rich fertilizers, as well as organic matter-rich chemicals, to help the plant grow and form new roots.
Fertilize your gardenia bush twice a year. After pruning your gardenia bush is one of the best times to fertilize it. Use a fertilizer with a nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratio of 3-1-2 or 3-1-3. Follow the fertilizer packaging instructions for the amount to use, and mix it into the soil around your gardenia bush.
Gardenia Leaves Turning Brown
Gardenia Leaves Turning Brown. Brown leaves are usually caused by poor growing circumstances. Full sun, warm temperatures, at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water each week, and acidic soil are essential requirements for gardenias (pH level ideally around 5.0 – 6.5).
To prevent Gardenia Leaves from Turning Brown, firstly, ensure that your gardenia can drain well, otherwise, it will become overwatered. Secondly, trim the brown leaves as soon as possible if they are more than 50% damaged (nearly half of the leaf has become brown). That should solve the problem of Gardenia Leaves Turning Brown.
Gardenia Yellow Leaves – Why Are My Gardenia Leaves Turning Yellow
Gardenia Yellow Leaves – Why Are My Gardenia Leaves Turning Yellow. If you’ve seen any yellow leaves on your gardenia, don’t worry because with the correct guidance is possible to fix it. Chlorosis is a condition that occurs when the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves is diminished.
Chlorophyll is a pigment that gives plants their characteristic green hue. It is found in their young leaves and stems. When the amount of this pigment in the leaves declines, they turn yellow, brown, or even white.
While there are several reasons why gardenia leaves become yellow, the most prevalent are overwatering, mineral deficiency, and lack of sunlight. The most prevalent causes of yellow leaves on gardenias, as well as various methods to prevent Gardenia Yellow Leaves (recommended article for you).
