When Is it Time to Prune Indoor Gardenias?

Gardenias are grown as houseplants in the winter.

If you love gardenias and have grown them outside, you can also have them indoors as houseplants. Growing gardenias indoors is more challenging, but the time for pruning remains the same, whether grown indoors or out.

Pruning

Cut back older woody growth to coax new growth to occur.

The time to prune your indoor gardenias is when flowering has stopped and the petals have fallen off. Some gardeners are shy when it comes to pruning an indoor flowering plan,t but this task shouldn't be ignored, as gardenias flower more on newer growth than on old.

Timing

Keeping your gardenia pruned will encourage new growth.

If you prune your gardenia too soon, you'll chance removing flower buds. On the other hand, waiting too long means you'll eliminate the next round of flowers. If you find the some of the stems have become dry and woody, cut them back to within 5 or 6 inches of the trunk.

Pruners

Bypass pruners will give you even and neat cuts.

Bypass pruners are the tool of choice when pruning a gardenia. They will give you a much neater cut and will help you shape the gardenia to the form you desire. It's safe to trim dead branches from your gardenia any time of the year.

References

• Purdue University Extension: Gardenia: A Gardener's Challenge
• University of Rhode Island: Gardenia Care