How to Fertilize Gardenias

Gardenias are thought to be one of the prettiest houseplants you can raise. Yet, it does take some effort to keep it healthy. One step in keeping it healthy is by fertilizing it. Be aware that you should only fertilize a gardenia during its blooming season, which is from April to November. The rest of the year is considered the gardenia's dormant season and fertilizing it could stimulate growth, which in turn would harm your plant. Fertilizing a gardenia really isn't a hard endeavor, you just need to know a little about what you are doing.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gardenia plant
• An acid-loving plant fertilizer
• Water

1. Buy the right type of fertilizer. Since a gardenia is an acid-loving plant, this is the type of fertilizer you need. You should also buy a fertilizer that is enriched with iron compounds. A water soluble type fertilizer is the easiest and the most preferred type to use.Many people finds that fertilizers that are also good for azaleas will work perfectly for gardenia plants as well.

2. Wet the soil before adding any fertilizer mixture to it. This will keep the fertilizer from burning the roots of the plant.

3. Mix your fertilizer at about 1/4 of the recommended strength. If you use it at full strength, you may actually over fertilize the gardenia, which may harm it. Causing the leaves to turn colors and to eventually fall off of the plant.

4. Repeat every two to four weeks up until the month of November. You should never fertilize a gardenia between the months of November and February for this is their dormant months.

Tips & Warnings

• If your gardenia does not look healthy, it is best to avoid fertilizing all together, no matter what month it is.