How to Care for Gardenia Houseplants

Gardenias grown indoors need a sunny spot to thrive.

Gardenias are often grown outdoors and are known for their showy blossoms and fragrance. You also can grow gardenias as houseplants. In either location, gardenias require good care to survive. Improper light, temperature, watering or humidity can quickly cause a gardenia to fade, wilt and eventually die. Although these plants can be finicky, making small changes in the environment often can save an ailing gardenia.

Things You'll Need

• Pebbles
• Trays
• Watering can
• Fertilizer for acid-loving plants
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Put your gardenia plants in the sunniest room of your home, or use plant grow lights. Ensure that daytime temperatures are between 68 and 74 degrees, with nighttime temperatures around 60 degrees.

2. Place a layer of pebbles in a tray. Fill the tray with water just over the top of the pebbles, then place your gardenia pot on the pebbles. Water evaporating from the tray will increase the humidity around the gardenias. Add water to the tray daily to replace moisture that has evaporated.

3. Water gardenias well, but allow the soil to partly dry out between waterings. Do not water until the top inch of soil has dried. Soil kept constantly wet can kill the gardenia roots and, eventually, the whole plant will die.

4. Apply a fertilizer for acid-loving plants, following the fertilizer label for frequency and amount. Fertilize while your gardenia is growing. Stop fertilizing when the plant enters dormancy in the fall.

5. Prune gardenias when they are dormant. Remove all old and dead plant material with sharp garden shears. This will encourage blooms when the growing season begins.

References

• Purdue Extension: Gardenia -- A Gardener's Challenge
• The Garden Helper: How to Grow and Care for Gardenia Plants
• Aggie Horticulture: Texas Master Gardener Handbook -- House Plants
• University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program: Gardenias