What’s not to love about glossy evergreen foliage and incredibly fragrant blooms produced by the gardenia bush? The bush is easy to grow, thrives in most climates, and can even be grown as an indoor houseplant. It’s easy to learn how to grow gardenias, there are only three things to remember.
Sunny Location
Since it is an evergreen shrub it will need sunlight year-round. A location that places the bush in full sun with a little afternoon shade during the summer is ideal.
While the plant loves the sun it also needs a time out of the direct sun and a chance to cool down. The cooler it gets after the sun sets, the more flowers the gardenia bush will produce. Nighttime temperatures of 60F (15C) will promote an abundant crop of fragrant blooms.
Humidity
Gardenias love humidity and if you can plant it near an outdoor water feature it will provide the humidity and cooler nighttime temperatures for the bush.
A light sprinkling with the water hose in the morning or evening will increase the humidity level for the bush when a water feature is not nearby. You can also place a shallow pan of water near the bush to increase the humidity level.
Gardenias grown outdoors or indoors will drop its’ leaves and flower buds if it does not receive enough humidity. Mist an indoor gardenia plant daily to keep it healthy.
Monthly Feeding
This is the third thing to remember when growing gardenias – feed it once a month from spring through early winter.
Use an organic plant food specially formulated for gardenias and apply it to the bush at the recommended amount each month.
Gardenias are acid-loving plants and need a plant food that has a high acidic level. Adding coffee grounds, tea bags, Epsom salts, and/or wood ashes to the soil around the bush will increase the soil acidity level and make the bush happy.
Growing Habits
A gardenia bush will reach a mature size of 3-4 feet (90 – 120 m) tall and equally as wide. Prune immediately after the bush has completed its bloom cycle. The buds for next year’s blooms are set in late summer and fall and pruning during these months will remove the buds and result in no blooms next spring.
A happy bush will produce fragrant blooms spring through summer. White is the most popular bloom color but gardenias also come in varieties that produce red, pink, and yellow.
Water the bush only when the top 1-inch (2.5 cm) of soil is dry.
Plant facts
| Common name | gardenia |
| Light | full sun, part sun |
| Soil type | sand, loam, clay |
| Soil drainage | moist but well-drained |
| Height x Width | 4-6 feet (1.2m – 1.8 cm) x 4-6 feet (1.2m – 1.8m) |
| Flowering seasons | spring, summer |
| Life span | Perennials |
| Plant hardiness zones | 8 – 11 |
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