Re: back to gardening....

Main thing to keep in mind is that holiday plants have been pampered and likely stressed to get them to bloom at a specified time, so they are truly hot-house plants that require some time to get adjusted to the real world. This is the time of year when gardenias normally bloom in Florida, however, so the adjustment may not be quite as difficult as I said. I've never grown one indoors, but my sister has said she would like to grow one in a pot for the deck in summer and keep it in the greenhouse in winter. Main pests are aphids and scale. Definitely an acid lover; feed it azalea food, Miracid would work, too. Best mulch is shredded pine bark or coffee grounds or a combination of the two. A gardenia is one of a very few "gift" plants that is worth trying to save and grow on. Good luck. 


On May 9, 2008, at 11:58 AM, Cathy Carpenter wrote:


My problem: DH (bless his little plant ignorant heart) bought me a
potted gardenia for Mother's Day. Trouble is, it is not hardy here, so
I must grow it in a pot. My previous experience with this plant was
not auspicious, so I would welcome any advice as to getting it to
survive and rebloom as a houseplant. (Or is euthanasia a solution?)

Cathy, west central IL, z5b

On May 9, 2008, at 7:54 AM, Donna wrote:


I am very disappointed in the selection of annuals around here.
Everyone
has the 'common' ones, but nothing to accent.... sigh. I even went out 
early and see everyone is playing it safe this year. Not much out
there
at all....
I did buy something I shouldn't have, but you know how that goes.... I 
am trying the 'hopefully' hardy crape myrtle they are advertising. We
will know next year about this time whether it is or isn't. It is a
dwarf variety and hopefully will look wonderful under by bay
window....
I know for you southern folks this is a common plant, but up north
here
it isn't. So if anyone has words of wisdom about this plant... love to 
hear it.


Donna

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Island Jim
Willamette Valley
44.99 N 123.04 W
Elevation 148'
Hardiness Zone 8/9
Heat Zone 5
Sunset Zone 6
Minimum 0 F [-15 C]
Maximum 86 F [30 C]

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