Growing potted gardenia

[buster21]

Today 09:17 AMbuster21
I need some gardenia growing tips please. I bought the tiny bush last fall and potted it with with potting soil, perlite. Haven’t fertilized it until today with a little fish emulsion and coffee grounds for acidity.
It’s doing OK. My problem is about watering. Some say it’s better to under water it. My soil moisture tester isn’t working properly. The plant has a northern exposure with enough sun. Thanks in advance!

[DAVES]

Today 09:17 AMbuster21
I need some gardenia growing tips please. I bought the tiny bush last fall and potted it with with potting soil, perlite. Haven’t fertilized it until today with a little fish emulsion and coffee grounds for acidity.
It’s doing OK. My problem is about watering. Some say it’s better to under water it. My soil moisture tester isn’t working properly. The plant has a northern exposure with enough sun. Thanks in advance!

I'm sure you can find information on the internet. "A little fish emulsion," I would read the directions on the bottle. Fish emulsion, only brand commonly sold is ALASKA and they sell two types one for blooming plants and one for other plants. The one for other plants is brown slop that has the consistency of motor oil. I would not use it in your home-it will stink. It is higher in nitrogen and it is acidic. Coffee grounds for acidity.
READ OPINIONS ON THE INTERNET, the verdict is not in on coffee grounds. After you use them to make coffee what is left is neutral ph. The remaining caffeine is bad for SOME PLANTS. Soil moisture tester? You can buy these things. You were born with ten of them. Stick your finger into the soil.

[buster21]

Thanks for your informative response. I have good luck with plants growing in soil. I have looked online also but thought this being Florida gardenias are a popular plant. I will definitely not over water and avoid coffee grounds.

[buster21]

Just want to let anyone interested in growing a potted gardenia, which many find difficult to grow, that I may have found the answer to keeping it alive. Do nothing. From what I’ve read is that grandmothers have the most success in growing this fragrant plant and their advice is to let nature water it, keeping it dry for the most part. My plant is five months old and is doing great in a southern exposure. If we don’t get rain after one and a half weeks, I will water it from the bottom of the planter and this allows the water to be absorbed from the roots. It’s not in a saucer and sits on the concrete patio. Lastly, when I do water it, I use filtered water, not tap. Hopes this helps!

[DAVES]

Just want to let anyone interested in growing a potted gardenia, which many find difficult to grow, that I may have found the answer to keeping it alive. Do nothing. From what I’ve read is that grandmothers have the most success in growing this fragrant plant and their advice is to let nature water it, keeping it dry for the most part. My plant is five months old and is doing great in a southern exposure. If we don’t get rain after one and a half weeks, I will water it from the bottom of the planter and this allows the water to be absorbed from the roots. It’s not in a saucer and sits on the concrete patio. Lastly, when I do water it, I use filtered water, not tap. Hopes this helps!

Filtered water? Are you buying gallons of water from the grocery store? Put out something, a pot, a plastic box kind of thing capture rain water and refill the bottles you are buying. Putting any plant in a pot prevents it from reaching out for water.
I assume the pot is large and so heavy. Put it on one of those roller things. We are entering hurricane season. Have you thought about what you will do with it? If you bring it into the home, you will likely find you bring in insects etc.