Gardenias

aingealmaryn

I purchased some two foot tall gardenias this past weekend. I keep them on my 22nd floor balcony in an area that is partially blocked from the wind and I've watered them with tap water which DH says is soft water. Both plants are now dark green, droopy, and shriveled up (no yellow spots). What am I doing wrong? Did I really kill my gardenias in a span of four days?

I usually compost but this next round isn't quite ready so DH picked up some fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 12 + 12 + 17. I'm new to the gardening thing and didn't just want to dump this on the plants and cross my fingers. Any advice would be much appreciated!

~NB~

The soil is either too wet or too dry, most likely.

juno

I am no help, but after killing 4, I have decided that you have to be a special kind of masochist to try to grow gardenias  

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/calif/2004035908004767.html

aingealmaryn

Thanks! After some heavy watering, they've started to perk up. I feel like I'm overwatering, but hey, if it's what they need...

~NB~

Potted plants are easy to check. Just tilt the pot and pull the plant. You'll see immedieately whether the roots are dry or drippy. More plants die from watering problems than all other issues combined, and in most cases, people simply underestimate the water needs of the plant. Sometimes, they drown them; but mostly it's dessication.

nitaw

juno:

I am no help, but after killing 4, I have decided that you have to be a special kind of masochist to try to grow gardenias  

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/calif/2004035908004767.html

LMAO. I love that thread. I currently have a gardenia growing in my backyard. But, I have no blooms yet. While on my morning walk yesterday, I saw another house in my neighborhood with a gardenia full of blooms. I was immediately hurt and thought maybe I looked at my gardenia the wrong way and now it won't bloom for me. LOL

 

Surfinbride

I have 2 gardenias who made it through the Seattle winter. I should say that they've also made it through this awful spring (40-50s, rainy, grey). They look like hell. I hope I get some sun and magic fairy dust to get them to bloom (maybe in August). If anyone knows a substitute for New Orleans' style heat and humidity, let me know. I love gardenias!