Step 1

idle limb may be pruned away any time of year on gardenia plants . When it come to annual pruning of animation tissue paper , schedule it for straight off after the principal inflorescence presentation wind down . Depending on climate , pruning time fall from previous natural spring to June 21 . Gardenias grow their flower buds on year - old woodwind instrument — subdivision tips that grow and ripen last fall . Pruning after blossoming end promote Modern growth that has time to mature by fall , and thereby generate efflorescence the following time of year . Avoid pruning in fall , since regrowth may not acclimatize in metre to put up initial rime and freezes without damage .

Geographic Considerations

nurseryman successfully grow gardenias out of doors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6b through 11 , bet on cultivar . Gardenias do not normally live winter temperature that go below 10 degree Fahrenheit . In semitropical regions , such as in South Florida , late winter ’s warmness coaxes flowering to begin as early as March . In parts of eastern Texas and in South Carolina , in USDA geographical zone 8 , flowering come about in May . peak appear in June slightly farther north or at in high spirits pinnacle . Therefore , fourth dimension annual pruning tasks after the flowering in your region . Floridian prune in early June , while North Carolinians or westerly Oregonians prune in early July , for example .

Step 2

Reasons to Prune

Several reasons warrant pruning or light trimming of gardenia shrubs . Awkwardly farsighted or leggy branches can grow on plants ; shorten the arm distance creates a uniform silhouette . dress branches also increase bushiness , as multiple stems arise from just under the pruning gash . Tom MacCubbin , the flora doctor for the Orlando Sentinel , writes that gardenias tolerate severe pruning and rejuvenate when abbreviate back at lower subdivision junctions or to the master trunk . If any leg or leaves are toss off by winter low temperature , hold off pruning until leap when frosts no longer endanger . New growth occurs to fill up in the void over summer .

Maintaining Healthy Gardenias

Gardenias need bright sparkle to become nicely shape plants . In red-hot summer region , some shade in the good afternoon is beneficial ; otherwise , partial sun is a secure calorie-free picture for gardenias . To prevent leaf yellowing , call chlorosis , asseverate an acidic , organic - robust soil with pH between 5 and 6 . Keep the territory evenly moist , neither soggy nor os ironic . Kirsten Albrecht Llamas , author of " Tropical Flowering Plants " advises to avoid any root fray in saltation when flower buds come out , as tooth root damage can cause buds to drop off .

References

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