How to Care for a Gardenia Plant

Overview

Gardenias are beautiful flowers with a strong, pleasant fragrance. Gardenia plants do best growing in full, bright sunshine and high humidity. Gardeners find gardenias to be a difficult flower to grow, yet others have succeeded with no problem by following a few specific requirements. Keeping gardenia plants in a cool location, with temperatures no higher than 55 degrees F during the night and 65 degrees F during the day, is the best match for the gardenia's native environment.

Step 1

Place your gardenia plants in a south facing window where the sun shines brightest.

Step 2

Place the gardenia plants on moist pebbles and run a humidifier nearby; this will increase humidity, especially in the winter months.

Step 3

Water your gardenia plants whenever the top inch of soil dries.

Step 4

Add a fertilizer made for plants that thrive in acidic conditions, such as azaleas. Check the labels on the fertilizer containers to find the right one. Fertilize between April and November.

Step 5

Remove and destroy all diseased leaves to prevent spreading infection. Sterilize any knives or snips used for cutting with bleach. Use a fungicide on the plant if it gets infected. Follow the instructions on the label.