What does a gardenia jasminoides look like and how to care for it at home?

Charming gardenias Jasminoides requires good care at home. A healthy plant blooms profusely and continuously, and lives a long life. In just a few years, a small seedling grows into a bush 0.5–1 m tall. During flowering, it is literally covered in white or beige flowers. Against the glossy dark green leaves, they are charming, airy, and full of enchantment.

Description and history of origin

In the wild, gardenia jasminoides bushes grow up to 2 meters tall. This evergreen shrub is native to the East and can be found in the tropical forests of China, India, Vietnam, and Japan. These beautiful plants were used to decorate the chambers of Chinese emperors.

Gardeners skillfully shaped gardenia bushes into miniature trees with dense crowns—bonsai. The first compositions featuring this beautiful plant began to be created during the Song Dynasty, which ruled China from 960 to 1279.

The flower was brought to Europe in the mid-18th century. Its description was made in 1761 by the English explorer John Ellis. Initially, gardenia was called jasmine. Later, the genus of plants in the Rubiaceae family was named Gardenia in honor of the American botanist Alexander Garden. This exotic oriental plant captivated the hearts of Europeans. Its fragrance and decorative qualities rivaled those of roses in beauty.

Benefits of the plant

Chinese herbalists are well aware of the plant's medicinal properties. Remedies made from it have antiseptic properties, help with inflammation of the bile ducts and respiratory system, and are effective for headaches and gastrointestinal disorders.

Gardenia is used to make topical preparations. Wounds treated with it heal faster. Decoctions are made from the roots and fruits of the shrub. They are used to treat herpes, nephritis, influenza, mastitis, dysentery, stomatitis, and tonsillitis.

The roots and fruits contain substances that help cope with stress, fatigue, and insomnia. This houseplant is effective for sexual dysfunction. Its presence in the home improves mood, calms, and promotes tender feelings.

Signs and superstitions

If things are going terribly wrong, find a comfortable spot near a gardenia, relax, and calmly share your problems. Talking to the flower will restore peace of mind, help you forget the bad, and direct your thoughts in the right direction. The plant acts as a kind of home psychologist, and things will improve.

According to folk belief, gardenias ward off illnesses, so a pot of the flower is placed in the room of a seriously ill person. The plant instills strength and confidence, helping them overcome illness.

It has been observed that if there are frequent arguments in the home, the leaves on the gardenia dry out. Watering and proper care don't help. The negative atmosphere that reigns in the family is reflected in the health of the gardenia. This flower harmonizes the space.

Varieties and types

Since the tropical plant was brought to Europe, many varieties of jasmine gardenia have been developed:

1. Aimee. A double variety. Blooms twice a year. Flower heads are 12 cm in diameter.
2. Mystery. Blooms twice a year. The flower heads are 13 cm in diameter. The flowers are flat and double.
3. Belmont. Large, rounded leaves, double flowers, flower heads 10 cm in diameter.
4. Radicans. Bush height: 0.5–1 m. Small, glossy leaves. Flowering occurs in summer; flower heads are 2.5–5 cm in diameter. Suitable for bonsai.
5. Radican Variegata. A variegated, dwarf variety. The leaves are dark green with a creamy edge. The flower heads are 2.5–5 cm in diameter. It blooms in summer.
6. Chuck Hayes. Semi-double cream-colored flowers. Plant height: 1.5–2 m.
7. Beauty. The bush is tall—1.5–2 m. The flowers are white, double.

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Growing conditions

The flower requires a long daylight period—at least 12 hours. Gardenia prefers filtered light; direct sunlight is not recommended. It dislikes drafts. If the location is poorly chosen, it will drop flowers and buds.

Humidity and temperature

It's easy to create comfortable conditions for this tropical plant in summer and spring. During this period, the temperature range for gardenias is as follows:

• during the daytime - 22–24 °C;
• at night - 18–20 °C.

In winter, it requires cool conditions. Daytime temperatures are 17–20°C, and nighttime temperatures are 16°C. To maintain optimal humidity, place the pot in a tray of water, ensuring the roots do not come into contact with the liquid. Add pebbles or expanded clay.

Selecting soil

Gardenia-specific soil is typically unavailable in specialized stores. Therefore, some gardeners prepare their own soil mix. Others purchase a rhododendron or azalea soil mix, adding 10% river sand, 10% sphagnum moss, and 10% vermiculite.

For normal development, the plant requires acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5). The acidity level is determined using litmus paper. Drainage is also necessary. Small expanded clay is usually placed at the bottom of the container. It is disinfected before use: add water and boil for 30 minutes.

Good soil should be loose, moisture-retentive, and not compact after watering. It's made from equal parts of high-moor peat, leaf mold, turf, and pine soil. Crushed charcoal, sand, and sphagnum moss are added to the substrate, making up 30% of the total volume.

Flowering conditions

To ensure gardenias bloom, they need comfortable conditions during the winter. When the room is too hot, flower buds don't form. 16–18°C is the optimal temperature for bud formation. Flowering won't occur if the room temperature is above 25°C year-round.

During the budding period, increase air humidity to 70–80%:

• expanded clay (sphagnum moss) in the tray is regularly moistened;
• The bush is sprayed frequently.

Care

To avoid problems during cultivation, it is necessary how to properly care for indoor gardeniasThe flower is capricious and, if disturbed, sheds its buds and leaves and refuses to bloom.

Mature gardenias are routinely repotted in March every three years. Young plants are actively developing their root system, so they are repotted three to four times a year. If root disease is suspected, provide immediate assistance:

• the bush is removed from the pot, the root system is cleared of soil;
• cut out the diseased areas;
• placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes;
• powder the roots with a biostimulant.

The bush is planted in new substrate, the pot is disinfected.

How to water a flower

The plant thrives on moisture and is watered regularly, particularly generously in summer. The leaves are also regularly misted with room-temperature water. With proper care, the soil should always be moderately moist. Water should be applied only from above. Watering through a tray can cause the upper roots to dry out and the lower roots to rot.

To maintain optimal soil acidity, water the plant with acidified water once a month. Add apple cider vinegar (1 teaspoon per cup) or squeeze 3 drops of lemon juice per liter. Some gardeners add peat moss to the water. Once the water has steeped, water.

Necessary fertilizers

In spring and summer, gardenias are fertilized once every 10 days. Because the soil is acidic, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium are poorly absorbed. Therefore, fertilizers containing these nutrients are used. When first applying, reduce the recommended dose by half. When choosing a fertilizer, ensure that nitrogen and chlorine levels are minimal. Fertilizers are not applied in winter.

Formation

A gardener who purchases or receives a gardenia as a gift has a choice. They can master the art of bonsai and grow a miniature tree, or maintain the bush's decorative appearance through proper pruning and timely pinching.

Scheme of forming a bush from a cutting:

• to form lateral shoots when the stem height is 15–20 cm, pinch the top;
• To form a lush and neat crown, pinch the tops of young shoots if their length is 15–20 cm.

Mature bushes require rejuvenating pruning, which is done in February. All last year's growth is shortened by a third, and some old branches are removed.

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Methods of reproduction

Gardenias are propagated vegetatively and by seed. Winter propagation is from January to March, and summer propagation is from June to September. New bushes are most often grown from semi-hardwood cuttings.

By dividing the bush

This procedure is performed when transplanting a mature plant into a larger pot. The bush is divided if there is independent growth. The roots are carefully separated, and the gardenias are replanted in separate containers. To reduce stress, spray with Epin.

During the month, comfortable conditions are created:

• mini-greenhouses are made from film;
• pots are placed at a small distance from the window;
• provide a stable temperature (22–24 °C).

After 30 days, when the cuttings have taken root, the flowerpot is placed in the chosen location and the film is removed.

Cuttings

During spring pruning, select semi-hardwood cuttings at least 10 cm long. Root them in water or a mixture of peat and river sand, taken in equal proportions. To accelerate root growth, treat the ends of the cuttings with a rooting stimulant.

Cuttings planted in soil are covered with a plastic bottle or film. They are kept in a mini-greenhouse for about a month. The greenhouse is ventilated once a day, the soil is moistened, and the cuttings are sprayed. Rooted specimens are transplanted into pots.

Seeds

After flowering, seed pods form. The seeds are the same shape and size as lemon seeds. They are sown in late February or early March. Seedlings appear in 1–1.5 months. The seeds can be stored for 2–3 years. The longer they are stored, the lower the germination rate.

Diseases and pests

Gardenia jasminoides is susceptible to disease and pest attacks if not properly cared for. The table lists the symptoms, causes, and remedies.

In an apartment, spray bushes with Aktara to control pests, or use folk remedies if there are children or pets. A garlic infusion helps against gardenia pests: 200 g of crushed cloves per 1 liter of water. Let the infusion steep for 5 days and strain. Before use, dilute 1 teaspoon of the concentrate in 1 liter of water.

With proper care and comfortable conditions, a gardenia lives for about 7 years, blooming annually, filling the apartment with the delicate aroma of jasmine.