| Author | Content |
miavcr
Valley Village, CA
June 25, 2009
12:23 PM Post #6737082
| I have this gardenia in a pot. In May in this picture you can see how lush, green and full of blooms it was. The next picture I will post, is the same gardenia now, in June. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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miavcr
Valley Village, CA
June 25, 2009
12:25 PM Post #6737093
| This is the same gardenia today June 25th.
What could be causing it to shrivel up and die. I may be overwatering it so have stopped until it dries out a bit, and also it is getting a bit more sun as it heats up here in Southern California. Any ideas?
Thank you. I love gardenias so much but cannot seem to get any better at growing them. Last week I had another one just shrivel up practically overnight and it is now brown and dead.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Chezca
Hayward (Z8b-9a), CA
(Zone 8b)
June 25, 2009
12:54 PM Post #6737235
| Oh man! Gardenia plants everywhere must be having a jolly-ho time giggling because they got another victim! :)
Only a miracle will save it now... Got two of them myself and yes, one's dead and the other one's barely breathing but still laughin at me for being a sucker at the garden center :)...
Did my research on the net and tried and tried and tried to follow all known remedies... No such luck...
Alas, it is not your fault that your plant looks like that... Gardenias are VERY, how should I put it, ANNOYING. Yes, they are wonderful, fragrant, classic, elegant, etc... UNTIL you take them home... They are superb-looking at the garden center, all smiling at you, enticing you to buy them... But as soon as they get you to take them home, their built-in suicide clock kicks in and so starts their slow spiral to their inevitable death... NO matter what you or I do, they just seem to want to die- slowly (Oh don't worry, it's one of their happiest moments watching you lose your hair and sanity wondering what you did or did not do enough and blaming/doubting yourself for having a black thumb versus the green one)...
While some folks are lucky enough to enjoy a "healthy gardenia/green gardenia" (a freak-of-nature I pressume) (statistics say that one out of a 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 gardenia plants survive:), the rest of us just have to be content with praying over our potted dead twigs to please come back to life or stop dying already...
[Anyhoo, I hear it loves humidity but not too much. Do not overwater it. Not too much sun and not too much shade. Too much fertilizer might do it in, but it needs fertilizin- go figure]! Sorry couldn't be much help, just wanted to "vent"! :) -Chez |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 25, 2009
03:34 PM Post #6737866
| I'm in the same boat--I've always had trouble with gardenias. I think they really do better in a more humid environment than we have in California. The only time I ever had luck with them was in a north facing courtyard at my old house--it got a pinch of morning sun but then nothing in the afternoon, plus since it was on the north side of the house in the shade of a big tree it stayed cooler than anywhere else in the yard (I also tried them on a south facing covered patio which got the same amount of sun but was warmer and they didn't like it there). If you decide to try again with another one, you might try keeping it in a cooler, shadier area and see if that helps. |
Lynda_45
Jacksonville, NC
(Zone 8b)
June 26, 2009
12:14 AM Post #6740062
| I do think they love humidity. There was one here when we moved in 28 years ago.It is now over 12 ft. tall and about as big around.I have never fed it or trimmed it,actually I've really ignored it. It blooms profusely twice a year. Now all I can figure is,it's planted over one of our septic tanks. It has me baffled.I'll take a picture tomorrow.It has about stopped blooming for this go-round.Our summers are very humid.
wishing you luck-Lynda |
icanfindroom
Anchorage, AK
June 26, 2009
02:31 AM Post #6740270
| By chance are the white blobs in the photo living squishable creatures? If they are you have mealy bug, a common gardenia foe. Easy to defeat if you are persistent. Maybe I am seeing things though. Gardenia care is easily found online but as mentioned by others, sometimes no matter how much you love your plant it just doesn't seem to love you back...sniff...
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JasperDale
Long Beach, CA
(Zone 10a)
June 26, 2009
03:19 AM Post #6740299
| mia: You should be able to grow decent gardenias where you are if you adhere to a few basic things.
One "kiss of death" for Gardenias is letting them dry out between waterings. Once this happens, it pretty much ruins the plant. I had a potted one that looked just like yours in the 2nd photo. I went away for 2 days, forgot to water it and it croaked.
Gardenias do best if they are planted so the top of the rootball is an inch or so above the soil level. Use an acid type soil mix with plenty of organic matter added to it that remains moist at all times, but not saturated.
They definitely require heat and humidity to bloom well, so if your pot has a saucer, add some gravel or pebbles and allow some water to remain in the saucer to create humidity, but don't let the pot sit in the water.
Northern or Eastern exposure is best for them. On the coast, they can take more sun, but inland give them afternoon shade especially in the summer.
My sister in Agoura Hills has a huge one in a redwood tub under a patio overhang that faces North. There is a very small fountain there (one of those table-top things ) that appears to provide the humidity it needs. It was previously in a clay pot, but we transplanted it into a redwood tub and it improved immensely ,,,probably because the wooden tub doesn't suck the water from the soil like clay does. She is not a gardener, but only waters it once a week, and twice during the summer...and you know how HOT Agoura can get.
Unfortunately, I think the one in your photo is probably a goner.
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icanfindroom
Anchorage, AK
June 26, 2009
03:30 AM Post #6740311
| Yes, I would also agree that it looks like it dried out, and maybe too much direct sun? However being the plant sap I am I would say if there were any chance you could save it, move it to a shady spot, maybe just bring it indoors, water it well and see what happens. If it lives great, if it dies, lesson learned. Don't give up though! If you really want a gardenia go purchase another and give it try. Maybe a different variety that's a bit easier? From what I understand not all are as picky as the one you have but the last time I had a gardenia it was in my yard in HI. A bit easier! Don't know about growing one in AK, even indoors. But I have been drooling on the ones at the store! ;)
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miavcr
Valley Village, CA
June 26, 2009
06:02 PM Post #6742732
| Thank you everyone.
The white blobs are actually epsom salts that i sprinkled on as a last ditch attempt to save them.
I do have one gardenia in my front yard East side of the street that has been alive for a few years but never bloomed, it gets afternoon sun and i have been meaning to move it for awhile.
I think i will buy one more and put it in a shaded, perhaps filtered sun spot and see what happens. After that I am done! I just love the smell so much though.
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Chezca
Hayward (Z8b-9a), CA
(Zone 8b)
June 26, 2009
06:10 PM Post #6742750
| Sadly, we are never "done" with gardenias... no matter how infuriating they are :) We will keep on bringing home "that" gardenia that "could be the one" :) ...
I wish you success for all of us! Show em who's boss! Maybe they'll give in and just surrender to living and blooming!
(update: my other gardenia has croaked... I found it all brown and bud-less this morning :(...) |
icanfindroom
Anchorage, AK
June 26, 2009
06:55 PM Post #6742871
| LOL! I love the side mention that your other gardenia has croaked Chezca. Ah, gardenias...
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swtnis
Rotonda West, FL
(Zone 10a)
June 28, 2009
02:09 AM Post #6748270
| Okie Dokie , soo Glad to see that it is not just me... and
Chezca talk about there" built in suicide clocks"... that is the best way to describe what happens as soon as i bring it home...Thanks for the laugh ,and your honesty...I couldnt of put it any better myself |
Blackwill
Bakersfield, CA
June 28, 2009
04:39 AM Post #6748356
| I live in Bakersfield, California, and I have a rather large Gardenia shrub growing in my front courtyard. It has been there for many years, in full sun (and the sun here sits just above our rooftops in the Summer, it seems), and has produced beautiful blooms the whole time. It is going quite strong right now. It sits at the edge of my courtyard "watering zone", so it never gets drenched, but it is able to get moisture from the nearby soil. I'll post a photo tomorrow, so you can see the vigor of it. I've been dead-heading the thing for the past 3 weeks. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 28, 2009
09:02 AM Post #6748752
| So what's your secret? LOL If you can grow them in full sun in Bakersfield then there must be a way for the rest of us to have better success than we've had! |
Blackwill
Bakersfield, CA
June 28, 2009
01:59 PM Post #6749735
| My secret is, apparently, "just leave it alone". LOL! Other than the semi-regular dead-heading (not even sure if that's necessary) I don't do anything to it. No fertilizer, no pruning, no insecticides. Nada. The garden frogs (!!!) take care of the low-lying bugs, and the birds take care of the rest. |
Blackwill
Bakersfield, CA
June 28, 2009
02:28 PM Post #6749833
| Here's my Gardenia in So-Cal. You may not be able to see them in this photo, but there is a profusion of new buds. They should be opening in a few days. By the way...it's 105F outside right now!!
This message was edited Jun 28, 2009 10:30 AM
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Jim41
Delhi, LA
June 28, 2009
11:41 PM Post #6751992
| Switch to Kate Jasmine, the plant of the deep south. Looks and smells like a gardenia and apparently a lot heartier. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 29, 2009
12:28 AM Post #6752145
| Do you mean Cape jasmine? That is one of the common names for gardenia. Do you have a picture of the plant you're talking about? Since it's the common name for gardenia and you said it looks and smells like gardenia I suspect it probably is a gardenia. I know of plenty of people in the south who grow gardenias with no problem, it's in less humid areas that it seems many people have more trouble. |
Chezca
Hayward (Z8b-9a), CA
(Zone 8b)
June 29, 2009
11:09 AM Post #6753631
| Blackwill, THAT just ain't right!! :) That might not evem be a gardenia, have you thought of that?!? :) It can't be, it's alive! (and thriving!) You have shaken the NORMAL order of things, my freyn! Your gardenia is either a freakofnature or an old juniper bush trying to look like a gardenia! Or maybe you sold your soul in exchange for a healthy gardenia, huh? :) Seriously, that plant is uhmazing! Howdja do it?!?
You're one of the very rare few living with such a rare species, a living gardenia... (fyi: you might have something there with the "leave it alone" deal because a lot of people say that a "neglected" gardenia has a better chance of surviving. Somehow it doesn't like attention so you better not let it catch you looking at it! The buds on mine started dying AFTER I looked and marveled at them! Serious! And no smelling the flowers too! (You smell the flowers, then the WHOLE plant goes kablooey!) You have to admire them secretly from afar! Pretend like you don't care if it lives or dies- that way it will feel like IT has to "show you"! Shhhh! don't let it know that I said that! Shhh!
:):):)
-Chez |
Blackwill
Bakersfield, CA
June 29, 2009
02:34 PM Post #6754533
| Funny you mention it...I had actually considered uprooting the thing earlier this year, to make room for a more exotic plant. Maybe it caught wind of that somewhere, and decided to perk up a bit. Today it's 107F (and it's not even noon yet) and the thing only seems to be getting stronger. It's quite an old plant, and hasn't really grown much taller than it is right now over the last few years. But, it puts out a profusion of sweet scented flowers right by my patio gate, which is where I spend the vast majority of my time, so I'm glad to have it around. Couple that with the two jasmine vines on my courtyard wall, and it makes for a very aromatic (and bee-filled) Springtime.
Which is good, because the trash bin doesn't smell quite so nice in this heat... |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 29, 2009
03:44 PM Post #6754856
| I wonder if this is one of those cases where the old heirloom type of plants that have been around forever are actually a lot tougher than the fancy-schmancy new cultivars that are all you can typically find at garden centers. You'll have to try an experiment for us Blackwill and get a couple of the newer varieties and see if they survive there too or if you've just got some super tough variety! |
Chezca
Hayward (Z8b-9a), CA
(Zone 8b)
June 29, 2009
03:52 PM Post #6754875
| You can't see me but I'm drooling or should I say "going green" with envy! (get it?!? going green?!? gardenia?!? ah yes, it does drive one crazy...)
Maybe your gardenia and my twig- I mean gardenia should meet and have your gardenia talk some sense to mine? Sorta like, "hey, you have a better choice: live!"? :) I hope you don't ever uproot that miracle! Because, bygollygeewiz, your success (and without barely even trying!) just beautifully magnifies our failure when it comes to these dang plants! :) But we shall keep on trying... Maybe we should start a support group- Gardenias Anonymous.
-Chez |
Lynda_45
Jacksonville, NC
(Zone 8b)
June 30, 2009
12:04 AM Post #6757057
| This is my gardenia bush I was talking about on the last thread. This is also one that has never had any attention or fertilizer etc. I don't even prune it,but like I said before, I thought it was because it sits over the septic tank. lol. These bushes are a strange breed. They do seem to like being left alone. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 30, 2009
04:22 AM Post #6757470
| Hi. My name is Sheri. I have had a Gardenia habit for about 20 years now. For the first few years I had them in pot that I kept outside except when deep friezed were warned to cover outdoor plants, I would cover most, but the Gardenia always came into the garage or basement as an added precaution . 14 years ago when I bought my home, a place near the front door for the Gardenia was a "choice" issue.
Well I have a lovely mature Gardenia right in front of my picture window and very near the front door. She greets me daily for about 1 month each year during July, with that wondrous fragrance that only she can wear whenever the door is opened or someone walks near her. Ahh, her scent is intoxicating!
Last year , though, just before blooming, I realized that the shiny green leafy shrub in front of the picture window had grown so that it grossly blocked the birds that I so enjoy watch feeding each day. I went outside and trimmed the shrub here and there opening up space so that I could watch the birds and still have a goo bit of tips left to enjoy whatever was going to bloom in the next month or so.
When my Garenia began its most prolific bloom ever I cried and cried again yesterday when I realized the blooms that would never be..
Yes I believe I am poserless over my addiction but that there is one greater than me who can restore me to sanity.
Therefore, daily I turn my life and my WILL over to the power of GOD as I understand Him.
Sheri
edited to change 13 to 14 years
This message was edited Jun 30, 2009 3:30 AM |
Blackwill
Bakersfield, CA
June 30, 2009
01:46 PM Post #6759250
| Wow, Lynda!! That thing is an OAK!! What an inspiring specimen. Kind of makes me wish we weren't hooked up to the Municipal Sewer System here... |
MaypopLaurel
Cleveland,GA/Atlanta, GA
(Zone 7b)
July 02, 2009
08:10 PM Post #6770294
| I have two gardenias, in two different locations, at two different homes. Both get lots of heat. One blooms continuously and one (more than ten years old) has never bloomed. I'm working on it this year. :) You'll probably be interested in the first. It grows in dappled light/part sun. It's NEVER been fertilized or had special mulch applied but, what I think is key, is that it is near a downspout to a roof gutter and in a protected corner. In other words, it gets a good amount of water and never scorching sun.
Laurel |
Jim41
Delhi, LA
July 03, 2009
04:06 PM Post #6773520
| Cape or Kate? I don't know? We always called it Kate. Never heard of Cape. It is probably in the gardenia family. The Kate's blooms are smaller but look and smell the same. |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
July 03, 2009
06:24 PM Post #6773966
| My gardenia need lots , (did I say lots?) of water this time of year to continue blooming |
Chezca
Hayward (Z8b-9a), CA
(Zone 8b)
July 04, 2009
03:22 PM Post #6777489
| Hello guys! Hopin everybody's having a fun-filled 4th of July :)
Here's a tidbit that I just heard from one of our "elders" in the family that for a successful potted gardenia, you have to have a saucer deep enough to add about an inch or so of rocks or pebbles with water and place your pot on it. That way it will stay humid around the plant's vicinity and just make sure the saucer does not dry out. This way the gardenia isn't "sitting in" water but "on" it (hence the pebbles/rocks). She says it works and it does sound logical... Hope this helps! (already got another gardenia and will try this out m'self!) |
WNYwillieB
Buffalo, NY
(Zone 6a)
July 08, 2009
09:43 AM Post #6792742
| Now, I keep in mind I am knocking on wood the entire time I type this!
I am having my first gardenia last more than two weeks, this year.
Of course, since I am in Buffalo, I have to container grow them!
Purchased round mother's day (that annual flood of gardenia plants time).
I have found that if I do not transplant things into larger containers right aways, they just might not make it, so this one I transplanted immediately upon its arrival home. Blooms didn't rot, and all things seem great, so far!
Humidity IS key, as is watching for those pesky spider mites, etc.!
I did put it outside a bit early, and the leaves started to look slightly off, so I moved it back into the greenhouse, but now that the weather here is great, it is back to hanging outside.
She's even putting out new growth for me, which is a first!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Grantman31
West Palm Beach, FL
July 08, 2009
12:55 PM Post #6793503
| I have a pretty large gardena bush (well, 4 bushes grown with 2-3' spacing) that is doing very well. When I bought the house over a year ago, the poor bush was ravaged by caterpillars and the leaves were all but eaten up. I chopped the plant down to the trunks leaving about a foot or two of height. Months later, in this South Florida climate, they were sprawling and are now stronger than before. Beautiful healthy foliage and flowers. I don't mess with it at all - no fertilizer, pruning, or watering (we get good enough rains here and it looks quite established). It stays tight and compact, standing 6' high and about 12' wide, with 3-4' depth against the NW side of my house. Once I figure out how to, I'll take a pic and put it up! |
Jim41
Delhi, LA
July 08, 2009
04:03 PM Post #6794273
| We bought our home in 1974. Set a gardenia or as I call it Kate Jasmine out in the side yard. Sorry soil, lot of shade, out of sight out of mind (so no attention), blown over by a storm (couldn't get it back straight) and the joker is as big or bigger than the one in the photo by Lynda_45. Crazy thing blooms from mid-spring until frost. I just figured they were all like this. Maybe I ought to clone this rascal and market it. It is bound to have some wierd gene that makes it that hearty. |
WNYwillieB
Buffalo, NY
(Zone 6a)
July 08, 2009
04:05 PM Post #6794285
| Where do we place our orders??!?? |
Jim41
Delhi, LA
July 08, 2009
04:12 PM Post #6794320
| Tell you what Willie, I'll try to root that rascal this winter and if I am successful I'll FedX it to you free of charge and pay the freight. That's to show all the reader that we hold no grudges for the war of nothern aggresion. Seriously, I didn't know they were hard to raise or it would probably have died. On second thought, my wife probably planted it and nothing she plants dies. Just makes me sick. |
joycerogers0713
Poplarville, MS
(Zone 8b)
July 08, 2009
06:17 PM Post #6794867
| Here in Mississippi gardenias are one of the easiest plants to grow. It seems everyone and their grandma has at least one! Since you love them so much cut a few small branches off your next one and root them in water. At least you'll have a head start if moma plant dies. I always have a vase of them in my home because of the wonderful fragrance, and by the time the blooms fade and are ready for the trash, there are little roots begining to grow on the stems. Good luck! |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
July 08, 2009
09:19 PM Post #6795582
| I never knew they'd root in water. Oh goody!!  |
WNYwillieB
Buffalo, NY
(Zone 6a)
July 09, 2009
11:54 AM Post #6797765
| I never thought to try and root one, either!
Experiments are awesome! Count me in Jim41 ... I have heard that some plants have been so hybridized that they lose some hardiness. Will be interesting to compare with yours from the '70s
I had heard this is esp. true with Ming Aralias (and calatheas) ... The older plants are much more stable, and much less sensitive, than the newer cultivars. |
Jim41
Delhi, LA
July 09, 2009
12:02 PM Post #6797801
| Hybridizing has it's place, I guess. I wouldn't be able to raise tomatoes if it weren't for hybridizing them so they are resistent to the blight. Hybred roses are more beautiful than ever but they lost their good smell. All kinds of fruit and vegetable are hybredized to increase shelve life but you lose flavor. Kind of a Catch 22 situation. You gain some things but you lose some things as well. |
Chezca
Hayward (Z8b-9a), CA
(Zone 8b)
July 09, 2009
12:07 PM Post #6797815
| Birdie, this is wayyy off topic, but how did you get that "smiley" to show up? |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
July 09, 2009
12:40 PM Post #6797956
| to make a
Press the shift then the ^ then the - then another ^ (holding the shift key for all 3 strokes)
you will see the 2 ears and dash, but when it prints a smiley will appear
so happy to share this fun trick, I asked someone in the middle of a thread just like you did!
This message was edited Jul 9, 2009 11:41 AM |
Chezca
Hayward (Z8b-9a), CA
(Zone 8b)
July 09, 2009
12:45 PM Post #6797969
| Thanks birdie!
This message was edited Jul 9, 2009 8:46 AM |
joycerogers0713
Poplarville, MS
(Zone 8b)
July 11, 2009
07:40 AM Post #6805545
| For those who try it, let me know how the rooting your gardenias in water goes in your area. It will be interesting to see if they root this easily in other climates. |
maryleek
North Little Rock, AR
(Zone 7b)
July 18, 2009
12:12 PM Post #6834605
| For anyone who tries rooting Gardenia cuttings in water, please come back and let us know your results.
I'm trying a daisy gardenia for the first time this year. It is supposed to be quite small at maturity (I have a small garden) and hardy for our area (North Little Rock, AR) is why I choose this particular variety.
I read somewhere on one of these forums where Gardenias were easy to root so that is something else I'm trying this year. After planting, I took six or seven tip cuttings, pinched the lowest leaves, lightly coated the lowest leaf nodes of each cutting with hormone powder and stuck in damp, well drained MG potting soil. I used a 2 liter clear plastic soda bottle, cut in half, with holes poked in the bottom part for drainage. The top half has a slit cut on the side so I could pinch it a bit to get it to easily fit into the bottom half, creating a small greenhouse (remove the bottle cap). I set it outside on June 24 in bright shade (no direct sunlight). Today, I can already see many roots in the soil, due to the container being clear, and there is new growth beginning on most of the cuttings. The next step is to repot some in individual pots and plant the remainder directly into the garden to test how well they do.
Gardeners in California or any dry area could probably help your potted Gardenia plants by sitting them above a water filled tray of pebbles or if in ground, planted near a water feature such as a fountain or pond as my guess is your air might be too dry for their needs. Then again, keeping the soil evenly moist and slightly acidic might simply be the key to success, even with dry air. Also, where it is so hot and dry, I'd think mostly dappled shade would be best, based on all I've read. Even here, I have mine planted in dappled shade and so far she is doing well, with new growth and buds forming. Of course, mine is only recently planted, so only time will tell. I did amend the soil with a lot of oak leaf mold and the planting site has excellent drainage as it is in a raised area of the garden. I also keep the soil moist. We've had temps above 100 degrees already this summer but we also experience high humidity, which I believe Gardenia's must like, as so many in the southeast report such good luck with their Gardenia plants.
Good luck to all. Everyone should be able to enjoy the wonderful fragrance of Gardenias.
Testing the smiley face insertion ... ... thank you for the instructions.
Mary
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Jim41
Delhi, LA
July 18, 2009
02:52 PM Post #6835063
| I'm thinking Mary might be right on about the gardenias. Considered the one in my yard reading her post and conditions are similar, dappled shade and Louisiana humity is always high. Rarely gets below 60 per cent. I am wondering if these different varities will root true. Never rooted gardenias but have rooted a lot of roses. The hybred roses will not root true. Native roses will and even the dwarf roses will root true. Just a thought. Anyone know the answer? If Farmerdill shows up, I bet he does. |
maryleek
North Little Rock, AR
(Zone 7b)
July 18, 2009
04:20 PM Post #6835370
| Jim,
Are hybrid roses grafted onto different root stock? If so, then I'd think the cuttings wouldn't root true to the parent. Not knowing much about roses, this is the only idea I can come up with.
I'm just learning about plant propapation this year and trying different plants. So far, besides the Gardenia cuttings, I've had success with a perennial red Salvia, tickseed, sedum, Sweet Woodruff, Lantana, Butterfly bush, coleus, Mazus and Salvia Black & Blue. I'm really quite surprised at the many plants that can be propagated by taking cuttings. Of course, I'm trying ones that are reported to be easy.
I've ordered some of those root trainers, thinking if I can learn to propagate plants, I can use the root trainers to create well rooted but lightweight cuttings to share with others who are looking for something I happen to be growing. I got the idea when the Butterfly organization in Florida sent me some small rooted cuttings of Milkweed. They were so small and lightweight, it cost so very little for them to mail them to me.
Mary |
Jim41
Delhi, LA
July 18, 2009
04:37 PM Post #6835404
| Hi Mary. The hy-brid roses are grafts on native root stock. Notice the ball on a tea rose. That's the reason you never plant the ball below the surface of the ground. It looks to me like it should root true but it doesn't. Probably someone here at Dave's could explain why. We have a dark red rose that was given us probably 25 years ago. Beautiful and highly fragrent. I've rooted it 5 or 6 times and only one time did I get the dark red color but the bloom conformation was a little different. All the rooted ones were pretty and all maintain the sweet aroma of momma but none was exactly like her. I wish they were. Roses are probably the easiest thing I ever rooted. |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
July 25, 2009
05:08 AM Post #6862592
| JIm - so if roses are so easy to root, if I ask for the trimmings of a friends when she goes back to the next 5 leafed node to prune, I might just have good luck and end up with a rooted plant!?! is that what you say? I would be delighted if the fragrance stayed true, even if color was different...on some , that is. I don't understnd it not growing true to the part it is grafted from, thoough...
Sheri |
Jim41
Delhi, LA
July 25, 2009
11:59 AM Post #6863400
| Well BirdieBlue, I don't have the answer. Maybe someone will pick up on it and give you the reason. That's what I was told and it has proven true. I've rooted several native roses and they've always rooted true but not the hy-bred. On rooting, you need a piece with at least four growth buds. Coat the ones that were closest to the main stem with a rooting agent. Stick 2 buds below ground and press the soil tight. Take a quart jar and put over it and shove the jar in the ground enough it won't turn over. Then just leave it alone until spring. Oh, don't leave any foliage on it when you plant. I always put the ones I'm rooting out after the weather turns cold. |
GardenQuilts
Delaware Water Gap, PA
July 27, 2009
03:42 AM Post #6870028
| I got a gardenia plant from Bluestone this year and planted it in a pot. It is doing fine, so far. It hasn't bloomed, but it has gotten bigger. It seems to be liking the rainy humid weather here this year. I will try to take a couple of cuttings. the challenge will be to get it to survive the winter inside. How often do you fertilize your plants? Should I fertilize it even if it doesn't bloom? I planted it with a pellet thing included from Bluestone and haven't added any other fertilizer, yet. |
mellie13
Long Beach, CA
July 27, 2009
12:58 PM Post #6871469
| Excatly the same happenned to me, twice!!!
I throw mine out and gave up..but I might get more after reading this forum!! |
