Carole
Just Arrived
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Location: SEATTLE
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:29 pm Post subject: A Gardenia Beginner |
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Hi Fellow Gardeners, I live in Seattle and have 10 gardenias in pots right now that I would like to plant in my garden, but am unsure of exposure and soil needs. I have azaleas growing in the front of the house which has an eastern exposure so it gets sun in the late afternoon and evening . I hear horror stories about gardenias so I want to do this right since it will be a big digging and planting project.
I have gardened for years by just digging up whatever soil was in the area I wanted to put a plant and never thought about the ph or soil conditions. I've only become interested since last summer's water bill was $500 because the soil around my property is a beige dust when dry so now I add amendments when I put in a new plant. But what can I do with the ones I already planted?
Last but not least, I had a tree company drop off a free ton of wood chips last summer thinking if I put it around all my plants I would not have to water so much. Now I hear that could be doing more harm than good.
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 11445
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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I mulch with tree bark all the time Carole as it helps to conserve water as well as keep down the weeds. I can't see what harm mulching your garden would cause unless the bark chippings have any disease or harmful bugs in them. They do tend to make the soil slightly more acidic than before but, again, it shouldn't cause any major problems.
Regular feeding of the plants you already have in the ground should help them to grow strongly, although, if they are already doing well, then they obviously like where they are planted. 
I've included a website for you about the care required by gardenia. I hope it helps you out a little.
http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/prints/gardeniapt.htm
Happy gardening and WELCOME to our forums. 
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hummingbird3172
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 22 May 2007
Location: Zone 9b Saint Cloud, FL
Posts: 269
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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I've got gardenias too...and they do 100% when I've got mulch around them. Gardenias like a more acid soil, actually I had some croak because the soil was too alkaline...I didn't know until my Nikko Blue hydrangeas came up very pink (when I planted them they were very blue), sure enough when I fixed the soil, the gardenias started doing better. Mine seem to like pickle juice.
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Gizmo
Animal Magnet
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
Location: Port Saint Lucie Fl. (Map)
Posts: 584
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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My gardenias don't bloom alot. The leaves are very lite green and yellow. They have been this way for 5 years. I'm going to try some pickel juice and see if that helps them bloom and get better color leaves. They haven't even got any taller in years.
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G!zMo
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hummingbird3172
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 22 May 2007
Location: Zone 9b Saint Cloud, FL
Posts: 269
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Mine looked horrible, but after I did that they bounced back and even started blooming. I'd had them for about a year. They were also light green and yellow. It can be a sign the soil isn't acidic enough, or maybe they need more water. I started watering them more frequently, but I do think the pickle juice helped.
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~Anna
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Gizmo
Animal Magnet
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
Location: Port Saint Lucie Fl. (Map)
Posts: 584
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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I watered more and gave them Mir-Grow one time a week for months and it didn't do anything. Pickle juice it is. We don't eat many so I'll get it from people around here. How often do u do it and how much per each Anna?
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G!zMo
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hummingbird3172
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 22 May 2007
Location: Zone 9b Saint Cloud, FL
Posts: 269
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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I've only had to do it once, they improved so much...I used half the juice left over from pickles on each...so it was about 1/2 to a full cup of juice. I do it when we run out of a jar of pickles. I read online from the Bok Sanctuary Gardens that they recommend it once a month....we need to eat more pickles!
You could probably make a similar solution by diluting vinegar.
I should also say these were dill pickles, not the sweet type.
I found this pickle brine recipe:
BRINED DILL PICKLES
20 lbs. (about 1/2 bu.) 3-6 inch long cucumbers
3/4 c. whole mixed pickling spice
2-3 bunches whole dill plant or 1 c. dried dill weed
2 1/2 c. vinegar
1 3/4 c. pickling salt (not iodized)
2 1/2 gal. water
I'd use the vinegar and mix it with the water, but don't bother with the other ingredients....these measurements could be a guideline.
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CritterPainter
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1281
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:09 am Post subject: |
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I think the bark-chip thing is more about possible diseases in the bark than anything. I'm just south of you, and keep my gardenia in a pot on the porch, it comes in during the winter. I think they are an annual in our neck of the woods.
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Mary
I have a mind like a steel...sieve
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mellonmellow
Just Arrived
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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Just curious, how did you obtain a free ton of wood chips? Do landscaping companies usually give those away?
| Quote: | | I watered more and gave them Mir-Grow one time a week for months and it didn't do anything. Pickle juice it is. We don't eat many so I'll get it from people around here. How often do u do it and how much per each Anna? |
In my experience, Miracle Gro does not work up to its hype.
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 11445
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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Mellonmellow our Forestry Commission sometimes gives away free woodchippings but you have to make your own arrangements for uplifting them. Landscaping companies tend to hang on to theirs - maybe your local council will have some - worth a try.
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CritterPainter
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1281
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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We have a privately owned tree clearing biz here, that'll drop off a load of chips- but you have to get on a waiting list. Good time to try for that is now, when most folks aren't thinking about windstorms. Maybe check your phone book for something like that?
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Mary
I have a mind like a steel...sieve
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