Gardenias are flowers that come from China and belong to the Rubiaceae family. This type of plant has a total of 100 different varieties that are appreciated in the world of gardening thanks to their flowers and smell. It is for many, one of the most beautiful and elegant flowers that we can find. If you want to have a gardenia in your home but you do not know how to care for it, stay tuned as we will tell you about each and every one of them.
This type of plant is not only known for its great beauty but also for not being easy to care for. That is why we must know the care of all types of plants that we have in our gardens or terraces. A plant, which does not like direct contact with sunlight despite being outside. Gardenias are a symbol of feminine beauty and subtlety.
What are the main meanings of gardenias?
As we mentioned at the beginning of this publication, Gardenias are very beautiful flowers that are associated with sweetness, purity and beauty. It is an aromatic flower, which helps to make homes or different locations where it is planted much more aromatic and warm.
They are highly attractive flowers, which for some cultures symbolizes goodwill and also harmony. So it is considered as a symbol of good vibes.
How are gardenias characterized?
This kind of flowers we are talking about, They are widely used for decorating both gardens and public or private terraces.. For this reason, in this section we are going to tell you what the main characteristics of this type of flower would be.
- They are plants that they usually have a showy white flower
- All the gardenia leaves are shiny dark green
- La height that it can reach are up to 8 meters if it is natural. If cultivated, it can reach up to a meter in height.
- They do not need direct sunlight, but if an illuminated space
- Its flowers are made up of petals with an intense perfume. They require special care
- They are not friends of cold climates
gardenia varieties
As we have commented among its characteristics, Gardenia flowers are very delicate and require special care. In addition, they not only stand out for their flowers but also for the bright green of their leaves, and of course, for their intense perfume.
En today, there is a wide variety of different types of gardenias, so in this section we are going to name some of them, the best known and the ones that we can most easily find in garden stores.
Jasminoids
en.wikipedia.org
Also, we can find it under the name of Indian jasmine. It is one of the most cultivated varieties that we can find. They have a similarity to jasmine, and we talk about their smell, something that may not be easy for us to differentiate between them.
brighamii
This second variety is also known as Hawaiian gardenia. As for its size, it can exceed 5 meters. They stand out, their bright green leaves of considerable size and the tubular shape of their flowers. They can vary in color between white or pink.
Tahitensis
gardening.com
The flower of Tahiti, native to the South Pacific Islands and Vanuatu. A tropical plant that reaches up to 4 meters in height. Its leaves reach 16 centimeters and its flowers are usually white., but there are also yellow varieties, in certain months.
Thunbergian
A variety that comes from Africa and that measures around 5 or 6 meters high and whose stem stands out for its flexibility, as well as for the way in which its leaves are grouped. They usually bloom at the end of winter or spring. The petals of this variety stand out for their white or yellowish pigments.
nitida
toptropicals.com
A variety that blooms at all times of the year, but emphasize that it does so sporadically. The aesthetics of this plant is that of a tubular star-shaped flower and that its leaves stand out for their impressive shine, so much so that it seems that they are covered in wax. They are native to the African tropics and are listed as an endangered plant.
Broadleaf
Also known by their popular names, Indian boxwood and Ceylon boxwood. In this case, this variety stands out for its leafiness and for its tall-stemmed bark. This type of gardenia is used for skin treatments and it is even said that they also have beneficial medicinal properties for other types of conditions.
Main care of gardenias
It is more than clear that one of the main reasons for having this plant in gardens, parks or terraces is because of its flower and its outstanding smell. Gardenias are one of the most beautiful flowers that we can find and, as with all plants, they need special care for their survival..
Soil type
One of the main aspects of gardenias and that is why we are going to talk about it in the first place, is that it is a variety of acidophilic plant. In other words, to survive, it needs to be planted in soils with a more acidic pH than any other. If when planting said plant it does not have this substrate, its leaves will begin to turn yellowish and the plant will become limper to the point of death.
There are gardening places where they sell specialized products for plants of this type that we have discussed. Gardenias will also appreciate that the soil where they are planted is rich in organic matter, so it is advisable to add fertilizer.
Location is key
Gardenias can be planted both indoors and outdoors.. What we have to be clear about is that we are dealing with a plant that is very demanding of sunlight in order to live and develop.
In case we are going to place it in indoors, it is advisable to locate it in areas close to windows or where we have a source of natural light. While if we place it outdoors, we advise you to leave it in an area where you have sun and shade, especially if you live in very hot climates.
Remember that Gardenias do not tolerate direct sunlight, much less if it is accompanied by high temperatures. So, it is important to find the perfect location for you.
Be careful with the temperature
We refer, without any doubt, to one of the care that you must take into account. As we have commented throughout the publication, We are facing a plant of tropical origin and this can give us certain clues about its care in terms of temperature.
Gardenias grow and bloom when temperatures are warm. That if, emphasize that for it to bloom in the best way, temperature fluctuations between the hours of day and night are necessary, that is, heat during the day and cool at night.
Irrigation and type of water
Another care to take into account is the way in which it is watered and the type of water with which this action is done. the gardenias, they need to be continuously moist, but they do not tolerate waterlogging in their substrate area, so watering should be constant but not excessive.
The most important thing to keep in mind when watering gardenias is the type of water you are going to do it with. That is, if you do it with tap water and it has a lot of lime, this will cause alterations in the plant's soil. Thus, It is recommended to use soft water, in any case bottled or distilled water.
Essential fertilizer for flowering
This care is as important as any of those we have mentioned above. With soil rich in all the nutrients this plant needs, gardenias will flourish in the best conditions.
In the months of the spring and summer seasons, it is advisable to pay your gardenias once a month, in order to improve both its growth and its flowering process. Remember to use fertilizers indicated for acidophilic plants.
prune correctly
It is necessary to know if these types of plants need to be pruned and for how long. Gardenias are plants that do need pruning and will be done twice a year. One of them is for the maintenance of the plant and the other to promote flowering. The first one should be done at the beginning of the winter months, eliminating the areas of the plant that are in the worst condition. The second is not essential, but it does help the new birth of flowers, it is best to do it in the middle of the summer months.
unexpected visitors
Last but not least, we are talking about the attack of pests or different insects that can attack our gardenias. There is a wide variety of insects that may endanger our plant, such as aphids, mealybugs or a variety of spiders.
For themIf you detect that your plant has the presence of unexpected visitors, it is essential that you attack the problem as soon as possible. You must, eliminate the plague of the garden for the health of our plants with specific products for it.
If despite following each and every one of these tips regarding the care of gardenias, your plants do not have a good development and flowering, it is likely that something is not working correctly. In case you live in very hot areas, we recommend that you spray water on the leaves of your plant on days when the heat is much more intense.