Question
hi

i need help with my gardenia. i buy it weeks ago and today i find spider webs and it has like little insects. I put poison in the plants with insect spray and the insects are gone. but now its the leaves are getting burn.i don't know why. what i can do?

Answer
blanka,
Never use household insecticides or other chemicals not formulated for use on plants...

The 1st thing you need to do to help save the plant is to wash & clean the foliage of the plant...Use a sprayer to clean off all the webbing and any excess or left over spray chemicals...

Then start watering it correctly...1. Gardenias like temperatures 60 to 80 degrees...Above or below that they will not do well...I'm not sure what your year round temps are?..I am in southern New Jersey(Zone 6-7)...Here they need to be brought inside during the colder months...Full sun (other than a morning sun exposure) is not recommended...Move it towards where it will only get the morning sun and afternoon shade or all day bright indirect...

2. They also like acidic soils...Use an acid plant fertilizer (like Miracid, Hollytone or similar type that can be found at your local garden center)...Be careful using lime as it will raise the soil pH and make the soil more alkaline...

I think your main problem is correct watering of a gardenia...Plants die from too frequent waterings, not from how much water you give them at one time...Also letting them go too dry between waterings causes wilting and can cause other problems (Insects - especially mites, etc.)...Usually most plants die from improper watering technique...Plants inside need to be watered less frequently than plants outside...

Water your gardenia in the following manner for greater success...

Check how much the plant weighs when thoroughly watered VS its' weight when it is ready to be watered again. Sometimes it helps to put a saucer under the pot when watering and let the plant sit in water for 10-15 minutes. Pick the pot up (or lean it if it a large pot) and feel how heavy it is after watering it thoroughly. Don't water it again until it feels considerably lighter and the top of the soil is light in color. Depending on plant types, sunlight exposure and pot size plants will need water at many different rates (1-2 times a day to once a month or more)...

Hope this helps...Let me know what you think of my advice...

Rick NJ