Question
Hi

I recently bought a Braided Gardenia Tree and need help. I have it inside as a house plant by my patio door. I have heard two different suggestions about watering 1.Keep it moist 2. Keep it on the dry side. This tree had all kinds of buds on it when I bought it. So far most of the leaves have turned yellow, the buds that were on it never bloomed and have drooped with the base of them mushy and brown. The leaves also have what appear to be spider webs on them, although I see no spider. I have removed all the dead leaves and buds and sprayed the remaining leaves with water and removed the webs. Now I have a Charlie Brown Tree (about 1/2 the leaves remaining). What am I doing wrong?

Answer
Hi Brenda,

Gardenias are among the most challenging indoor plants. The primary problem is that the flowers and buds are very temperature sensitive, requiring temps in the 60-65 degree F. range at all times when in bud or flower. That is cooler than most of us keep our homes and that is why most flowering Gardenias fail as houseplants.

Yours also seems to have some other problems, because warm temps should not cause leaves to fall off. If your Gardenia is properly potted, i.e., quite potbound, then it should be watered as soon as the top half-inch of soil feels dry. If you or the store repotted it, then it probably is in too large a pot and the roots are rotting.

Gardenias need lots of very bright, but mostly indirect sunlight. Direct sun raises the temperatures too much.

The webs you mentioned are probably a sign of a spider mite infestation. Spider mites are so tiny you can get a half dozen of them on the head of a pin. They do make very fine webs. They most often occur on plants that are under stress for other reasons - usually improper light or water. A thorough spraying with a solution of water plus a squirt of liquid dish soap is usually effective in killing the mites as long as you drench all leaf and stem surfaces until they are dripping wet.

Given the difficulties in maintaining this plant and the condition that yours is in, it may be best for you to discard it and replace it with a less challenging houseplant.

I have written an article on Gardenia care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to PlantCareExperts.com