Why is my gardenia not blooming?

The gardenia is a shrub that blooms in summer

Has your gardenia stopped blooming? This is a shrub that produces very beautiful white flowers, and that also does it every year. Nevertheless, when it has a problem, its flowering is delayed. When this happens, it can continue to grow new leaves, but if it no longer produces flowers, it will not grow either or at a much slower rate. This is due to the cause of the problem.

While there are several possible reasons why your gardenia isn't blooming, some of them affect not only the bloom itself, but the rest of the plant as well. Thus, We are going to explain them all to you so that you know how to identify what happens to your plant.

It is not the flowering season

Gardenia is an evergreen shrub

Image - Flickr / David Eickhoff // Gardenia manii

This is one of the reasons why you don't have to worry. Each species of plant blooms at a specific time of year, and in the case of gardenia, this time usually coincides with the end of spring (May / June in the northern hemisphere). Now, you have to bear in mind that there are about 134 varieties of Gardenia.

The most common and cultivated is the Gardenia jasminoides, which grows as a shrub or tree of 8 meters (although in a pot it does not exceed 2m). But there are others like Gardenia birghamii which is a 5 meter bush; wave Gardenia thunbergia, another shrubby plant that reaches 2-3 meters. All of them produce flowers sometime in spring or summer.

Needs more or less light

Light (natural) is important for all plants, since thanks to it they can carry out photosynthesis, and therefore perform all their functions, including flourishing. But in the case of gardenia, You have to put it in a bright area but without direct sunlight. 

For example: it can be either under a tree or indoors near a window; but not in a sunny corner. The direct sun burns its leaves, as well as its flowers, so it must be avoided.

Lacks space (pots)

Gardenia is a plant that can flourish in a pot if you have space

Gardenia is a plant that is usually sold in tight pots, and it is also highly recommended to have them that way. But personally I don't agree with that at all. The fact that a plant produces flowers is something that is innate in it, it is its nature. Flowers are very important to all angiosperms, of course also for gardenia, because thanks to them they can bear fruit and produce seeds. Or put another way: thanks to flowers, new generations can exist.

I even dare to say that when it lacks space, it will stop blooming for a simple reason: feeding those flowers forces the roots to work harder to get nutrients. But if there is no more space, if the roots cannot continue to grow, or if the substrate is so worn that there is nothing left to absorb, then there will be no flowers.

When do you know you need a transplant?

So so, it must be changed to a larger pot every 3 years. But this will depend a lot on the growth rate of your plant. When in doubt, ideally you should check to see if it has roots through the holes in the pot.

Another option to know for sure is by checking if when you take it out a little from the container, it comes out whole, that is, without the earth bread falling apart. If so, then move it to a pot that is about 5 inches more in diameter and depth than the old one in spring.

If we want to give them the best gardenia care, we will have to ensure that it does not lack space.

Has nutritional deficiencies

For gardenia flowers to sprout, it is important that they have their basic nutritional needs met. Therefore, it is convenient that its roots can achieve:

  • Nitrogen (N): to be able to grow.
  • Phosphorus (P): to breathe and produce flowers.
  • Potassium (K): to strengthen cells.

But also gardenia is what is known in gardening as acidophilus plant o acid plant. This means that in order to live it needs the soil to be acidic, with a pH between 4 to 6. If it is not, then the gardenia will have yellow leaves with green veins and, of course, will not flower.

In order to correct this problem you have to do several things:

  • Make sure the land is suitable, checking its pH. If it is planted in alkaline soil, you must pay it with specific fertilizers (for sale here); although it is best to check its pH before deciding to plant it in the garden.
    If you want to have it in a pot, use a substrate for acidophilic plants (get it here).
  • Water with rainwater, soft (low in lime) or, failing that, acidic. The pH of the water must also be low, between 4 to 6, so that the gardenia is well hydrated. Check pH quickly and easily with a meter (buy it here).
  • Fertilize your gardenia in spring and summer, ideally with a compost for acid plants. Follow the directions for use that you will find on the package. It is also highly recommended that, some month, you use organic fertilizers, such as guano. This way you will not lack any nutrients.

Irrigation is not adequate

Both too much water and too little water can delay or suspend the flowering of a plant like gardenia. Therefore, so that everything goes well it is necessary that the earth always remains a little moistIf it dries completely, it will look "sad", with slightly fallen leaves.

Therefore, it is advisable to water with rainwater or with a low-lime water, about 2 or up to 4 times a week during the summer. The rest of the year they will be more spaced, since the land takes longer to dry. Yes indeed, When it's time to water, pour plenty of water so that it reaches all its roots.

There is some plague that prevents it

The ladybug is a natural enemy of aphids

Pests are common on gardenia, especially the red spiders, mealybugs and aphids. Fortunately, it is a strong enough plant that these pests are easy to eliminate. And for it you can do either of these two things: clean its leaves with soap and water, or treat it with diatomaceous earth (on sale here) or potassium soap (on sale here).

These last two products are natural insecticides authorized for organic farming. They are highly, highly recommended when the pest resists.

Have you managed to find the problem with your gardenia? I hope that it can now flourish normally again.


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