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i have a gardenia plant/tree my soil ph is around 7 - how do i lower it to between 5 and 6? help [/LIST]
by Handbright on April 02, 2006 08:18 PM
Hi Joe I just bought a lovely grafted gardenia myself. I cant put a regular gardenia straight into the ground here in Florida due to the problem we have with nematodes and our very alkaline soil. Even with this grafted lady, I still put her in a pot, using 2/3 peat moss and 1/3 washed sand, to lower the pH. Gardenias like soil that is about 5.6 to 6.0... In fact today was the opening of my first bud. Hope I can keep this little tree alive. Good Luck to you!
* * * * the first duty of love is to listen
by Handbright on April 02, 2006 08:28 PM
P.S. This might be a grafted gardenia, where the bottom half if the plant is "gardenia thumbergia" a root stock that is tolerant of alkaline soils and nematodes, and the top half is "gardenia jasminoides" Try this for more info- hope this helps..
thank you very much for your help - the gardenia that i have is the veitcci?
by Handbright on April 08, 2006 11:35 PM
Oh thats a pretty one, Joe! This plant is only hardy from zone 8a and further south, so you might want to keep it in a container and bring it indoors in the winter. I water mine thats in the pot with an occasional cup of coffee too, diluted of course. These are acid loving plants, so I brew a pot for me, then I brew a pot using the same grounds, for my plant.
We wake up together, lol! The one I have is the "aimee yoshioka" (plate 2 at that site from above post) They all have about the same requirements. If yours is the cultivar Veitcci it will get about three feet tall with lots of blossoms and a lovely heaven scent! Good luck!
* * * * the first duty of love is to listen
by Deborah L. on April 09, 2006 03:27 AM
I'm transplanting my gardenia today, she's getting a new pot. This is the first gardenia to do well for me. When I bought her, and she must be my 1,000th gardenia, I had a little chat with her, and told her that she can choose life with me or life in the green landfill... I decided to try tough love... Guess she's chosen me !
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by Handbright on April 11, 2006 05:49 PM
Hi Deborah We think alike! My plants and I have the same chat... . But (just like teenagers) sometimes they listen and sometimes they dont. Good luck with this pretty cultivar. HB
* * * * the first duty of love is to listen
by Deborah L. on April 12, 2006 07:41 AM
LOL, HB ! She's doing fine ! Maybe this tough love thing is working ! For once, one who is not a rebellious teen !