How to propagate gardenia cuttings to root
Let's learn about the gardening content on how to propagate gardenia cuttings to root and the cultivation methods and precautions for gardenias.
Currently, the gardenias commonly found in the market are divided into small-leaf and large-leaf varieties, with the large-leaf gardenia being the most common. The potted gardenias I've seen at the flower market are all large-leafed, and there is also a smaller-leafed variety called "Sparrow's Tongue Gardenia," which is even rarer.
I. Differences between large-leaf and small-leaf gardenias:
1. Leaf differences
The above is a small-leaf gardenia
It's also very simple to distinguish between large-leaf and small-leaf gardenias, just by looking at the size of their leaves.
For example, the common large-leaf gardenia has very large leaves, with the older leaves being dark green and the leaf veins on the surface being very clear. The new leaves are a bright green, and the flowers produced by large-leaf gardenias are also very large. When the flowers first open, they are pure white, and over time, they gradually turn into a cream color.
The above is a large-leaf gardenia
The branches of small-leaf gardenias grow more gracefully, and the whole plant is more spreading. The veins are not clear, and the difference from large-leaf gardenias can be seen at a glance. Therefore, at the flower market, most of the gardenias are large-leafed, with large flowers, lush leaves, and dense foliage. The branches of small-leaf gardenias grow more sparsely, and their characteristic is having small leaves and small flowers.
2. Length of flowering
The above is a yellow gardenia
Many friends who have grown both large-leaf and small-leaf gardenias have noticed that large-leaf gardenias bloom only once a year, in late spring, while small-leaf gardenias also bloom in spring, but they will also bloom sporadically in summer and autumn, which can be said to have an extremely long blooming period with a rich flower output. This is one of their most obvious differences.
The plant of large-leaf gardenias will grow very tall and can become a large shrub, while even when small-leaf gardenias are grown in the ground, they will not grow too tall.
3. Cold resistance
The above is a large-leaf gardenia
Of course, large-leaf and small-leaf gardenias also have a very distinct difference, which is cold resistance. Large-leaf gardenias are more suitable for planting in areas south of the Yangtze River. In places where the temperature drops below 0 degrees, they can only be grown as potted plants, especially in the north, where the temperature should be moved indoors promptly when it drops below 10 degrees, otherwise, it is difficult to survive the winter.
How to propagate gardenia cuttings to root
The above is "Candy Cane" gardenia
Small-leaf gardenias are different; they have stronger cold resistance. If small-leaf gardenias are grown outdoors year-round, they are especially cold-resistant. In areas south of the Qinling and Huaihe Rivers, they can be directly grown outdoors. Even in places like Shandong, Henan, or Shaanxi, small-leaf gardenias can survive the winter outdoors. When the temperature drops to minus 10 degrees in winter, it is necessary to cover the ground with some mulch, such as straw or bark, to prevent the rootstock from freezing, allowing it to regrow the following year.
II. Yellowing leaves and acidic fertilizer
The above is a small-leaf gardenia
The maintenance of large-leaf and small-leaf gardenias does not have much difference. They both need to be sprayed regularly with ferrous sulfate to increase the acidity of the soil, as they prefer acidic soil. Once the soil becomes alkaline, it can lead to yellowing leaves and even no flowering.
Ferrous sulfate is an acidic fertilizer that can supplement iron and acidity and is a common fertilizer used in caring for acidic flowers, including common flowers like camellias, jasmines, gardenias, and osmanthus.
The specific method of using ferrous sulfate is simple. You can prepare some one-liter containers, add 1 milliliter of citric acid to each container, stir well, then add 2 milliliters of ferrous sulfate solution. The resulting solution can be evenly sprayed on the leaves and the back of the leaves, and the soil should be watered once. Generally, this is done every month during the growing seasons of spring, summer, and autumn.
III. Precautions for caring for potted gardenias
1. Care environment
Caring for potted gardenias requires maintaining a high environmental humidity, good ventilation, and ensuring at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight every day.
When growing potted gardenias, be sure to water them regularly, especially when the weather is good. Gardenias are not very suitable for indoor growth, so avoid growing them in places with poor ventilation or lack of sunlight.
2. Light and frequent fertilization
Caring for gardenias requires light and frequent fertilization to keep the soil slightly acidic. You can buy a plant care tester or soil pH meter at home to check the soil acidity regularly. If the soil has become alkaline, be sure to spray some acidic fertilizer, such as a ferrous sulfate solution.
3. Reasonable fertilization and watering
Caring for potted gardenias requires frequent watering, as they have a high demand for water. During the spring and summer growing seasons, it is essential to keep the soil moist but avoid long-term waterlogging.
Some friends who grow potted gardenias find that this plant easily turns yellow, especially after the spring warmth. Friends have asked me why, after supplementing with ferrous sulfate solution, the leaves still continue to turn yellow. This is actually due to the incorrect method of using ferrous sulfate.
After the spring warmth, when new leaves of gardenias start growing, it's time to start supplementing them with ferrous sulfate solution, generally every 3-4 weeks. When diluting ferrous sulfate with water, it's best to use acidic water, such as rainwater. The solution obtained by mixing rainwater and ferrous sulfate solution can be directly sprayed on the branches and leaves of the gardenia.
In most areas in the north, the water quality is alkaline, especially tap water. In this water, you should add some citric acid beforehand, which can be bought in the market and is commonly used for removing limescale. This means that ferrous sulfate should be diluted with soft water, not alkaline water.