Why gardenia does not bloom: what care is needed to form buds when they usually appear, what to do if they are not?

A few years ago, gardenia appeared on the Russian flower market. Immediately all the magazines and newspapers were full of unusual overseas miracles. And this is not because the plant has recently been bred. No. The second wave of popularity of this flower just surged.

Even in imperial times, the evergreen shrub was considered the favorite of the aristocratic public, it was even called the “flower in the buttonhole”. And now everyone can easily get a “bride flower”, which attracts with brilliant leaves and delicate aroma.

Plant features

This beautiful plant is named after the German naturalist and botanist A. Garden, thanks to which the flower came to England in the distant 1760. The homeland is considered the territory of South America, East or Southeast Asia. Europeans therefore call the flower "Japanese beauty."

Gardenia is a representative of the Marenova family. In the wild, the plant can be found in the form of a tree, but mostly - an evergreen shrub. One variety adapted for home use is jasmine gardenia. It grows up to half a meter in height. Shoots are found naked, and sometimes pubescent down. The leaves are dark green, bright, as if opened with varnish. Their size is up to 10 cm in length. You will find all the details about the species of this wonderful plant here.

Description of flowers

Exotic beauty blooms single or low-flowered (up to 6 pieces) corymbose inflorescences. Which in turn are axillary or apical. In the initial phase of flowering, the color of the petals is white, but gradually turns yellow. Some varieties have an unusual terry texture of inflorescences. The size of the inflorescences in diameter is 8-10 cm.

When and how long does flowering last?

Under favorable conditions, gardenia blooms in early spring, and the phenomenon continues until autumn. More precisely, from March to September, for six months. But it happens that the period is reduced due to poor-quality care. Even the slightest flaw can lead to the dumping of buds.

I would also like to note that the flowers do not bloom all at once, but in turn. Therefore, on a green shrub there are several snow-white buds that ripen for 2 months. And the blossoming flower keeps on a gardenia about 4 days. Faded inflorescences must be immediately cut off to form new ones.

The necessary conditions

For the appearance of buds, it is important to create the right and comfortable conditions:

Room temperature within + 23-25 ° С.
Necessarily without sudden changes and drafts.
Requires the presence of humid air in the room, approximately 50-70%.
To maintain the specified moisture parameters, spray the foliage daily.
Also, you can not do without intense lighting. Gardenia loves sunlight, but in hot periods you need to be careful with it.
In addition to lighting, watering is still important. The soil should not completely dry out; the plant prefers a moist growth environment.
Be sure to feed gardenia before and after flowering. The best option is mineral fertilizers with the main components of phosphorus and potassium.
Use fertilizer 3-4 times a month.
Spray the flower with iron preparations.

Why don't the buds appear?

The tropical shrub for a long time does not please with beautiful flowering. The reasons for this situation may be negative factors affecting the general condition of the plant.

Unsuitable soil

Of course, this factor can provoke a prolonged absence of buds. As a result of frequent watering, the earth is compacted, preventing the penetration of air to the roots. Or as a result of the use of hard, tap water, the soil is alkalized.

Reference! The reason may lie in the absence of a drainage layer. As a result, fluid stagnation in the pot is possible.

What to do? Over time, water leaches acidic substances and the earth should be acidified.

To do this, 1 time in 20-30 days for watering this use acidified water.
Dilute lemon juice (3-4 drops per 1 liter) or citric acid (several grains per 1 liter of liquid).
Loosen the soil regularly.
Every 3 years to renew the earth and the pot.

You can read more about choosing a soil and gardenia pot here.

Lack of lighting

For full flowering gardenia, light is urgently needed. Room exot should be constantly lit, except at night. If the conditions of the house do not allow this: the windows face north, the shade trees under the window cover the sun.

What to do. There is a way out - use phytolamps that do not dry the air. However, they should be located at a distance of at least 60-70 cm from the gardenia. In summer, it is better to shade the sun's rays with a tulle curtain, and in winter, on the contrary, place a tropical beauty in the most lighted place in the house.

Humidity

It is impossible not to note this indicator, which plays a crucial role in the life cycle of exotic plants. If the airspace in the room is dry, then gardenia cannot fully bud bud buds.

Attention! With insufficient moisture, a plant preparing for the flowering phase often drops buds. Then wait for the next flowering no sooner than after 12 months.

What to do. Of course, increase the humidity in the room:

put a tray with wet sand or expanded clay;
to place an aquarium or fountain nearby;
use a household humidifier;
spray water from a spray bottle.

Illiterate watering

The main problem of inexperienced gardeners is an excess of liquid in the pot. It seems that if gardenia prefers moist soil, then it needs to be watered abundantly every day. In fact, this is not so. The soil should not be brought to complete drying out, but excessive watering is also dangerous. Especially for the root system, which in turn can rot.

What to do:

Adapt the frequency of watering.
Moisturize the soil after the topsoil has dried.
Use only warm water.
As irrigation, use rain, filtered or boiled water.
Check if the drain holes on the bottom of the pot are clogged and clean if necessary.

Malnutrition

Starting in early spring, during the growing season, gardenia must be fed. Do it with organic and mineral fertilizers. A quality drug and the right composition will tell the seller in a specialized store. If you made the right choice, then the indoor flower will respond with lush flowering and for a long time the inflorescences are held on the stem. And with a lack of nutrition, on the contrary, gardenia refuses to bloom.

Unsuitable components in the fertilizer can cause buds to fall and the ovaries to dry out. What to do. Feed gardenia before and at the time of flowering with potash-phosphorus fertilizers, which are responsible for budding. For example, Bona Forte or Bud. Under root nutrition, produce on slightly moist soil. Be sure to include iron-containing preparations in the diet. Exclude calcium and magnesium in the diet.

What care is needed to form buds?

In order for the gardenia to bloom and receive the long-awaited time with beautiful, peony-like flowers, and a wonderful fragrance, be sure to follow the care recommendations.

Carry out a planned plant transplant, on average after 2-3 years. Pay attention to the soil: what components, acidity, how loose. However, it is important to remember that planting and flowering are not compatible concepts.
Perform at least once a month water procedures. Wash off with soap and water the dust, limescale that periodically appears on the leaves. Spray from a spray bottle daily. However, this procedure should be excluded during flowering. Otherwise, stains from water drops will remain on the petals.
Provide a tropical wonder with a permanent place in which there will be plenty of lighting. But it will be scattered and not scorching. It is also important not to carry or move the flower pot; gardenia does not tolerate this.

Important! Particular care must be taken during flowering, let the container be in one place without shifts.

Watch a helpful video on gardenia care at home:

Conclusion

We can conclude that to see a flowering and fragrant beauty you need: a lot of light, acidic soil, moderate watering and temperature, regular feeding + high humidity. Then everything will be fine, and the owner will feel the delicate jasmine fragrance for more than one month.