How to care for the garden and how to choose a primer for it?

Many growers fell in love with a beautiful tropical plant suitable for indoor breeding - gardenia. Note that in the care of tropical ornamental shrubs is quite complicated - however, its glamor and visual appeal more than offset the time and physical costs of care.

Gardenia needs a certain temperature, air humidity, watering, feeding, and even makes special demands on the composition of the soil. We will talk about the last point in the article: we will find out what kind of soil is suitable for gardenia, what to look for when choosing the soil, and consider other points regarding the proper care of the flower.

Description of the species

Gardenia is a tropical flower from the madder family. The beautiful forests of the south-east Asia are home to the beauty of the forest; there are also shrubs in Africa and Hawaiian islands. The plant is appreciated, first of all, for its decorativeness - during the flowering period, gardenia is decorated with rather large, lush, terry fragrant flowers.

A contrast of delicate flowers and dark green smooth glossy leaves gives the shrub even more spectacular.

Note that in nature, gardenia can reach six and fifteen meters in height - however, such varieties, of course, are not grown at home (in this article we told about different types of gardenia and its popular varieties). For indoor floriculture usually use a certain type - gardenia jasmine-shaped, and numerous varieties of this species.

Landing

At once we will say that gardenia will grow well only in acidic soil. It is an acidic environment (similar to the native, natural) that will be able to provide the shrub with full growth and lush, long flowering.

TIP: In the shops you can find ready-made mixtures for gardenia and other acidic botanical specimens. It is recommended to use such mixtures - in them all the components are already selected in an optimal way.

You should know that if the gardenia is not satisfied with the soil, the beauty can react very negatively: it will grow poorly, not bloom, and if it blooms, it will not be very long and for a short time, it will quickly reset the peduncles (why gardenia does not bloom and what need to do, you can find out here). In addition, often from the wrong soil the plants turn yellow or the leaves turn black.

As already found out above, the best soil for gardenia is sour. Note that even if you have acquired the most suitable soil for this plant, over time it will be necessary to acidify the soil additionally. Watering removes acidic substances from the ground, so making additional acidification will become a regular duty of the grower.

The soil for this plant must have the ability to retain moisture in order to provide the flower with constant moisture. At the same time, the soil should be loose: river sand and perlite should be included in the composition.

If you plan to prepare a land substrate for gardenia yourself, then the mixture should include the following components:

1. coniferous substrate;
2. peat;
3. turf ground;
4. leafy;
5. sand.

All listed ingredients need to be mixed in equal shares. In the absence of sand, it can be completely replaced with vermiculite. But if you decide to use vermiculite, you need to take this substance three times more than you took the sand.

Should know that alkaline soil of gardenia does not fit: it is not something that will not bloom in it, but most likely it will not be able to grow, in principle.

Choosing a pot

1. After the purchase, you should not immediately transplant the gardenia in a new spacious pot. It is necessary to give time for the flower to adapt and get used to the new habitat. Having brought from the store, immediately put the gardenia on the place where it will be constantly - this is important for successful adaptation.
2. As for the pot, you should not choose too spacious a container, in the hope that the gardenia will thrive. It is best to stop the choice on a pot that is 2-3 cm larger than the store size in diameter.
3. Replant the plant in a new pot only 2-3 weeks after the gardenia stay in a new place. When transplanting it is very important not to damage the roots of the plant - carry out this responsible procedure carefully (for home gardenia transplant at home, read here).

   A transplant method is best suited for transshipment, as the root system is damaged the least. Pour free space in the pot with a suitable substrate with an acidic pH-reaction.

Watch a video on transplanting jasmine gardenia:

Soil features: what should be the ground?

Gardenia blooms profusely and continuously, actively growing in a pot for several years. Then it is better to grow a young plant instead of an old one in order to preserve the decorative qualities (how to propagate gardenia by cuttings at home, read here). Prepare the flower for renewal as follows:

1. As soon as the next period of flowering takes place, it is necessary to cut a ripe stem of 10 cm in length.

   It is important that the selected stem is not at the time of cutting in the phase of active growth. Experienced growers are trying to cut the stem with a "heel", that is, with a small piece of the old plant.

2. Top cut petiole should cover with a plastic bag or glass jar to ensure the "tropics" inside. In suitable conditions, the cutting will quickly take root. To rooting took place at the fastest pace, you can add the following stimulants to the water, where the cutting is located:
   • Heteroauxin;
   • Kornevin.

   Thanks to these substances, the roots will form much faster, stronger and healthier.

3. Before placing the cutting in the ground, soak it for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This measure will allow decontamination treatment, and strengthen the plant.
4. Before planting, carefully inspect the cuttings of the plant: its lower section should be even and smooth. The cutting should be buried 1.5 cm in the substrate: the lower leaf should not touch the ground.

   Otherwise, the leaves may rot. Keep in mind that those stalks of gardenia that take root at the very sides of the pot take root in the best way.

Immediately after the purchase can not be transplanted gardenia: In this difficult period for the plant to adapt it, it is generally better to once again “not turn over”. In 2-3 weeks, the gardenia will completely recover from the stress associated with a change of residence, and then it can be transplanted into a new beautiful pot.

How to water and fertilize?

Watering should be at least 1 time per week. In the summer, to test the soil for moisture, and add water if it is dry. Since the plant feels good only in acidic soil, from time to time the soil in the pot needs to be acidified. To do this, every month when watering dissolve a few drops of lemon juice in water.

Suit and citric acid in dry form. In addition to citric acid can be used as oxidizing agents for manure or oak leaf compost. You can acidify with sphagnum - such additives will not only make the soil more acidic, but also more nutritious.

The plant needs both organic and mineral fertilizers. Both fertilizers and other fertilizers can be easily purchased at the nearest garden store. Choose dressings in liquid form - they are optimally suited for assimilation by the gardenia.

Just bought gardenia does not need additional feeding the next 2 months after purchase. And if the gardenia decided to suddenly bloom in the winter, you can encourage the plant with additional feeding, but in small quantities. If you have just recently transplanted a flower, it should be fertilized after transplanting in less than 1-2 months.

Conclusion

We learned what soil is suitable for growing home gardenia. The plant is important acidic environment, so choose a soil for azaleas or other acid-loving plants. You can prepare the substrate yourself - in our article all necessary instructions are given for this.

Take care of the tropical fragile plant, follow all measures to care for it - Gardenia will thank for its excellent decoration and picturesque.

Watch the video: Succulent Tips for Beginners. Garden Answer (May 2024).