Brown Gardenia Flowers

Question

I live in a high altitude (8530 feet) and cold enviroment (around 50 to 68 F even colder at night) and we bought a gardenia and planted it about a month ago in our outdoor garden. It was fully bloomed but the flowers dried out and turned brown. We water the garden daily unless it rains (which is frequent) and it is exposed to wind and direct sun light. Would it be better for the gardenia to be potted and inside the house? The leaves are still fully green, and how should we care for it?

Answer 1

Gardenias are really sensitive to changes in temperature and do not like being too cool. That being said, they can normally handle temps around 60 to 65 degrees F. at night with warmer temps during day. It looks like your gardenia should survive where you are outdoors, though there may be days that will get too cold for gardenias. Planting the gardenia in a place that will protect it from those cold days (e.g. walls retain heat, which will help warm the plant) will ensure its survival. Mulching and wrapping the plant in the winter or high winds will also help protect against the cold.

If cold weather and winds are a particular issues where you’re located, then potting the plant up and moving it indoors would be a good idea. It could spend nice days outdoors and simply move inside if poor weather is expected.

You can cut the brown blooms off the plant. For more information on growing gardenias, these articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gardenia/gardenia-plant.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gardenia/gardenia-winter-care-tips.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gardenia/gardenia-care-to-get-a-gardenia-bush-to-bloom.htm