Q.My Gardenia is Turning Brown
I have a pretty gardenia plant and I believe that it is getting enough sunlight but the buds are brown. What can I do to save my plant? I am a newbie to gardening so I don’t know what to do to save my plant. Can you help me?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
It sounds like the plant is either not getting enough water or not getting enough humidity. Make sure that you are keeping the soil moist and you may need to mist the plant daily. Another possibility, depending on your location, would be cold damage. If you recently had any unexpected frost, this could affect your buds, making them turn brown/black. If the buds were damaged, it is unlikely you will get flowers this year, so pruning back may be necessary. These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gardenia/when-to-prune-a-gardenia.htm
