Gardenia is a very decorative, compact shrub or even a dwarf tree from the Marenova family. It is common in China, India, Japan, Vietnam, as well as in South Africa. In other regions, gardenia is grown as a home plant. It attracts with its dense crown and rather large, graceful flowers, similar to roses that change color. The character of the oriental beauty is rather capricious, but this does not scare the true connoisseurs of beauty.
Botanical Description
Gardenia is an evergreen perennial. It takes the form of a sprawling bush or multi-stem tree. In the wild, the height of the plant is 150-180 cm, but at home, gardenia usually does not exceed 50 cm. Erect, strong shoots quickly lignify. They are covered with smooth bark and sometimes pubescent. Some types of plants have thorns.
Small dark green leaves grow on petioles. Their base is hidden under triangular stipules. On the stem, foliage is grouped in pairs or by 3. A smooth, shiny oval or ovoid leaf plate is covered with embossed veins and slightly swollen.
In June-October, beautiful large flowers bloom on the bush. They are located in the axils of the upper leaves, and sometimes on the top of the branch. Flowers grow singly or in groups of 4-6 buds. The diameter of the corolla is 5-7 cm. It can be simple, semi-double or double. Coloring flowers is not very diverse and includes only white and yellow. During flowering, a strong, pleasant aroma stands out. It is very similar to the smell of jasmine with notes of citrus and sweetness. In the center of the flower there are 5-9 stamens and a single ovary.
After pollination, fleshy pear-shaped or oval fruits ripen. Inside them are many small seeds. Ripening, the fruit cracks.
Types and varieties of gardenia
There are about 250 species in the plant genus, but decorative varieties are more popular in culture and indoor floriculture.
Gardenia is jasmine-like. The plant adapts quite easily to the maintenance of the house. It takes the form of a spreading, densely leafy shrub 60-80 cm high. Smooth, bare stems are covered with petiolate leaves up to 8 cm long. They have a broad-lanceolate or obovate shape with smooth sides and a pointed, long edge. Glossy dark green leaves set off snow-white, rose-like flowers. They are in loose corymbose inflorescences of 3-5 buds. Over time, the petals turn yellow, so at the same time there are snow-white, cream and bright yellow "roses" on the bush. Varieties:
- Fortune - blossoms large flowers with a diameter of up to 10 cm;
- First love - creamy white fragrant flowers up to 13 cm in diameter appear over a dense bright green crown in early spring;
- Variegata - shiny leaves are covered with white-yellow marble pattern on a green base, white, double flowers.
Gardenia is Vietnamese. A compact tree or a sprawling bush is covered with dark green oval foliage with a shiny surface. Leaflets grow 3 in short petioles. Large snow-white flowers with a diameter of up to 8 cm are painted white. They consist of 6 asymmetrical petals, folding into a long tube.
Gardenia citriodora. A dense compact bush of branched shoots is densely covered with shiny green leaves of ovoid or oval shape. It dissolves small (1-2 cm in diameter), double flowers with white petals. The plant exudes a dense, intense aroma.
Gardenia is yellow. A compact tree with smooth, erect stems covered with shiny green leaves. Flowers bloom in the axils of the foliage on long pedicels. They have a simple structure with oval shiny petals. The blossoming snow-white buds gradually turn yellow. First, they acquire a lemon color, and in the end they turn bright orange.
Breeding methods
Gardenia is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Moreover, it is noted that plants grown from seeds are better adapted to room conditions. Seeds quickly lose their germination, so it’s not worth delaying with planting. In spring, prepare pots with loose garden soil. It is disinfected before use. Seeds close up to a depth of 5 mm, cover with a film and contain at + 18 ... + 20 ° C. It is important to regularly ventilate and spray the soil to maintain high humidity.
Shoots appear after 3-5 weeks is not very friendly. Initially, seedlings grow quite slowly. Shelter is not recommended to be removed before the appearance of the second pair of leaves. The grown plants dive in separate pots or disposable cups. They should be kept in a warm, well-lit place, but without direct sunlight.
It is much easier to get a new plant from green cuttings. To do this, in spring cut shoots 10 cm long with 2-3 pairs of leaves. The bottom cut is treated with Kornevin, and then the cuttings are planted in sand and peat soil. From above they are covered with a film or plastic bottles to maintain high humidity. Shelter must be transparent so that the plants receive enough light. The rooting process lasts long enough (1-1.5 months). When their own roots appear, new shoots begin to develop. At a height of about 15 cm, they are pinched for better branching.
Landing and care
At home, it is very important to create a gardenia comfortable environment.
Lighting. The room should be well lit for 12-14 hours daily. In this case, direct sunlight for gardenia is undesirable, they make the foliage dull. In summer, it is useful to put the flower in fresh air, but carefully protect it from drafts. In winter, gardenia is rearranged closer to the window or phytolamps are used. During this period, direct rays go only to her advantage.
Temperature. The thermophilic inhabitant of the tropics does not tolerate cold snap below + 16 ° C. In summer, she is comfortable at + 20 ... + 24 ° C. It is good if at night the temperature drops by 2-4 ° C. In winter, plants can be kept at + 17 ... + 18 ° C, but not lower. Any vibrations should be smooth.
Humidity. A prerequisite for maintenance is high humidity. Plants are regularly sprayed with warm, well-purified water. It is important that it does not fall on the flowers. It is also useful to place pallets with wet expanded clay or moss next to them. In a too dry environment, the edges of the leaves will dry, and the buds will stop developing and fall off. Several times during the season it is recommended to bathe the bushes under a warm (+ 45 ° C) shower.
Watering. In spring and summer gardenia, more abundant watering is necessary so that the soil is always slightly moist. In this case, excess fluid from the pan should be removed immediately so that the fungus does not develop. At lower temperatures, irrigation is reduced. Water should always be warmer than room temperature. It is thoroughly cleaned or filtered, it is useful to use rainwater. Overdrying the soil can lead to subsidence of part of the foliage and a delay in flowering.
Fertilizer. In March-August, gardenia is fed twice a month with a solution of mineral fertilizer, which is poured into the soil. If the flower develops normally, half the dose of fertilizing is sufficient.
Transfer. Young gardenias are transplanted annually. More adults need only one transplant every 2-3 years. The rhizome is quite sensitive. Therefore, it is important to be careful and use the transshipment method. It is best to take a slightly acidic soil without lime, with a loose, permeable structure. You can buy a ready-made mixture for gardenia or other tropical plants or make it yourself from:
- coniferous soil;
- soddy soil;
- sheet land;
- peat;
- sand or vermiculite.
A thick layer of expanded clay or brick crumb drainage is placed at the bottom.
Pruning. Gardenia tolerates pruning well. This procedure allows you to give the necessary shape to the plant, whether it be a dense, low bush or a tree with a bare trunk. Craftsmen weave several shoots into a single trunk and even form a bonsai. Large white roses on it look especially elegant. Pruning is carried out in spring, removing 50-60% of shoots. Young sprouts pinch.
Possible difficulties
Gardenia can suffer from fungal infections and chlorosis. At the first signs of the disease, iron preparations or fungicides are treated, and agricultural equipment is also adjusted.
Quite often, aphids, spider mites and scale insects appear on the flower. Insecticides save them. Processing should be carried out systematically, according to the instructions.
Often in appearance capricious gardenia it is clear that it does not suit her. The most common problems:
- buds massively fall off - too dry air and soil;
- yellowing of leaves - exposure to draft or low temperature;
- the buds do not open for a long time - insufficient lighting, prolonged cloudy weather;
- leaves turned yellow - too hard and cold water for irrigation;
- the leaves are blackened and opal - damp, low temperatures or fungus.
Beneficial features
Gardenia not only enhances mood with its beauty and marvelous aroma. It also helps to cope with some diseases. Flowers, rhizomes and fruits are brewed. They are taken orally for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the respiratory tract, kidneys or liver. Decoctions have choleretic, anti-inflammatory, disinfecting actions. They are also used to rinse the mouth with stomatitis and gingivitis. Gardenia compresses are used for mastitis and inflammation on the skin.
