A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Shrubs and Trees Gardenia Roots

Hi all--I am new to these forums, so please forgive me if I have posted this in the wrong spot!

Short version: I am new to North Carolina (I live on the coast), a transplant from 31 years in the Arizona desert. As you might imagine, gardening here is MUCH different. So basically, I am a new gardener, too.

I have a gardenia bush in my side yard. It is doing wonderfully!

But--I am worried that it is planted right up next to my house. It is a good 6 feet tall.

Do gardenia roots damage foundations like oleanders do?

no

I love them big like that.would love to see a photo though!
I'm sure you'll love the lower temps.humidity will be different for you.
how much space between the plants stems at back& your house& what type foundation?

They don't like their roots disturbed.they like acidic soil.you can fertilize them in march& end of june with a acidic fertilizer.don't after that(reason is your foliage will be hardened off for the winter while if you fertilzed agin you'd have new growth that could get damaged)you can add some organic matter top dressing and mulch with bark.if your temps drop below 15 or air temp below 15 toss a blanket over the shrub to protect the tips.Prune after flowering.weak stems damaged stems poor produceing stems and to shape.Try to keep water of of foliage& flowers when watering.

Problems.
sooty mold on leaves(will be blackish gray smudges that you can rub off) cause is whiteflys.whiteflys look like cotton with legs.
gray aphids.they hide on underside of leaves.
Bud drop.drop before opening
low humidity
over water
under water
not enough light
temps too high at night(ideal is 50-55 night temps)

sometimes a nutrient defienctcy,but acidic fertilzer HAS the nutrients it needs,but sandy soil looses them faster.so may add a 3 month time release acidic fertilizer