Strong - Scented Gardenia / Indoor, Living Room, Balcony …, Pasir Ris

1. Soil: The Foundation of the Plant
Must - choose: Loose, breathable, acidic (pH 4.5 - 6) humus soil / peat soil
Recommended formula: Leaf - mold soil + peat + perlite (3:2:1). You can also directly buy special soil for gardenias.
2. Watering: A Crucial Step
Principle: "Water when the soil is dry, and thoroughly soak it". Water thoroughly when the top 3 - 4 cm of the soil is dry.
Water quality: Do not use tap water directly! Let it stand for at least 3 days, or use rainwater / rice - washing water. In northern regions, add ferrous sulfate (0.2%) once every 1 - 2 weeks to adjust the soil acidity.
Summer: Water in the morning and evening, and spray the leaves to increase humidity (avoid the flowers), keeping the air humidity above 60%.
Winter: Reduce the watering frequency and keep the soil slightly moist.
3. Light and Temperature: The Core of Growth
Light:
✓ Spring, autumn, and winter: 6 - 8 hours of direct sunlight. The south - facing balcony is the best.
✓ Summer: Mainly diffused light. Shade from 10 - 15 o'clock to prevent the leaves from being burned.
Temperature:
✓ Optimal growth temperature: 18 - 24℃. The temperature difference between day and night should not be too large.
✓ Summer: Tolerate short - term temperatures above 40℃, but need to ventilate and cool down.
✓ Winter: Keep the indoor temperature not lower than 5℃. Use a plastic bag for insulation if necessary.
4. Fertilization: Ensuring the Flowering Period
Time: During the growth peak season in spring and summer (March - September), fertilize once every 1 - 2 months.
Fertilizer: Use acidic fertilizers (such as ammonium sulfate) or special fertilizers for gardenias. Avoid alkaline fertilizers.
Before the flowering period: Increase the application of phosphorus - potassium fertilizers (such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate) to promote flower - bud differentiation.
After flowering: Apply nitrogen fertilizers to help the plant recover.
5. Pruning: Maintaining Aesthetics
Remove the withered flowers in time after flowering to avoid seed - setting and nutrient consumption.
Lightly prune for shaping during the growth period. Avoid heavy pruning (it will reduce the number of flowers).
Lightly prune in winter to remove dead and diseased branches and leaves.