	AllExperts > Perennials
	Search

About Tom Alonzo
Expertise
I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.

Experience
I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Roses > Perennials > Gardinia Bush Car Indoor Winter Months

Perennials - Gardinia Bush Car Indoor Winter Months

Expert: Tom Alonzo - 10/17/2009

Question
I've two new gardenia's bushes. They bloomed beautifully this past summer. Removed from garden into house for cold new jersey winter. What kind of care should be given to best optimize their survival during the next five months of coldness. How often do they bloom..how can I best take care of these wonderful bushes. Appreciate your helpful advise. Respectfully, Patricia Buttor

oct 16 2009

Answer
Hi Patricia,
Thanx for your questions. Keep your gardenias in a window facing the East or South for best sunlight. The plants will go into a semi-dormancy and lose some of their leaves so don't be alarmed. Don't feed them but keep them from drying out, watering once a week or more if necessary (sometimes heating systems can dessicate the air inside the house...). The blooming will be sharply reduced during the winter due to the low position of the sun in the sky. In the spring, after temperatures are reliably above 50°F/10°C outdoors, bring the plants back outside but place in the shade for about 10 days to acclimatize them to the outdoors. Start feeding them a low nitrogen, high potassium and phosphorus fertilizer rated for flowering shrubs (following directions on the box). Water frequently as the gardenia is used to a wet, tropical environment. I would also side-dress the plants with well-composted manure in the spring and mid-summer. I hope this helps.
Tom

Add to this Answer Ask a Question