User avatar
UrbanPrincessK
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 7:46 pm
Location: Brisbane, Australia

The leaves are turning yellow on my newly planted gardenias

IMG_6468.JPG
IMG_6469.JPG
Hi Everyone :D

I planted a heap of beautiful (and healthy) gardenias in a new garden bed recently, but within a few weeks the leaves on almost all of them have started to turn yellow. The soil in the garden bed did have a bit of clay in it, but I put a heap of potting mix specifically for gardenias in it and some osmocote. I've dug down and they don't appear to be water logged and the soil isn't dry.

I've put some epsom salts in it last week so that may take a while to take effect, but can anyone offer a diagnosis or advice? I would be so devastated to lose them so any feedback would be appreciated.

Cheers, Karina

imafan26
Mod
Posts: 13962
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

Older leaves of gardenia do yellow naturally. They do not like to be water logged and they do like to be kept evenly moist. It looks like they are in partial shade which is o.k. They are an understory tree and don't mind shade from afternoon sun.

Epsom salts are for magnesium you only need a tablespoon per gallon and only once a year and only if it is needed. Micronutrients like iron, magnesium, boron, selenium are usually included in fertilizers for acid loving plants like citrus, gardenia, and roses. Potting soil for gardenias should have had some starter fertilizer and sulfur to keep it acidic, so you should be o.k. with fertilizer at least for three months.

It could be a little transplant shock so the roots are not taking up enough nutrients and so the plant is dropping leaves to lighten the load. When the roots recover, it should stop. Be careful not to over water. The plant will not be able to take up much water if it has some transplant shock so you want to keep it moist but not soggy or the roots will rot. Gardenias like most tropical plants are not deciduous but they do drop a few leaves at a time normally.

You can have the soil tested later especially for pH. Gardenias do not like alkaline soil. If baby's breath grows well for you, then your soil is alkaline, if you can get blueberries to grow then it is acidic.

User avatar
UrbanPrincessK
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 7:46 pm
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Thanks so much - I'll definitely do a PH test - great idea! Cheers, Karina



Return to “Trees, Shrubs, and Hedges”