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Gardenias
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:44 am
by hsgymcoach.com
Hi,
I planted 3 gardenias last Fall, and everything I've read about them says they require heavy feeding April - November with an acidic fertilizer like you would use for azaleas or rhodies. However, I did a pH test and my soil is already acidic - overly so actually, around 8.0 - so I'm not sure what type of fertilizer to use, if any. Does anyone know?
Gardenias
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:07 pm
by valerie
You might try just good ol' fish emulsion. It's available in (nearly)
odorless if you can't stand the smell... it never bothers me but my
husband doesn't like it. Besides, you want to have that lovely gardenia
fragrance, right?
If not that, you might try Schultz Instant. I've used both with great
results...
:-6
Gardenias
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:14 pm
by CARLA
I can smell them already. Love Gardenia's my sister has a huge bush in her back yard monster Gardenia's every year. I will ask her tonight when I see her what the gardner does to make them so beautiful.
Gardenias
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:26 am
by weeder
hsgymcoach.com;797128 wrote: Hi,
I planted 3 gardenias last Fall, and everything I've read about them says they require heavy feeding April - November with an acidic fertilizer like you would use for azaleas or rhodies. However, I did a pH test and my soil is already acidic - overly so actually, around 8.0 - so I'm not sure what type of fertilizer to use, if any. Does anyone know?
Plant Tone
Gardenias
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:49 am
by Bryn Mawr
hsgymcoach.com;797128 wrote: Hi,
I planted 3 gardenias last Fall, and everything I've read about them says they require heavy feeding April - November with an acidic fertilizer like you would use for azaleas or rhodies. However, I did a pH test and my soil is already acidic - overly so actually, around 8.0 - so I'm not sure what type of fertilizer to use, if any. Does anyone know?
I hate to say this but a pH of 8 is alkaline rather than acid so maybe you do need something to get it down - do you know the range it should be in?
Gardenias
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:04 pm
by hsgymcoach.com
From what I've read, between 6.0 and 7.0. I added a supplement last fall to bring it down a bit but I haven't tested since. I'm assuming (but don't know for sure) it will have come down to the target range, but I worry that fertilizing will push it back up again.