Gardenia VOLKENSII

Gardenia VOLKENSII - Volkens's Gardenia, Savanna Gardenia, Gardenia volkensii.

Gardenia is a genus of tropical evergreen shrubs and smallish trees in the madder family (Rubiaceae), numbering more than 250 species. In the wild, the plant can be found in Japanese, Indian, and Chinese forests. Representatives of the genus possess a branched woody stem, sturdy, glabrous or pubescent shoots, sometimes with spines. The leaves are glossy, opposite, rarely in whorls of 3, with triangular stipules, colored dark green and lustrous. They have brochidodromous venation and decussate leaf arrangement.

The flowers are white and yellow, solitary in leaf axils, rarely at branch tips. The calyx is tubular, ovoid or conical; the corolla is campanulate or infundibuliform, with 5-9 stamens attached to the base; the ovary is one- or two-locular. The fruit is sessile, pyriform or cylindrical, multi-seeded, fleshy or dry, dehiscing variously across different species. Under indoor conditions, a gardenia bush grows, as a rule, up to 45-50 cm (18-20 in); flowering lasts for quite a long time from July until practically the final days of October. Large double flowers resemble roses and possess a superb fragrance.

Volkens's gardenia is a fast-growing shrub or small tree native to tropical Africa. It blooms with large white fragrant flowers in spring and summer.

By seeds and cuttings. Seeds are pre-soaked in warm water for 24 hours, then sown into azalea soil or a mixture of peat with perlite and vermiculite to a depth equal to the size of the seed, moistened with a spray mister, covered with film, and germinated in the light, but not in direct sun, at a temperature of 18-24 °C (64-75 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the sowings. Seeds germinate within 1-3 months.

© Greeniverse. All rights reserved.

Gardenia is quite demanding, and for growing in an apartment one should know and observe several important rules. The plant must have enough moisture, warmth, and light. Gardenia dislikes change: moving the pot from place to place, temperature swings, soil waterlogging, or conversely drying it out are not permitted. The flower loves light and throughout the entire day requires full lighting, though protection from midday direct rays is still necessary. The best placement is on eastern or western windowsills, and in winter southern ones. The plant is very sensitive to light, especially during bud formation. Upon changing location or even rotating the pot, gardenia may drop its buds.

In spring and summer, maintenance temperatures in the range of 22-24 °C (72-75 °F) are preferred, and in winter 18-20 °C (64-68 °F), but no lower than 16 °C (61 °F), and the soil must not be cold. Abrupt temperature changes are not permitted. In spring and summer, it is necessary to water the plant generously and frequently. The soil must be constantly moist. One should use only warm and soft, filtered or boiled water. In winter, the amount of watering is reduced. Stagnant liquid around the roots is not permitted.

During periods of active growth and bud formation, gardenia should be provided with high air humidity. If the air is excessively dry, there is concern that buds will stop developing or drop off altogether. It is best to place sphagnum moss or expanded clay on the bottom of the tray, pour water in, and then place the flowerpot on top. The bottom of the pot must not touch the liquid, and mist from a spray bottle must not get onto buds or flowers. Repotting is carried out once every two years in early spring into an acidic substrate with pH 4.5-5.5. One can use commercial azalea mix or a mix of equal parts coniferous, sod, leaf mold, peat soil, and sand. One should not forget good drainage.

During intensive growth from March to August, the plant is fed every 14 days with liquid fertilizer for flowering houseplants at half strength. After flowering, pruning of 1/2 or 2/3 of shoot length is performed. With the onset of the growing season, to stimulate growth and increase flower bud count, the tips of young shoots are pinched back. Pruned apical cuttings about 10 cm (3.9 in) long can be used for rooting in warm substrate with root stimulants. Rooted cuttings should be pinched back upon reaching a height of 15 cm (5.9 in).