How to Prevent Bud Drop in Gardenias

Gardenias are fragrant, decorative shrubs that have waxy green leaves and supple white blooms. A southern bloom enjoys humidity and moderate to warm temperatures best. The chief signal that something is wrong with your gardenia is a loss in buds. Without even blooming, the flower heads will simply drop to the ground and die. Highly-strung gardenias show their unhappiness by throwing off their buds. There are a variety of reasons growers may experience this phenomena.

Water

Spray bottle or mister

Thermometer

Check the humidity level in your yard or area. Low humidity will trigger bloom drop behavior in your shrub. An occasional misting could help raise the humidity but avoid misting the foliage. Leaf fungus can occur from misting.

Monitor the watering of your ornamental. Infrequent waterings and excessive watering can both trigger bud drop. Correct this problem by only watering when the soil is dry and refraining from watering after natural precipitation has occurred.

Remove any branches from trees that are hanging over the gardenia. Sun blockage or failure to receive enough direct sunlight cause buds to drop off prematurely. Remove any obstacles around the gardenia that prevents sunlight from reaching it.

Read the temperature on a yard thermometer. Excessively high temperatures and even low temperatures make gardenias sick. To counteract high temperatures, water in the cool of the evening or the morning. For low temperatures, keep plants warm by wrapping them with plastic during cold nights.

Examine the leaves and buds of your gardenias for insects. If your gardenia begins to throw off buds inexplicably, it may be a cry for help. Remove the insects and your plant will return to healthy conditions.

Collect buds that the bush throws off. Place them in a shallow dish with water. They may bloom and provide you with lovely flowers in your home.