Gardenia

[mugen]

Hiya
Here is a little gardenia cascade/semicascade i will be attempting.
Pretty raw at the moment waiting on the flowering to finish before i get stuck into styling.
Has any one had any experience with gardenias? i know they require acid soil any other tips?
would love to see some other examples of anyone elses to get some ideas
Will post more pics when in flower and styled.
thanks

[kcpoole]

I have 2 that I collected from a garden. they are the ground cover variety

they are on my Diatomite mix and do real well
Fertilsed just like all my other trees. Netrog Sudden impact sprinkled around on the top, and Charlie carp every fortnight

Ken

[Ash]

I grow Gardenia scabrella from Iron Range Cape York. I have had it about two years no problems in a pot mixture of diatomite and pine bark sieved, needs a fair bit of fertilizer though and I have foliar fertilized it with iron chelates to keep the areoles as dark green as the veins. It flowers profusely when not trimmed to much, a couple of flowers a day. Mine is still multi-stemmed and does not have a single sold branch yet so as to styling I am at a bit of a loss for the moment.
regards
Ash

P.S. just checked they are available from Yuruga nursery still

[mugen]

Hi Kcpoole thanks for the tips
a couple of people have mentioned having Diatomite in their potting mix ..... where do you get the Diatomite from? is it just kitty litter? or is it a horticultural grade mix that you buy? sorry about all the questions pretty new at the bonsai game

[Ash]

Some 'Kitty Litter' is diatomite and some is baked clay. You can use Kitty Litter but it comes only in small quantities- otherwise contact Maidenwell (they have a website) and if you are lucky enough to get a reply (you could grow a beard waiting) they may tell you your nearest distributor for bulk bags. Gardenia will grow very well in a pine bark only medium.
cheers
Ash

[mugen]

Hi Ash thanks for the tip about the iron chelates. my gardenias leaves starting to yellow a little.
thanks for the info about the diatomite and the pine bark.