Question:
Last year, I planted several Gardenias in containers. They looked beautiful at first, but now all the leaves have fallen off, and the flower buds form, turn black, and drop off. They're watered weekly and fed often. Am I overwatering them?Answer:
- Gardenias can be frustrating to grow, especially when the flower buds never open and drop off.
- Your plants have two unrelated problems. First, you have a watering issue, but it's not overwatering. Instead, the plants are drying out and suffering from water stress.
- Water stress causes the leaves to turn brown and fall off. You might also notice that the stems become dry and brittle.
- Gardenias are typically watered weekly when planted in the ground, but this frequency is reduced when they are grown in pots.
- Container plants should be watered at least three times a week from April through October, depending on the amount of afternoon sun they receive and the prevailing temperature.
- Additionally, for established plants, the longer they remain in the same container, the more crucial the watering frequency becomes, as the soil becomes depleted by the roots.
- Overwatering gardenias or any other plant in a container is rare, as excess water flows out the bottom.
- During warm, windy weather, the plants can dry out, and the leaves may burn and drop off. This can be corrected by watering more frequently; however, don't expect to see a significant difference until next spring. When the rainy season begins, you water less often.
- Now, onto the second issue. Gardenias are tropical plants that need warm nights to bloom. The buds turn black and fall off when nighttime temperatures are consistently below fifty-five degrees.
- Although listed as shade plants, I find they grow better in sunny spots. They also benefit from reflected heat. When planted inland, they should be shaded during the heat of the day. Usually, the best conditions for blooming happen in the fall with our 'Indian Summer' weather.
Question:
My sunflowers looked beautiful this year, with bright yellow blooms on short, compact plants. Now that they've finished blooming, I've saved the seeds to replant next year. Will the seeds grow true to their parents, or should I expect a surprise? Also, can the seeds be stored in the garage, or do they need refrigeration?Answer:
- Sunflowers, like many other hybrid edible and non-edible plants, start from seed and are unpredictable in the next generation. At this point, no one knows what the new plants will look like next year.
- When pollination occurs, the gene pool becomes mixed, causing the original set of characteristics to change, such as compact plants, short stems, and early blooming, among others.
- You'll have to plant the seed and see what happens. If you decide to save the seed, store it in a glass jar and keep it in a cool location until you're ready to plant it next spring.
- The only way to recapture this year's magic is to plant new seeds.