Pardon me if I'm not posting in the correct way but I'd like some answers to gardenias.
I have 10 gardenias. Mostly August Beauty, Daisy and Radicans.
I question is I live in N.E. MS (zone 7) and have horrid red clay. With the others I planted I didn't really do much except dig a large hole ad shallowly planted them. All are thriving but I read somewhere recently a recipe for backfilling using sharp sand and a couple other additives.
Might anyone offer any advice on the best backfill and mulch to use?
Thank you,
Lee

Our local garden centre has a buy one get one free sale and I came home with 2 Gardenias.
DH promptly says "oh great, the plant that always dies"

Has anybody overwintered one of these things successfully??

I am sorry to say i only grow the ones in pots. I propagate and raise them for houseplants, not garden plants. I wish I could help you Kevin. You can see some of mine on my blog. Good luck.

That's what I need!! How to keep them through the winter indoors as house plants!

What kind of gardenias do you have, Lee?

it's a Gardenia veitchii

Lee Anne, I see no reason why your veitchii would not do very well inside if you give it plenty of light.If you have it in full sun outside, You need to give it at least the same inside. If you put it in a container that is large enough and has good drainage plus give it plenty of light and keep it on the moist side, it should be just fine. If it starts to look on the yellow side because of the move, give it some Iron chelate. You can purchase that in liquid form and mix it. I would use a good potting soil. Do not plant it too deep in the pot. That would be about all I could suggest at this time.

Thank you! any special humidity requirements?

I forgot, before you bring it inside, wash it thoroughly with a hose and spray it for mealy bug, whiteflies, etc. If you can nip those babies in the bud before you bring them inside it is best to do so. You should do that before you transplant it in case the eggs are in the soil.

Since it tolerates heat and humidity outside, I am not sure how your house is, but you will have to wait and see. It will take less water in the winter but it is like other jasminoides I have, it will take more water than the other plants. Do not let it dry out, ever. Just one day dry can really mess them up. But, do not over water either.

My house isn't too dry since I have hot water heat as opposed to the dryness of forced air...I'll just mist it daily maybe like I do my Hoyas...

Not necessary daily. These make excellent houseplants and take little extra care when they are happy. Water and Sunshine for some are all that is necessary. This is one of the good ones. Would you believe I do not have any of them?

Mine likes acid soil. This spring, the leaves were yellowing and it wasn't sending out new growth. I checked the pH and added soil acidifier. It was much happier. It started sending out new leaves and bloomed. i read that it is also important the soil drains well. All of my plants are happier if I water less in winter, letting the top bit of the soil dry out.

I use ferti-lome Liquid Iron for the yellowing of leaves. Then again, I am dealing with tropical plants in containers and this is what works for me. I find each home is different and it depends on the type of heat, location of the plant, size of the container to determine how much water they need in the winter. Some gardenias may not ever be left to dry out completely. I learned that the hard way.

Gardenias here thrive when I put epsom salts on them! They LOVE acid soil... My grandmother used to put cloves of garlic in the soil and they bloomed like crazy!!!! That is when we lived in Washington DC centuries ago.... I would use a lose airy mix like you use for your hoyas, Lee Anne.....

Thanks for the advice carol!

It's not looking to good...got real hot here and it lost all its leaves...

Try some fertilizer, epsom salts and cutting it back a bit....also putting it outside where it can get a breeze in the shade. ?

Carol, epsom salts plus fertilizer are you saying? My friend used to throw regular water softner salt on weeds to kill them. I guess I am thinking epsom salts could harm them. How much do you use? do you mix it with water ? I am trying to get some two year old Aimee Gardenia plants ready to go to the Market and I am wondering if I should cut them now since they are done blooming and give them a good doze of fertilizer and maybe epsom salt....what do you think? Wow, I am full of questions today. Thanks in advance.

JB, mainly I have August Beauty, Daisy and radicans. I have about 7 August Beauties which are taller than I but I'm only 5'9" tall. The Daisy and radicans are much smaller and the radicans is a spreading one.
Carol is right. They need acid soil, so I feed twice a yr. with Miracle grow for Gardenias, Camellias, and Rhododendrons.
I've found it next to impossible to grow gardenias indoors unless the requirements are perfect.
Lee

I must look those up. I know the Radicans are easy to grow. I do not know the August Beaiuty.
Are they all Jasminoides I wonder? When I have time I must look that up. Thanks.

I have no problem growing mine indoors so my house must be perfect.

I did not know Miracle grow makes one especially for Gardenias, cam. and Rodies. What is it called? I want to get some. I use just the regular for houseplants.