This potted gardenia was brought into the garage for the winter. I'm in AR and we have had some kind of arctic blast for the past several years, meaning that some plants that normally would be hardy here have to be protected. I have begun treating gardenias as annuals. This one was potted for a couple of years and has not shown new spring growth. I have not seen any signs of pests, although there is soe kind of dryness and browning of the leaves. I'm wondering if I should just put it in the ground anyway (provided I could find a spot that would protet it from cold west winds and still give it the sun it needs) as its pot is quite large and repotting would require and even larger planter! I also don't know which variety this is. Most nurseries in our area carry Frost Proof (which has very slender leaves), or August Beauty. Might this be the latter? The Frost Proof that was brought in to the house over winter and is now outside is doing much better, and even started blooming.

A few questions... Are you fertilizing? How, how much, when? If you test the soil at a depth of 3 inches and also test as close you can get to the bottom of the pot, does the soil feel: dry, moist or wet? Has it been outside during winter 2023-2024? Is the soil acidic? Are you using a potting mix with well draining, ericaceous soil for azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias or hydrangeas? Meaning, with no garden soil? Does the pot have water drainage holes? Is the area windy?