How To Care For Your Gardenia Bonsai Tree
Gardenia Jasminoides Bonsai Care
About The Gardenia Bonsai Tree
The Gardenia is a fragrant member of the coffee family that is celebrated for its big, beautiful and fragrant white flowers.
A popular house plant / patio plant, it can grow to nearly 50 feet in the wild.
It has a dark and waxy green leaf foliage like many other pacific island native species.
Placement
Like all gardenia trees, a gardenia bonsai should remain indoors when the temperature drops below 55 degrees.
It must stay cool or cold during the winter (about 3 months), but should be protected from harsh freezes. In the late summer, you can bring your bonsai tree outside as long as it's being properly watered.
Do not forget to water your bonsai tree!
It loves sun and should get at least 6-8 hours from a south facing window (east or west is second best.)
Watering
Never let the soil completely dry out. Whenever the soil seems dry, thoroughly water your tree until the water runs clear from the bottom. In the growing season, this can be daily.
If you need help, a good moisture meter will guide you.
Humidity
Gardenia bonsai trees love humidity, so using a humidity tray is recommended. It will prevent the water from running all over the place, and can help keep the tree somewhat moist in the dry seasons.
Fertilizing
Since your gardenia bonsai is in a small pot, and not the ground, it needs nutrients. A slow release (pellet based) fertilizer is perfect for this, and can be added sparingly every 1-2 months during the growing season.
Pruning & Trimming
Trim back the new growth to the farthest safe point that looks good to you — but never remove all of the new growth.
A regular trim will help keep your gardenia bonsai tree short, while helping the trunk grow thicker.
Repotting
Repotting must be performed periodically on your bonsai, gardenia, when its root system has filled the pot. If you can clearly see the roots coming out of the bottom of the pot, it’s time to repot your bonsai.
Generally, this means every 2-3 years for a deciduous tree and every 4-5 years for an evergreen.
Repotting should be done in mid-summer, when the tree is at it’s least fragile state.
The gardenia bonsai tree, along with all of its soil, should be removed from the pot. From there, you can trim away no more than 1/3rd of the root mass (1/4th is preferred.)
Then you can repot the tree in the same pot, or give it a newer / bigger pot to thrive in.
After repotting, your gardenia bonsai should be thoroughly watered.
Diseases, Insects & Other Pests
Your gardenia bonsai can be treated for pests like a normal gardenia tree. Just remember, your tree is miniature and will need a much smaller and more gentile dose of treatment.
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