Can You Use Milk on Gardenia Bushes?

Gardenia pH and Humidity

• Gardenias love heat and moisture. Providing the proper soil and humidity that gardenias must have to thrive can be a challenge for gardeners. These plants need acidic soil with the pH in the 5.0 to 6.0 range. Concrete can make the surrounding soil pH too high for gardenias, so avoid planting them near sidewalks or foundations. The soil should be evenly moist, but not soaked, to maintain essential humidity levels. This can be a challenge indoors during cold, dry winters.

Gardenia Acidic Fertilizers

• Gardenias have their growth period from April through November. Fertilize with acidic food every month during these months. Fertilizer formulated for acidic-loving azaleas will work well. Vinegar is a good acidic addition to organic fertilizer. Use 1 tbsp. of vinegar for each gallon of water. For many ailing gardenias, just giving them a vinegar drink may be the magic potion to perk them back up. Depending on the variety, well-fed gardenias can reach 8 feet tall and wide.

Gardenia Leaf Care

• Vinegar is much more beneficial for gardenia leaves than milk. Use a product that contains fish emulsion or seaweed with vinegar. Every two weeks spray the gardenia foliage to maintain the deep, glossy green color. Add 1 oz. of vinegar for each gallon of spray if the product you use does not have vinegar as an ingredient. Misting gardenia leaves with anything other than a product containing vinegar can cause leaf fungal diseases.

Keeping Gardenias Blooming

• Gardenias are famous for their aromatic, white flowers that bloom from spring to summer. Many gardeners wonder why they never get as many flower buds as the day they bought their gardenias. Gardenias are temperamental, needing the exact conditions to thrive. Buds that drop before blooming may be due to low humidity, insufficient light or drafts. Gardenias that do not set flowers may be too hot. Successfully blooming gardenias is a balancing act of nutrients and environment.