I think if you are bringing them in then it is ok to cut them back. The danger is cutting back, encouraging new growth and then leaving outside.

I love gardenias so much, but have had terrible luck with them. I don't want these babies to die!

===>>> perhaps you love them too much.. to their detriment ... rather than treating them like the plants they are ..

rip it thru the doorway.. put it where you want it.. and prune off anything that broke .... which.. unless you do it at 60 mph.. i doubt anything will break ... hire a strapping young man if weight is the issue ...

if i had what was basically a house plant.. when it got too large.. i would learn how to propagate it ... so that i could start some smaller plants ... so that eventually.. i would get rid of the large one ... check out the link ... now might not be the proper time.. but it something to start thinking about now ...

as such.. they are not my children .. nor my babes ... but disposable plants.. of which i would have created a new generation ...

good luck

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

jplamp,
You can cut the big one back by one third.
No more than that.
Only if you can't get it in.
Try to get the big one in. Cut off a branch if need be
to get it thru the doorway.
Yes, nice sunny spot by windows if possible.
Don't put them near a heater vent, if you have hot air heat.
Don't fertilize them for a couple months after bringing them in, don't worry about yellow leaves they will complain, and don't water unless the soil feels really dry when you insert your finger down in the soil as far as you can.
When it is really dry, then water it good.
When it gets little bugs on it, just use a little bit of regular dish soap (not the harsh new dish soap) a natural dish soap you can buy at Walgreen or CVS, and water in a spray bottle and spray the leaves and stems with it once a week til bugs are gone.
Don't overwater it.
Brown leaves are bad, especially if they start from the bottom of the plant.
Good Luck!