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Gardenia planting mix

Posted by jscaldwell Zone 8a/8b, TX (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 5, 12 at 9:34

Hopefully this doesn't turn me off from landscaping forever...

I've decided to try a couple of Gardenias near our front entry. So yes, I'm committing all the Gardenia sins at once here:

Planting in hard, clay soil...
Next to both a sidewalk and foundation...
In probably a too hot, too sunny place...

So, my main question is, what planting mixture and mulch to use for these guys. I've heard there is a peat-type compost I can mix with my lousy soil to get acidity right, then I plan to mulch with pine bark mulch and fertilize with the typical acid-type fert. Does this sound like a good plan, and what ration should I mix the peat compost and the existing soil from the hole? Is there anything else I should add to the mixture (coffee grounds? if so how much?)?

Thanks all.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Gardenia planting mix

  • Posted by tapla z5b-6a mid-MI (My Page) on
    Mon, Nov 5, 12 at 13:23

It doesn't sound like a good plan, or a plan with a great deal of hope for a good outcome. A good plan is the right plant for the right place.

Al


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RE: Gardenia planting mix

My dad grew beautiful gardenias in AZ.

1 - shaded
2 - in a large container sunk into the ground
3 - filled with water-retaining acid soil mix


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RE: Gardenia planting mix

Before you invest all of your time and money in gardenias, I think this gardenweb thread is required reading: So you want to grow a gardenia, huh? (also known as the infamous suicidal gardenia thread).

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardenia thread


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