please help save my decades-old gardenia

[Anonymous]

I inherited a gardenia plant that is very old, and after several years I seem to be killing it. I kept it outdoors last summer, where it thrived, and keep it near a sunny window while indoors. For a while it looked like it had sooty old, so I careflly cleaned off all the leaves. And now I think it has developed spider mites. The leaves are browning and dropping like crazy. Is there anything I can do to save this plant?

I've read online that I can address the spider mites by taking it outside and drenching it with the hose. It's warm today so I can do that. Do I need to take it out of the pot and add all new soil? Should I prune it to remove those little crossing branches where all the leaves have died?

I'd love to save this old plant if I can. Thanks for any advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I inherited a gardenia plant that is very old, and after several years I seem to be killing it. I kept it outdoors last summer, where it thrived, and keep it near a sunny window while indoors. For a while it looked like it had sooty old, so I careflly cleaned off all the leaves. And now I think it has developed spider mites. The leaves are browning and dropping like crazy. Is there anything I can do to save this plant?

I've read online that I can address the spider mites by taking it outside and drenching it with the hose. It's warm today so I can do that. Do I need to take it out of the pot and add all new soil? Should I prune it to remove those little crossing branches where all the leaves have died?

I'd love to save this old plant if I can. Thanks for any advice.

I had a similar experience, minus the age of the plant. Did not manage to save. My only advice would be go as aggressive as possible as soon as possible, even if it means chemicals (which I otherwise never use). Handling it conservatively meant that I never got a handle on it at all.

[Anonymous]

I have given up on keeping a gardenia inside. I always seem to kill them when they are inside. I have one now that I keep outside and bring it in only on the coldest of days. Looking at the weather, starting mid-week next week, maybe kick it outside and see if it will come back.

Good luck! I hope you are able to save it.