Planting your Gardenia jasminoides 'Kleim's Hardy':
- Outside, choose a sheltered position, ideally in dappled or partial shade. Plants will tolerate a light frost, otherwise grow indoors in acidic (lime-free) compost.
- Prefers well-drained, fertile and slightly acidic soil or can be grown in a large container of ericaceous (acid) compost.
- Before planting, water your potted plant well.
- Dig a hole a little deeper and 3 x wider than the nursery pot.
- Add a soil conditioner such as well-rotted manure to the earth removed from the hole along with some ericaceous compost if necessary.
- Remove the plant from its pot and tease out a few of the roots.
- Place your plant in the hole at the same level at the pot.
- Refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling). then firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball.
- Water well (use rainwater) and mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc.
Aftercare Advice for your Kleim's Hardy Gardenia:
- Feed your gardenia well throughout the growing season (spring and summer) with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser in summer to avoid yellowing of the leaves.
- Water regularly until your plant is fully established - use rainwater where possible and keep the soil moist (but not saturated).
- Over winter, although perfectly hardy, plants will benefit from some protection if it gets very cold. You can move container grown plants into a frost-free area or cover with good horticultural fleece.
- Continue to feed plants with a balanced fertiliser over winter but reduce to once every 5-6 weeks. Reduce watering too, but do not allow the soil to fully dry out.
Pruning Advice for Gardenia Kleim's Hardy:
- Remove faded flowers to improve the appearance of your plant.
- If necessary, trim lightly in early spring after flowering to help maintain a neat shape.