Question: The buds dry up and fall off my gardenia. What can I do to make it bloom? SM, Mich.
Answer: It is difficult to provide suitable conditions in the home for the gardenia to bloom. It needs plenty of sunshine, a moist atmosphere, enough water to keep the soil moist but not soggy and a temperature range of 60 to 70 degrees. When growth is active, give a watering of liquid fertilizer about every three weeks. It might be more satisfactory to grow it for summer flowering and rest it in winter by keeping it somewhat dry in a 50 degree temperature.
