| There are a lot of people out there that have no | | | | 75 degrees F. |
| luck with growing gardenias but then there are still | | | | They did this for four weeks. Then they chaned |
| those few that have very good luck with growing | | | | the night temperature. All Gardenias were now |
| gardenias. Sounds to me like you have some | | | | spending their nights in a 65-degree F room. They |
| magic powers when it comes to growing plants. | | | | did this for four weeks. And they tried several |
| At least when it comes to plants that no one else | | | | other combinations of temperatures as well, all |
| can grow. Let's first agree that although these | | | | with the same eight hour day length. |
| Gardenia flowers sparkle like moondust with their | | | | Results: Gardenias flowered earliest when |
| pure white petals, although they send off a thick | | | | exposed to days and nights of 75 degrees F. All |
| unforgettable fragrance so enchanting it goes right | | | | the Gardenias flowered. There was no other |
| into perfume, growing them is pure science. | | | | effect observed on the number of flowers. So if |
| When growers cultivate these, they must know | | | | you want to use this research, you would want |
| what makes them grow and what makes them | | | | to give your Gardenia only eight hours of daylight |
| flower, because those are the Gardenias that will | | | | for four weeks. Then you would make the day |
| fly off the shelves. You can use what they know | | | | longer. You would give it sixteen hours of daylight. |
| to become a better Gardenia Gardener. | | | | This Gardenia would have constant temperatures |
| There is a report that some scientists put out on | | | | of 75 degrees F the whole time. And you would |
| the study of gardenia plants it is called, "Flower | | | | have Gardenias coming out of your ears. |
| Initiaition and development in gardenia plants as | | | | If you put your Gardenia outside, you know it's |
| affected by photoperiod and night temperature." | | | | going to get Aphids. But this is not a problem! |
| What scientists E. P. Makridou and A. S. Economou | | | | Because you are going to run down to the |
| did was expose Gardenias just like yours to | | | | Garden Center and pick up a nice big container of |
| different daylengths: eight, 12 and sixteen hour | | | | Ladybugs. Spray them with Sprite before you put |
| days, for four weeks. Then they took all the | | | | them down. That will keep them from flying |
| Gardenias and exposed them to sixteen hours of | | | | away. Sprinkle them around your Gardenia, in the |
| daylight for four more weeks. Which Gardenias do | | | | middle of your Garden. If you have Roses, you |
| you suppose had the most flowers? | | | | can put them in the same area, and the Ladybugs |
| The ones that began with eight hours of light, the | | | | will run around your garden hunting for Aphids, |
| ones with 12 hours of light Or the ones with | | | | Mealybugs, Beetle larvae, ants, all kinds of insects |
| 1sixteen hours of light? Turns out that the | | | | you never knew you had. |
| Gardenias that had the shorter days, and then | | | | No fuss, no muss. And you can get up close and |
| switched to longer days, had the most flowers of | | | | personal with your Gardenia, you can eat your |
| all. The researchers concluded that 'short | | | | Gardenia, and there will be nothing poisonous there |
| photoperiods promote flower bud initiation in | | | | to make you sick. I love that most of all. If you |
| Gardenia plants. But that's not all! They did another | | | | keep your Gardenia potted, it will most certainly |
| experiment. | | | | dry out very quickly. Growing one of these is not |
| This time, they exposed all their Gardenias to | | | | like growing them indoors. The great outdoors is |
| eight-hour days for four weeks and then split | | | | full of surprises, and these Gardenias do not take |
| them up into three groups. These pots were now | | | | dry soil kindly. Watch it very carefully if you do |
| grown under different daylenghts eight, 12 and | | | | that. I do believe however the fresh air is good |
| sixteen hours long. Guess the results for this | | | | for everyone after a winter indoors. |
| experiment. Did changes in day length affect | | | | They'll study that someday, but for now, it's my |
| flowering? Answer: The ones that had long days | | | | personal theory. Remember that humidity is |
| for a full eight weeks and the days that were | | | | always important for these plants, that a low pH |
| sixteen hours long flowered quickest. Then they | | | | is their comfort zone, and that when moving |
| did another test! | | | | anything to a full sun exposure you should do it |
| They wanted to know if night temperatures | | | | gradually to give leaves time to adjust their |
| would have any effect on Gardenias. So they | | | | chlorophyll. If not then as I have said go to your |
| grew them all with eight hours of daylight and set | | | | local nursery and talk to them about your |
| the thermostat at 75 degrees F. When the lights | | | | gardenia or you can go on the internet and do a |
| went out, they lowered the temperature to while | | | | search for gardenia and see what you come up |
| the night temperatures were kept at 55, 65 and | | | | with. |