Q: I am trying to grow two gardenia plants in pots in the house. The buds and leaves are turning black. Can you help?
A: Gardenias have a wonderful fragrance and are worth having if you have the right conditions. They really need to stay warm, and at the same time, they need damp but not waterlogged soil. If you just bought them, did you place them near an air conditioner vent? Is it possible they dried out or got too cold during shipping? Put them in a warm window and don’t let them dry out. Check the soil in the pot every day. Potted plants dry out much faster than gardenias growing in garden soil.
