Community Chat

[ThinkingOutLoud]

I need to have a gift delivered to someone since they weren't able to come to a get-together. I found a gardenia plant that looks nice but I'm not familiar with them and have a couple questions:

 - do they take much care (ie how often need water...)?

 - are they hardy (ie if miss watering, do they die for good or rebound...)?

 - how long do they last?

Is there another plant you'd recommend instead?

tia!

[Kachina624]

I'd select a poinsettia or Christmas Cactus.  I find the odor of gardenia very offensive and strong.  Can't stand them.  Also they are not easy to grow.

[PA Mom-mom]

@ThinkingOutLoud  A gardenia is too much trouble. Likes certain conditions and is susceptible to disease. Per @Kachina624  a Christmas cactus if a better choice and will remind the recipient of you when it flowers.

[ThinkingOutLoud]

ok - Thanks for the replies. I'll keep looking. I want to find something that works for winter and not Christmas since it's less than a week away. 

[cookie16]

I agree with Kachina.  I would stay away from gardenia and personally choose a Christmas Cactus.  They are pretty easy to take care of and the flowers are beautiful.  They come in assorted colors too.  I have 3 different colors and they bloom at different times of the year for me.  And you can make additional plants very easily.

[Whitney400]

What about a Christmas Amaryllis?  Many florists have them available and they are really beautiful.

[Another new name Sue]

I'll join others here in saying that gardenias are nortoriously finicky about growing conditions.  Definitely Christmas cactus or amaryllis.  Christmas cactus will live for years with good care, water and light, maybe an occasional repot.

[mspatmac]

I vote for a Christmas Cactus.  Gave one to a friend 4 years ago and it's still going strong.

[Kachina624]

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@mspatmac wrote:

I vote for a Christmas Cactus.  Gave one to a friend 4 years ago and it's still going strong.

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@mspatmac    They're very easy to grow as long as they're not over-watered and they're reliable rebloomers.

[Kabella]

@ThinkingOutLoud  A Gardenia Plant is beautiful but does not do well as an indoor plant. It does best in zones 9 & 10 outdoors with morning sun in a more hummid climate. I have one on the side of my house in fl. where it gets plenty of sun & rain. Planted in the ground & hardy.

I think the flowering plants mentioned here are the best for indoors in the winter months. I can suggest a Bromalaid or African Violets. There are other that I know of but won't last for long indoors. Also  there are many varigated leaf plants that do best indoors which give color with their leaves.