Shady's Gardenias

[ShadyStump]

Thanks, @Leo in N E Illinois . That actually fills in allot of blanks for me. When I bought these, neither time were they even labeled as gardenia, I just had to recognize it myself.
They're both the big multi-petaled flowers like you said, though one makes flowers almost twice as big as the other. So, I'm convinced that these are the semi-tropical sort, and I think the story of one surviving a heavy frost was largely a case of time and roots in the ground.

 

[ShadyStump]

So here's the results so far on my sick ones.
My control, which was the best looking one a week ago.

I did nothing to this one but water as normal.
The others, there was no noticable difference so far from the epsom salt, but the one that got dosed with white vinegar showed more green in the veins after a day or two, and the extra heavy fertilized one began showing more green almost immediately, making it absolutely clear this is a soil acidity issue. So I mixed all three treatments on all three plants, and here they are a couple days later.

Already looking better.
I've been using my feet at half strength as recommended by pretty much every source online, but I'm going to go full strength or better from here on out. I'm also prioritizing these when using rain water.

I was looking at getting some aluminum sulfate, but I'm not sure what the dosage would look like for small pots. The 5lb bag is all they have around here, way more than I'll need, and only has instructions for use on largish trees and shrubs in the ground.
Any ideas on how I'd use it in this situation? I'm sure that once I can get the soil fixed they'll be alright for some time.

 

[Carol 83]

So here's the results so far on my sick ones.
My control, which was the best looking one a week ago.
View attachment 452494
I did nothing to this one but water as normal.
The others, there was no noticable difference so far from the epsom salt, but the one that got dosed with white vinegar showed more green in the veins after a day or two, and the extra heavy fertilized one began showing more green almost immediately, making it absolutely clear this is a soil acidity issue. So I mixed all three treatments on all three plants, and here they are a couple days later.
View attachment 452495
Already looking better.
I've been using my feet at half strength as recommended by pretty much every source online, but I'm going to go full strength or better from here on out. I'm also prioritizing these when using rain water.

I was looking at getting some aluminum sulfate, but I'm not sure what the dosage would look like for small pots. The 5lb bag is all they have around here, way more than I'll need, and only has instructions for use on largish trees and shrubs in the ground.
Any ideas on how I'd use it in this situation? I'm sure that once I can get the soil fixed they'll be alright for some time.

Mir-acid would be easier, just sayin'.

 

[nuttiest]

What is the one in back, different soil?

 

[ShadyStump]

Mir-acid would be easier, just sayin'.

I'm using the ferti-lome equivalent.

What is the one in back, different soil?

Yeah, different soil. I have a fistful that are in the Tractor Supply SafeTSorb with peat, coco coir and old coffee grounds. Funny thing is these were the ones I was worried about the soil acidity, but aside from not blooming at all (which could just be the heat and dry air this year; it's been happening to my flowers all season) they've had no problems.

 

[nuttiest]

Oh, if you have peat for the others it will help. If you do get the aluminum sulfate, go lighter than the instructions. I know someone who killed 5 huge blueberries by (supposedly) going by instructions.
I really think sulfuric acid is easier to dose but Leo in Illinois would kick my butt for saying so!
And there's always good ole sulfur to help long term and meanwhile it is a cheap pesticide and a fungicide

 

[ShadyStump]

So I'm no longer certain it's a pH issue in the soil, at least not directly.
After a couple weeks of heavier fertilizing they ARE all looking slightly better, but they're also putting on new growth and it's all white still. I have some aquarium test strips I'll be testing the soil with still, but at this point I'm wondering if it's an iron deficiency. Some reading material given me in another thread about how to conduct said tests has given me to believe that iron can be problematic in acidic soils.

Still no flowers, even on the healthier ones. I'm still attributing this to a combination of low humidity environment, and the general health of the plants.
Even if I'm wrong there, one problem at a time. It's gotta have leaves first.

 

[Carol 83]

Sorry you're having problems with them. I was pretty surprised mine not only made it through the winter but actually thrived. They've grown tons this summer and have been blooming. The only bad thing is finding room for them this winter.

 

[nuttiest]

So I'm no longer certain it's a pH issue in the soil, at least not directly.
After a couple weeks of heavier fertilizing they ARE all looking slightly better, but they're also putting on new growth and it's all white still. I have some aquarium test strips I'll be testing the soil with still, but at this point I'm wondering if it's an iron deficiency. Some reading material given me in another thread about how to conduct said tests has given me to believe that iron can be problematic in acidic soils.

Still no flowers, even on the healthier ones. I'm still attributing this to a combination of low humidity environment, and the general health of the plants.
Even if I'm wrong there, one problem at a time. It's gotta have leaves first.

The iron is there if you fertilize but not absorbed in high pH. If you already tried to correct pH and the problem got worse, there is calcium or aluminum component in soil mix higher than your other containers.

 

[ShadyStump]

The iron is there if you fertilize but not absorbed in high pH. If you already tried to correct pH and the problem got worse, there is calcium or aluminum component in soil mix higher than your other containers.

This is what I've been thinking about the iron.
I may, actually, have gotten the soil TOO acidic. It's largely mulch, compost and peat, with sand and perlite for drainage.
Only the new foliage is affected, though, so I'm not sure. A low dose of chelated iron would tell me allot.

I didn't get to testing the soil over the weekend. My mental health demanded a camping trip, but I pushed myself too hard, and came home with a messed up ankle.

Sorry you're having problems with them. I was pretty surprised mine not only made it through the winter but actually thrived. They've grown tons this summer and have been blooming. The only bad thing is finding room for them this winter.

I'll get it figured out. Solving this has become a bit of an obsession. I'd just repot them, but I'm afraid they're too weak for that right now.
They're not dead, and not dying, so I'm not panicking about the timeline yet.

 

[ShadyStump]

So not much change since I last posted, though the newest growth looks healthier.
I finally spent the ridiculous price at the local garden shop for chelated iron, gave each pot a pinch a little while ago, and fertilized heavily this last time. In a day most of the foliage had already darkened and they're looking better overall. I think they've been happier since I moved them inside. I think the intense sun we get here - even just in the morning - and dry air is a bit more than they like.
With all my tropicals indoors they keep THEMSELVES at an average near 50% RH. We'll see what happens as winter closes in and the heater is running more, but they did well inside last winter.

 

[ShadyStump]

Picked up a six inch gardenia pot today while shopping for electrical stuff to replace the outlet on my back porch. ( Whoever did the wiring in this place must have been on crack. Probably bought it from whoever did the plumbing)

4 dead over winter, and can't quite work out why. The others are still not looking so hot.
I needed something to pick me up, and remind me why I keep working at these.