Since last July when we rooted the two cuttings in potting mix, it has been living an uneventful life. I was just watering, not feeding it all until about 6 weeks ago. Miracle Gro was the drug of choice, as I didn't know about acid/alkaline until I started websurfing the subject. I fed al my houseplants at half-strength every 2 weeks.

The Gardenia started growing apace, lots of new leaves, lots of new nodes bulging. One thing I noticed, all the new growth was a light green with dark green veins. Is this bad? I read some more and treated it once with epsom salts. Still light green.

Now I'm thinking to add Miracid, as it was originally planted in a pot with regular humus mix, a little perlite and some peat moss.

I'm loath to repot it as it's just two small stems growing in a 4" pot... doesn't seem to be unhappy there.

Question is, is the light green/dark green vein growth a sign of high pH or is it going to give up the ghost on me?

Light green with dark veins usually means chlorosis (iron defficiency, kind of a plant version of being aenemic). If you can find an iron fertilizer like Ironite or straight ferrous sulfate, give it a light application.

I'd also switch to Miracid but use half the recommended strength, and don't fertilize every time you water; gardenia roots are delicate and young plants are especially sensastive to too much fertilizer. You might also try flushing the pot by watering until the water runs freely out of the bottom of the pot once every few weeks, to prevent fertilizer or salts in the water from building up.

Finally, light green leaves may also mean spider mites, look under the leaves for tiny webs where the leaves join the branches, hose 'em off frequently if they're present.

If all else fails, you may still have to call in the reverend/rabbi/imam, but we'll keep our fingers crossed!

Jim

Thanks

I'm waiting on some iron to be shipped as local stores don't have it - even the Home Depot!