Hi guys! So, I'm at a loss. This is my second gardenia and like the first one, most of the leaves have fallen, some of them turn brown or black and it's got a white goo on a few branches. Nevertheless, it seems to be wanting to grow more leaves at the top of the branches. I have nonidea what is wrong with her! Has anyone seen this happen? The plant is located in a balcony East. Thank you in advance!
Hi Geraldine
Camellia are happiest in a warm spot with dappled sunlight or morning sun. They are acid loving plants so use a specific fertilizer during the growing season. This year has been so wet that many plants a suffering from fungal infections on their leaves and roots.
Camellia are susceptible to root rot, take the plant out of the pot to look at the roots if they look brown and rotten then that is your problems. If you find the roots to be rotting you can try to prune tem off and repot the plant into new potting mix (best to get mix specific for azalea and camellias). Root rot occurs when the soil remain too wet, most pot plants are better if the soil is allowed to dry between waterings.
Plants grow from the tips, to encourage new growth prune back by half to a node and fertilise.
The white goo is on the branches, it could be a fungus or maybe white wax scale.