Gardenia plant with buds rotting and falling off before blooming-white powdery substance at the base of the buds
the leaves are healthy and continue to grow
Answer
Dear Gardener: The Gardenia plant has a fungus at the base of the buds that is causing the disbudding. The safest way to treat the buds is the use powdered sulfur, (available at most garden centers) as it is a very safe fungicide. Also make sure that you have good air circulation and maybe you should withhold misting the Gardenia until the fungus problem is fixed.