Question: My gardenia flowers only last a day or two before they turn yellow. Why, and what can I do to prolong their lives?

Answer: That’s fairly normal for gardenias. Usually by the second or third day the flowers will begin to shatter. Gardenia flowers notoriously are filled with thrips. Look closely down within the petals. If you see very small, sliver-shaped insects where the petals all attach, you might prolong the flower life by a bit by applying a systemic insecticide while the buds are forming. Once the flowers open, the thrips have already done their damage.