Magnolia Advice

Hi,

I planted a Magnolia Solangeana last spring. We got it from a nursery and it’s around 3-4 feet tall now. When we got the plant it didn’t have flowers and it looks like this year may be the same. I’ve seen much smaller trees in nurseries and gardens and they have flowered. I am worried that I’ve planted it in an area where it isn’t getting enough sun (around 2 hours a day then shade). Would you say I’ve made a mistake on position or do they take a while to settle in?

Thank you in advance

Stevie

 

Is it only getting 2 hours of sun in mid summer, if so it must be getting less at other times.

I would still have expected a few flowers so maybe it needs a bit more time to establish.

Just as long as it looks healthy and is growing well.

 

Hi there, thanks for your reply.

It’s only getting 2 hours at the moment, it’ll get much more mid-summer.

it’s growing well and seems fairly happy, it was just the lack of flowers that worries me. I have a Camelia in the same area and that barely flowers either.

 

They dont have yellow foliage do they, I mean they are a nice dark green?

 

Whereabouts in the UK are you?
I presume that your soil is neutral/acid.
It's probably still settling in and last summer was dry.
If that area dries out over summer then the camellia would benefit from some watering, as that's when the flower buds are formed.

 

Hi Pete, there isn’t any foliage at all yet but it’s close. it’s usually nice and green though. It seems a little behind the Magnolias that are local to me.

 

Hi there, I am in the North West, near Manchester. It does get dry there in summer though, I’ve put some drainage in last summer, to stop it from getting bogged. The Camelia has been in for around 3 years now though.

 

I wouldn't contemplate trying to move it. They put down strong tap roots, so it's probably been busy doing that at the expense of flowering. Try sprinkling a high potassium fertiliser (e.g. 8-8-15 NPK) for a metre all around the tree while the soil is still damp, or water it with a liquid tomato feed in summer. This link may help...Non-flowering woody plants / RHS Gardening

 

Thanks for your advice everyone, it’s put my mind at rest. I’ll try using a fertiliser as advised and see how it goes.