As a result, Donatas Venckevičius, the farmer of “Juragii Arboretum” told about the care of this plant and its features. He said that they have more than fifty of these plants in their nursery.
Top tips
The farmer revealed that there are several aspects that should be known before planting magnolias. According to him, it is important for these plants to get the sun, but magnolias cannot tolerate drafts.
“Their planting, unequivocally, must be sunny. That place must be warm and protected from drafts,” explained the farmer.
He added that magnolias could also be given more attention to encourage plant growth:
“You can slightly acidify the soil when planting, but they really grow in non-acidified soil.”
And finally, it is important to know about magnolias that they can be damaged by sudden changes in temperature during changeable weather.
“Also, they winter well. But there is one problem with them. It occurs when, after a warm winter, the weather cools down at the end of February.
Then, during the warm winter, the magnolia already starts to load buds, they are like this with a fur coat, and due to the frosts, the flowers of some varieties freeze in the buds. You can’t expect rings in that.
But anyway, most of them are resistant to cold. You can safely plant them,” explained the farmer.
Caring for magnolias
Magnolia growing was also written about on the derlingas.lt page, which highlighted the basic rules you need to know in order to grow these queens of the garden.
Place. You can help newly planted magnolias establish themselves in your yard by avoiding compaction of the soil around the root zone. Try to keep walking around the base of the tree to a minimum.
The soil. Magnolias like fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. If your soil is too sandy or clayey, it is recommended to improve it with compost or peat.
Watering. Magnolias require consistent watering, especially during dry periods. Young plants require abundant watering for good rooting.
Fertilization. Although magnolias are not very demanding when it comes to food, it can be beneficial to fertilize them in the spring with a special mixture of tree and shrub fertilizers.
Pruning Magnolias are best pruned after flowering, but should only be pruned when necessary (eg to remove damaged or dead branches).
Winter protection. Although most magnolias grown in Lithuania are resistant to winter frosts, young plants may require some protection. This can be done by covering them with warm cotton material or straw.
Mulching. Mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and control weeds.
Propagation of magnolias
Magnolia propagation can be done in several ways, depending on the chosen species, the age of the plant and the preferences of the gardener. Here are some of the most popular ways to propagate magnolias:
Propagation by seeds. Depending on the species, magnolia seeds can be very hardy. Before sowing, the seeds may require stratification – cold conditions to promote sprout growth. When the seeds are ready, they should be sown in fertile soil and kept in a warm place.
Propagation by cuttings. This is the most popular and effective method of propagating magnolias. Cuttings are taken from a healthy plant in early spring, about 10-15 cm long with several leaves.
After that, the cuttings are soaked in special solutions for root formation and planted in fertile soil or a special mixture. The cuttings must be kept in a warm, moist environment to form roots.
Multiplication by division. This is a possible method of propagating shrub magnolia species that form several stems from a single root. The best period for division is early spring or autumn, before the onset of frost.
Propagating magnolias requires patience and special care. When propagating these plants, it is important to consider the needs of their species and allow time for the plants to grow healthy and strong.
Magnolia diseases and pests
Magnolia diseases are generally not serious or common, but there are a few that are worth looking out for so you can take appropriate action. Treatment for magnolia tree diseases will always depend on the age of the tree and the severity of the symptoms. Since these trees vary greatly in size and shape, you will have to “treat” more severe diseases at your own discretion.
Here are some diseases that magnolia owners notice:
Leaf spot. When velvety reddish-brown areas with hair-like structures appear on the underside of magnolia leaves, you are likely dealing with leaf spot. The good news is that it is not a serious disease, although it looks scary. If your tree is not a show tree, it is not necessary to treat this infection.
Cancer. This infection necessitates pruning magnolia branches and can endanger a large tree. If you notice that one branch has suddenly died, but the rest are healthy, it’s time to prune it and look for more places where the bark is peeling or unusual knots are forming.
Wood rot. The phrase “tree surgery” may not be in your vocabulary, but tree rot is one of the reasons you’ll need to become a “surgeon.”
Depending on whether the wood rot is inside the tree or around the base on the outside, the tree can be saved from rot if the disease is caught early. The signs of this disease are quite vague, such as withering of parts of the tree’s crown or leaking areas on the bark.
Ornamental plants, including magnolias, are attacked by common pests such as aphids. They are also parasitized by various types of insects or other animals, but they generally do not pose a threat to the general condition of magnolias.
When will the planted magnolias begin to bloom?
After planting a magnolia, you probably immediately wonder when it will start to bloom? When magnolias bloom after planting depends on several factors, including the age of the plant at planting, the species chosen, growing conditions and care.
Young magnolia seedlings, especially those taken from seed, will not usually start flowering until they are at least 5-10 years old. However, if you buy a more mature seedling, it may bloom earlier, perhaps even the next year after planting.
Some species of magnolia begin flowering at a younger age than others. For example, magnolia lily (Magnolia liliiflora) and some other smaller-flowered species may start blooming earlier than larger-flowered species.
Although there is no guaranteed period after which a magnolia will begin to bloom, many gardeners can expect blooms within the next 3-5 years if a more mature seedling is planted. So, you need to have a lot of patience and spend a little time on maintenance, but the flowering of the magnolia will definitely be worth your wait!
Source: derlingas.lt
