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Magnolia Stelleta
missbaggs
Posts: 6
I have a Magnolia stelleta tree that is around two years old. I purchased it about 8months ago and it was doing very well. I had several new stems and lots of new leaves.
The last couple of months noticed that the leaves went a very pale green, I assumed that it didn't like the shady damp spot I had chosen it and moved it to a full sun position. Now for a few weeks we have had heavy rain fall and I have noticed an increasing amount of brown spots appearing on the leaves. I have tried feeding and pinching off the leaves but nothing is helping. The leaves are mainly on the tips of branches but there are a few on the base. Does anyone have any ideas? I thought it was leaf spot disease but from people's description of it sounds unlikely.
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Do you know if you have alkaline (limey or chalky), neutral or acidic soil? Magnolias can cope with slightly alkaline or neutral but prefer slightly acid soil. They don't do very well in very acid, very alkaline, or poorly drained soils. The paleness of the leaves with green veins showing is usually a sign that a plant is struggling to take in magnesium or iron which can happen in very acid or very alkaline soils.
If you don't know what type of soil you have, are there any rhododendrons/azaleas growing in the area, indicating an acid soil?
Last edited: 16 August 2017 15:37:48
Hi, no it's not acidic soil, rhodes and azaleas do t grow very well round here and all my hydrangers are pink! We have just normal london clay soil, I've never tested the soil to be sure. I moved the tree from a damp shaded area to a full sun area with lots of drainage.
Don't *^
There was a beautiful Magnolia Grandiflora tree that was growing for many many years in our next door garden, it was growing and blooming perfectly until new residents cut it down. Point is our Magnolia tree is not that far from that one and is failing miserably.
It is possible that moving the tree recently may have stressed it. It is very important to plant trees in carefully. The soil around it needs to be well prepared and generous. Once established, they are OK in clay soil, but in the early years, the soil around the roots needs to be loose and well worked over.
Keep this tree watered now, even if it's wet as it is young and trying to put down roots. Be consistent and work with the weather. If it's dry and no rain for 4 plus days, water generously. Do not plant it in and expect it to grow with minimal watering throughout the first few years.
Even if they say the tree is for moist free draining soil, it is still young and will need time to establish. I don't think you should pinch out leaves as right this moment, not sure whether there is a virus or it's stressed and possibly shutting down. But do keep areas around it clean and tidy. Promply removed dead leaves and feed as recommended by BobTheGardener. However, there is nothing wrong with plants shutting down early due to stress.
Last edited: 16 August 2017 18:09:03
Thank you Borderline, we moved it when it started to turn yellow because we thought it didn't like it. The soil it's in now it well nourished and loose so I will keep it as happy as I can. Is it possible to over water these trees? I'm taking care now to water the branches and leaves but I'm concerned that I'll over water it?.
Missbaggs, let me know how much are you watering. It's hard to know as you don't mention your schedules.
For intstance, in summer temperatures around 22C, without rain for 5 days, the plant will need at least need a full bucket of water. Water this slowly and directly into the base of the plant otherwise precious water is lost away from the area. At slightly cooler temperatures without rain for just over a week to 8-9 days, you again will need to water again the same amount. In extreme heat like 26C plus, you will need to water it every 3 days, again a full bucket.
I think it's not over watering, it might be waterlogging that can sometime kill plants, but if you have created a free draining environment, it's unlikely that even slight over watering will kill it.
For now, try not to think about how the leaves look like. Unlike the Grandiflora, the leaves will drop and if it's still alive, fresh leaves should return next year, hopefully without spots and deformities. Just concentrate on removing fallen leaves and if you are concerned, rake lightly the top layer of mulch/compost and put a fresh layer in at autumn time.
Last edited: 16 August 2017 22:16:20