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Magnolia boo boo
wizington
Posts: 2
Hi, 3 years ago I was given a young yellow magnolia bush (3ft high) in a pot as a wedding gift. It has never flowered but i'm determined to keep it. This year, embarrassingly, I allowed it to dry out to the point where it's leaves dropped off (I was away). When I returned I moved it into the back garden, which has more sun and is closer to the water supply and gave it a sequence of really good soaks. Then I went a bit mad and followed some advice from an online forum and pruned it quite harshly. I wish I'd left it. It now has a few leaves and more buds forming and some new shoots coming out from the base but I'm sad I pruned it and hope it'll be ok? What do you think?
0
Posts
However, they are quite tough. It will regrow from the cut areas, though it may not look so shapely (and flowering will be delayed). As these are really large shrubs or small trees, too, you won't be able to keep it in a pot much longer. It will be much happier in the ground and it will develop a root system that should protect it against temporary drought. There are very few Magnolias that actually flower when very young, so your best bet is to plant it out this autumn, checking the mature size first, then water it for a year until it gets established, and thereafter in very dry seasons. Select a strong-growing vertical shoot to become the new leader. It will flower, but it may take some years to reach flowering size. Patience will be rewarded however...