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Hello everyone

martasodhimartasodhi Posts: 5
in The potting shed
I moved to a new house a year ago. The garden was a jungle so we cut all down to start fresh. However I think we have magnolia grandiflora which started to shoot from the main stemp.  What do I do with it know? I want to keep it and it look like a  shrub at the moment ( quite nice) .do I need to cut the shoots off or just leave it to grow? Thank you 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    A picture would help but I have to ask, if you keep cutting off shoots, how do you expect it to grow?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • martasodhimartasodhi Posts: 5
    I mean to leave only one main one
  • martasodhimartasodhi Posts: 5

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The problem is that having cut it back hard you have altered its form.   have to get a bit scientific here, sorry.

    Magnolias which want to be trees have something called an apical bud at the tip of the main stem which produces a hormone called auxin that inhibits growth lower down the stem and allows that stem to become dominant.   By cutting it back you have removed those hormones and have turned your plant into a multi-stemmed shrub and I doubt you'll be able to turn it back to a tree.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • martasodhimartasodhi Posts: 5
    Thank you for that. If I leave it to grow as a shrub, is there a chance for it to flower? Such a shame we didn't know we have magnolia in the jungle 😕 I wouldn't let it cut down 😞
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Yes, if it's fed (rose or tomato feed which encourages flower formation) and not pruned anymore its stems should mature enough to produce flowers but I can't tell you how long that may take.

    My last garden had alkaline soil so I couldn't grow them and in this garden we inherited one which has succumbed to old age and disease and drought so I'm on the lookout for a new one to plant in a more favourable position.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • martasodhimartasodhi Posts: 5
    Thank you for all the information.  I will leave it in peace and watch it grow. 
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