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HELP!!!!! URGENT MAGNOLIA CARE :(

missccasey89FP8yCINomissccasey89FP8yCINo Posts: 6
edited September 2021 in Problem solving
Hello all - I hope someone can help.

I inherited a lovely potted young magnolia plant from my grandparents, and I need some help in how to care for it. I am very new to gardening and would like some advice on how to save my beloved magnolia. 

I recently went on holiday for two weeks, and have come back to a very sad looking plant. Its leaves are all brown, and curling inwards. It lives in the garden with the other plants, and they seem to be fine. It sits in a sunny spot, where it will get sun for most of the day. There are also some weeds growing in the pot which I assume I should probably remove. 

Does it just need a good drink or do I need to prune all the brown leaves off? Is it in the wrong place? Any help would be appreciated :'(
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  • missccasey89FP8yCINomissccasey89FP8yCINo Posts: 6
    Here is my magnolia: 

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Can you post a photo? 2 weeks without water won't have done it any good so give it a good watering until it is saturated, you will probably see air bubbles rising from the compost as you water. Keep going until the bubbles stop. Yes, remove any weeds.
    Ideally you would plant it out into the garden rather than keep it in a pot,
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's been seriously dehydrated by the sound of it @missccasey89FP8yCINo . Unfortunately, the fact that it's been sitting in sun without any water for 2 weeks is likely to be the problem.
    I'm afraid any plant in a pot needs extra care, and especially something like a Magnolia. They aren't the easiest shrubs/trees to look after in a pot.
    If you can put the pot into a saucer or tray and then water it, allowing it draw up all the water in the tray, that will help. You may need to do that a few times to get it thoroughly hydrated again. The water will run straight through initially. 
    Don't prune anything off at this stage - they're mostly deciduous anyway, and the foliage will be dropping soon, so don't worry about that just now. 

    If you can upload some photos, we can offer more help. The icon that looks like hills is the one for photos.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    If you can't get it planted, it needs a MUCH bigger pot
    Devon.
  • missccasey89FP8yCINomissccasey89FP8yCINo Posts: 6
    Thank you both - pictures up! Weeds coming out as we speak and watered until bubbles stopped. We have a really small garden and I'd like to be able to take this plant with me whenever we move. Maybe a bigger pot?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    missccasey89FP8yCINo said:
    Thank you both - pictures up! Weeds coming out as we speak and watered until bubbles stopped. We have a really small garden and I'd like to be able to take this plant with me whenever we move. Maybe a bigger pot?
    SNAP
    Devon.
  • missccasey89FP8yCINomissccasey89FP8yCINo Posts: 6
    Hostafan1 said:
    missccasey89FP8yCINo said:
    Thank you both - pictures up! Weeds coming out as we speak and watered until bubbles stopped. We have a really small garden and I'd like to be able to take this plant with me whenever we move. Maybe a bigger pot?
    SNAP
     :D:D
  • missccasey89FP8yCINomissccasey89FP8yCINo Posts: 6
    What soil should I use in the bigger pot? Should I get some ericaceous?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sorry - the pic wasn't there when I posted.  :)
    As everyone has said - bigger pot - and not planted in just compost either. You need a soil based growing medium in there. You can get them in garden centres - look for  a John Innes mix that's suitable for trees and shrubs. 

    Keep it in the shade just now too, to help it recover.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • missccasey89FP8yCINomissccasey89FP8yCINo Posts: 6
    Thank you - you've all been so helpful!! :)
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