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Magnolia sulking or terminal?
m_r_nicholls
Posts: 5
Hello,
I bought a magnolia black tulip in the spring from a reputable garden centre. It was (still is) about 5ft tall.
I live in Thame, my soil is clay, neutral (possibly slightly alkaline - maybe).
I have an existing magnolia soulangeana which is very happy and thriving, in a very similar spot.
The black tulip though is at best sulking, at worst dieing. When i bought it it had 1 flower, it tried to get some leaves, peaking at about 3 leaves, which soon died and shrivelled.
I noticed at the time, I thought the pot it was in was quite small, it wasnt pot bound but I have wondered if it was being fed at the nursery, and is now struggling in my soil.
I did possibly plant it possibly slightly deep, I also planted it with a bit of old ericaceous.
Whats done is done, the question really is;
Do i just leave it, is it possible its just settling in and may well recover next spring with a bit of die back?
Do I replace it, planting in autumn I always prefer to shrubs, and it will have the winter to settle in?
Do I learn my lesson - I wondered if this variety was a bit less tolerant of my soil, the existing magnolia is one of the happiest plants i have?
I bought a magnolia black tulip in the spring from a reputable garden centre. It was (still is) about 5ft tall.
I live in Thame, my soil is clay, neutral (possibly slightly alkaline - maybe).
I have an existing magnolia soulangeana which is very happy and thriving, in a very similar spot.
The black tulip though is at best sulking, at worst dieing. When i bought it it had 1 flower, it tried to get some leaves, peaking at about 3 leaves, which soon died and shrivelled.
I noticed at the time, I thought the pot it was in was quite small, it wasnt pot bound but I have wondered if it was being fed at the nursery, and is now struggling in my soil.
I did possibly plant it possibly slightly deep, I also planted it with a bit of old ericaceous.
Whats done is done, the question really is;
Do i just leave it, is it possible its just settling in and may well recover next spring with a bit of die back?
Do I replace it, planting in autumn I always prefer to shrubs, and it will have the winter to settle in?
Do I learn my lesson - I wondered if this variety was a bit less tolerant of my soil, the existing magnolia is one of the happiest plants i have?
0
Posts
What care has it had since planting @m_r_nicholls? It would have needed good watering, especially at that size. It certainly wouldn't have grown since then, apart from producing a bit of new foliage. It takes a long time for shrubs/trees to establish, especially that size. It'll be next year before you'll see any real changes.
Most magnolias are best in neutral to acidic soil, but adding some compost won't really make any long term difference. If your soil is alkaline it won't thrive, but if your other one is ok, it shouldn't be a major problem.
Clay soil is the best growing medium, but it can be difficult unless amended well enough. In dry/hot areas, or long dry spells, it cracks, which isn't good for newly planted specimens. In wet spells, or consistently wet areas, it holds water, which is equally problematic. It's always beneficial to amend the soil before planting anything, by adding lots of organic matter, and then adding to that regularly to improve the soil structure long term
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
RHS says, clay, acid/neutral, and for Soulangeana says, chalk/sand, acid/neutral.
So by those accounts ironically my soil is more suited to black tulip.
What makes you think this one needs acid soil?
as for care, I gave it a good soak once a weak, sometimes twice in the hot spell.
I was a bit concerned it was planted maybe 1-2cm too deep.
this is what it looks like..an elegant tall twig.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
If pots get dried out, they don't rehydrate easily, and even when planted and watered well, they can struggle to take up that water. It can just run through gaps in compost. Even in consistently wet areas, shrubs and trees need really thorough watering for a long time, and certainly through the summer months if there's no persistent rainfall, and they also need checked regularly to see that they aren't drying out. Many places have had very dry conditions too, which can be a problem.
What size was the pot - diameter?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I couldnt really tell u the size of the pot, a bit small I thought, which made me wonder if these sort of things live on a diet of liquid fertilizer, and are then rudely dumped in my soil and choke on it.
Tbh, that bits in the past, the question is what to do next.
If i scratch the bark in the lower half of the plant, then it green, it IS alive, but is it alive and dieing or alive and sulking?
Do I replace it or leave it another 12 months?
If i replace it, do I risk the same again, as I say, I do have another magnolia, and according to the RHS website, my soil is suitable, maybe not ideal, but suitable, but I wonder if the RHS really knows.
on Google checking it mainly seems to thrive in neutral to acid rather that the other way.
It’s not hurting there, you could leave it and see what it does next year, who knows, we could all be proved wrong. Maybe you can show us a photo next Spring, Won’t be long, it’s nearly winter now already.😉