Magnolia tree: care

Its scientific name is Magnolia grandiflora L., but we all commonly know it as magnolia and its flower as magnolia. It is a tree fairly slow growth but that, with the necessary care and time, can reach a very considerable size (up to 30 meters), as is the case of the well-known specimen next to the Prado Museum, in the Spanish capital.

It is mainly used as ornamental treeand it is that this plant with origin in Florida and Texas, when it receives the necessary care, gives us from spring to autumn with its beautiful flowers, the magnolias. They are large flowers and perfume, so showy and spectacular that it is impossible not to see and smell them. Its petals are white, cream or pink, and its fruits are not very interesting. Magnolia leaves are also large, evergreen, and oval in shape, hard to the touch, and intense green color tone.

In this other post you can learn about 20 ornamental trees.

The magnolia is a tree adapted to hot climatesso its ideal location is either in full sun, or with some shade during the worst hours of sunshineas well as sheltered as much as possible from the wind.

The tree can grow reasonably well in partial shade, but its blooms will be much shorter and less spectacular, if at all, and its growth will be even slower.

Also, it is important always plant the magnolia in isolation, away from other trees and even buildings, again as much as possible. It can be grown in a pot but, as is logical, its growth will be greatly reduced.

Temperature ranges are especially important for young magnolias, as once they grow and mature the tree becomes more resistant.

Young or unacclimated specimens do not tolerate cold or frost because of its original warm environment, so if the winters in your area are cold, you will need to protect your magnolia tree during the winters with plant insulation or some other way.

This is another key point in the care of this tree, and it is that the king of the garden needs acid soils; it is an acidophilic tree. This means that if the soil is not acidic enough, your magnolia will begin to suffer from iron chlorosis, and over time, its condition can worsen, affecting not only its growth, but also its general health.

Clay soils or calcareous ones are not suitable for it, needing fresh and airy floors. The best thing to do if you have time is to prepare your soil by acidifying it with one of the many methods available, such as iron chelate, a good time before planting it. If your magnolia is already planted and suffers from chlorosis, you will have to hurry up with the treatment so that the tree does not suffer too much.

In this link you will see more about acidophilic plants: what they are, examples and care.

The best is that regularly feed your magnolia tree during the warm months with a fertilizer for acidophilic plants, which in addition to nourishing the tree will keep the pH of the soil adequate. Without proper fertilization, it’s difficult for your magnolia to produce beautiful flowers in the warmer months, so apply the fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The magnolia will also appreciate the contribution of organic fertilizers, such as earthworm humus or compost, ecological and of great value in nutrients and benefits.

The watering of the young magnolia must be frequent, to always maintain a slight level of humidity in the soil. Be careful, this should never be confused with flooding the ground, which would be very detrimental to the tree. You can help the soil maintain some moisture after irrigation with a surface mulch, which will allow you not to have to water too abundantly. Once the magnolia matures, the waterings will become much more spacedsince the tree will need a lower amount of water.

Do not water your magnolia tree with tap water if it has a high lime content in your area, as it would turn the soil alkaline and cause chlorosis to the tree. Use rainwater or, if this is not possible, let the water sit for 24 hours before using it for irrigation so that the minerals settle and stay at the bottom.

Here you can read about When to water the plants.

In this tree pruning is not necessary. It will be enough for you to remove it, like any plant, leaves and branches that are in poor condition and, beyond that, you can apply formation pruning to your liking, which usually focuses on removing lower branches to enhance the growth of the upper branches.

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