Star magnolia ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips

Plant star magnolia correctly

In order to properly plant a young Magnolia stellata, only a few aspects play a role. Early spring has proven to be the best planting time, when the soil is completely thawed in February / March. Here are the steps to do it correctly:

• Soak the potted young plant in a container with water
• Meanwhile, create a planting pit at the site with a depth of 50-60 cm and a diameter of 100 cm
• Fill a sack with bog soil into the planting hole, add the excavated material and mix
• Plant the potted Magnolia stellata in the middle, press the substrate on and water
• A plant stick next to that Star magnolia Hit the ground to fix the wood to it

It is important to note that the star magnolia does not get deeper into the earth than it was before. A look at the earth mark shows where the planting depth is limited. A Magnolia stellata planted too deeply will not bring you joy.
Continue reading

Care tips

Professionally planted in the right location, the maintenance protocol of a Magnolia stellata contains only a few items on the agenda. The pivotal point is an adequate water supply, as the shallow rooters quickly thirst when it is dry. Ideally, you should use lime-free irrigation water, as the star magnolia prefers a slightly acidic pH value. Fertilize From March to July, either organically with acidic leaf compost every 4 weeks or administer a mineral-organic Slow release fertilizer for bog plants.

Every year after flowering, the dead wood should be removed so that light and air can penetrate into all areas of your Magnolia stellata. A pruning should only take place if it is unavoidable. In this case, use freshly sharpened and disinfected scissors after flowering. Winter protection is only required in the bed in the first year and in the tub.

Loving care protects the Magnolia stellata from diseases like that Leaf spot disease and mildew. In addition, pests such as aphids or whiteflies avoid a vital and healthy star magnolia.

Which location is suitable?

The choice of location contributes significantly to the successful cultivation of a Magnolia stellata. The following criteria should be met:

• Sunny to partially shaded location without blazing midday sun
• Nutrient-rich, humus soil, deep and freshly moist
• Ideally a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.8

We recommend to give preference to a sunny north-facing position over a sun-exposed south-facing position. Thanks to this prudence, early flowering Magnolia stellata will save you from the worst effects of late frosts, as the onset of flowering will be a little delayed.
Continue reading

When is the flowering time?

The star magnolia opens its flowers as one of the first ornamental trees in the garden. The flowering period of a Magnolia stellata begins at the beginning of March and extends well into April. If this very early onset of flowering is too difficult for you, choose the Royal Star variety. Here the white star blossoms do not unfold until mid-March and, if the weather is nice, we will be delighted until May.
Continue reading

Cut star magnolia correctly

The star magnolia is one of the special treasures of the garden because it does not age even after many years. Instead, a Magnolia stellata gains enchanting beauty over time. The flowering wood accomplishes this miracle without extensive pruning. In view of the slow growth rate, there is seldom the desire to prune anyway. Here's how to properly manage this aspect of grooming:

• If necessary, prune a Magnolia stellata after flowering
• Shorten shoots that are too long by a maximum of a third
• Thoroughly thin out the wood every year after flowering

An optimal incision starts just above an outward-facing eye, with the scissors at a slight angle.
Continue reading

Fertilize star magnolia properly

With the beginning of flowering, the need for nutrients increases. So that the Magnolia stellata has enough energy for the lush flowering flora and the subsequent leaves shoot, give the ornamental wood a helping hand with a suitable fertilizer. How to do it right:

• Apply a granulated slow release fertilizer for bog plants in March
• Dose the preparation according to the manufacturer's instructions, work in with the rake and pour
• Alternatively, deciduous compost and mature every 4 weeks Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) on the Tree grate give
• Provide the Magnolia stellata with liquid fertilizer in the bucket

The application of fertilizer ends in July at the latest so that the star magnolia can mature before winter.
Continue reading

Diseases

Mother nature endowed the star magnolia with a robust constitution. When it comes to health problems, fungal infections are usually the culprits. Powdery mildew and downy mildew in particular can cause problems for a Magnolia stellata. In addition, the ornamental wood should be checked regularly for symptoms of leaf spot disease. This bacterial infection manifests itself as black spots on leaves and flowers.
Continue reading

Propagate star magnolia

The lavish abundance of flowers of a Magnolia stellata, paired with unobtrusive care requirements, naturally awaken the desire for more specimens. Fortunately, there are several answers to the question about possible methods of propagation. How to breed a star magnolia:

• Sinker
• Cuttings
• Mossing
• Refining
• sowing

For inexperienced hobby gardeners, propagation using a sinker is recommended. To do this, pull a half-lignified, healthy shoot to the ground and dig in a central section. While this offshoot remains connected to the mother plant, it develops its own root system. In contrast, the sowing as the most complex and lengthy method, as stratification is required and the first bloom appears after 5-8 years at the earliest.
Continue reading

How do I transplant properly?

You can transplant a star magnolia yourself after a few years. A suitable time is either a day in March or, better still, in September / October. Proper preparation makes a valuable contribution to make the procedure as stress-free as possible for your Magnolia stellata and to minimize the loss of root mass.

Two weeks before the actual transplanting, cut off the roots all around. Ideally, the diameter corresponds to the height of the flowering bush. Then loosen with the Digging fork the root ball and then water penetratingly for 30 minutes. Until you plant the star magnolia in the new location, repeat the watering process 1-2 more times.
Continue reading

Star magnolia does not bloom

If a Magnolia stellata refuses to flower, this is how it expresses its displeasure. It is best to start a dedicated investigation into the cause. For these reasons, a star magnolia does not bloom:

• Wrong location: too shady, too calcareous, too dry, too wet
• Cutting back in autumn destroyed all buds that had already been created
• After a recent transplant, the Magnolia stellata takes a long time until the next flowering
• A star magnolia grown from seeds does not bloom for the first time until after 5-8 years
• If there is a lack of nutrients, the wood does not have the energy to form flowers

Continue reading

Brown leaves

If the well-formed, green leaves of a star magnolia turn a sad brown, the ornamental shrub is not doing well. Possible causes are: a fungal infection, leaf spot disease, an unsuitable location, drought or lack of nutrients. If, however, the summer is already drawing to a close, it is a completely natural fall of leaves.
Continue reading

The star magnolia as a high trunk

as High trunk the Magnolia stellata gets an elegant appearance. In this form, the flowering wood is ideal for tub culture and for the small garden. The star magnolia develops these advantages as a high trunk, as long as the height is within limits. If you choose a height of 60-100 cm, maintenance is uncomplicated because the crown is easy to reach.
Continue reading

The most beautiful varieties

• Leonard Messel: an outstanding Magnolia stellata with calyx-shaped flowers in white with pink stripes
• Chrysanthemumiflora: the variety captivates with a hard winter shell and distinctive flower shells in delicate pink
• George Henry Kern: Nobody can escape the magic of the majestic flowers of up to 14 cm in diameter
• Rosea: from March onwards, it sets itself in the limelight with initially pink, later pure white flower stars
• Royal Star: saves its white flowers from late frosts by delaying the start of flowering by 2 weeks
• Rosea Jane Platt: emerged from a Magnolia stellata rosea, the variety heralds spring from the beginning of March