Illustrated Detailed Explanation of the Key Techniques for Growing Southern Magnolia
Southern magnolia, also known as bull bay and lotus magnolia, is an ornamental flower native to the Americas. Its flower buds are very large and somewhat resemble lotus flowers. It can also be used as a landscape tree and as a medicinal plant. The flowers of the southern magnolia also have a certain fragrance and can absorb toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide, thereby helping to protect the environment. Now let us take a look at the key techniques for growing southern magnolia, with pictures.
1. Suitable temperature
The southern magnolia prefers a warm environment for growth, especially in places with good light, but it can also tolerate shade and cold. As long as the temperature does not fall below minus 12°C, it can generally survive. The most suitable growing temperature for the southern magnolia is between 25 and 30°C.
2. Soil conditions
To grow the southern magnolia well, it is best to choose sandy soil or loess with deep soil, good drainage, and a slightly acidic pH.
3. Transplanting method
Before transplanting the southern magnolia, pest control and sterilization treatment of the soil in the planting hole must be carried out 6-10 days before transplanting the seedling, using 70 percent thiophanate-methyl or 50 percent phoxim emulsifiable concentrate plus 50 percent carbendazim powder for spray sterilization and insect killing. For newly planted southern magnolias, work must be done to separate salt and alkali. The planting hole can be lined underneath with materials such as coarse sand and furnace slag as a salt-barrier layer, and prepared planting soil can be chosen for the upper layer.
4. Watering method
The southern magnolia has fleshy roots and loses water easily, so planting must be done quickly to prevent excessive water loss and death. After transplanting the southern magnolia, the first settling water must be given quickly and must be thorough and sufficient, so that the roots and soil can fully combine and help it survive. In addition, the first watering must involve a large surrounding pit and thorough watering, allowing 10G of rooting agent dissolved in the water to be poured into the tree hole to help new roots grow. The second watering should be 7 to 10 days later. The third watering can be done after about 20 days.
5. Treating the trunk
For newly planted southern magnolias, whitewashing treatment can be carried out after transplanting. Straw rope can also be wrapped around about two meters of the trunk to reduce water evaporation. During drought, water can be sprayed onto the straw rope to create a moist micro-environment.
6. Pruning branches
By pruning branches and removing leaves, water evaporation can be reduced and the water supply pressure on injured roots can be eased. The natural tree shape of the southern magnolia is elliptical-ovate and very attractive. Pruning should remove inner branches, overlapping branches, and diseased and pest-infested branches, while striving to maintain the integrity of the tree shape. It should be noted that the southern magnolia has low branching ability and poor sprouting ability and does not tolerate pruning, so pruning must be done carefully. Branches must not be cut off arbitrarily, as this may affect the tree shape. During the young tree stage, to promote good growth of the central main branch, side buds around the main branch can be removed.
7. Fertilizing
In spring before flowering, apply organic fertilizer once; during the growing period or after the flowers fade, apply diluted manure water once or twice. This can make the leaves green and the flowers abundant, and in the second year the flowers will be large and strongly fragrant, enhancing the plant's disease resistance.
According to the introduction in this article, when growing southern magnolia, the above seven key points must be mastered, so that the success rate of planting is higher.