A Detailed Guide to the Meaning of the White Magnolia Flower and Its Key Planting Points

I believe everyone is familiar withthe white magnolia flower; it is generally planted on school campuses or as a street tree along both sides of roads. The white magnolia has a tall and straight trunk, its tree rises high with dense shade, and its evergreen leaves stay lush and green all year round. So what is the meaning of the white magnolia flower? What are the key planting points?

1. What is the meaning of the white magnolia flower?

The flower meaning of the white magnolia is pure love and sincere affection. The white magnolia's flowers are pure white and fragrant, opening between summer and autumn, with a long flowering period and deep green leaves. It is a famous ornamental tree for gardens and is often planted as a street tree. The flowering period is from April to September, with peak bloom in summer, and it rarely sets seed.

2. What are the key planting points for the white magnolia?

1. Water management

During the growing season, the soil should be kept moist, and water should be given in good time during dry periods. Pruning: to keep the white magnolia's crown graceful, improve ventilation and light penetration, promote flower bud differentiation, and ensure large flowers the following year, attention should be paid to pruning. Cut out diseased and dead branches and overly dense branches. For parallel branches and water sprouts, remove suckers at any time as needed.

2. Planting techniques

First, for lifting the seedling, the plant must have a soil ball, and the diameter of the soil ball should be 8-10 times the diameter at breast height. After the soil ball is dug out, it should be tied firmly with straw rope to prevent it from breaking apart during transport. Second, for the planting time, the timing must be grasped well; it should not be too early or too late. Planting 10 days before bud break in early spring or before leaf expansion after the flowers fade is most suitable. Third, the tree pit should be large rather than small; if the tree pit is too small, it is not only troublesome to plant but also unfavorable for root growth; fourth, if the soil is too sticky or the pH value is too high, the soil should be replaced with imported soil, and a spot sheltered from wind, facing the sun, with fertile, loose soil and good drainage should be chosen; fifth, the subsoil is best if it is weathered soil and should be mixed evenly with base fertilizer, taking care not to damage the roots; sixth, the planting depth should be suitable. Generally speaking, the planting depth of the seedling can be slightly higher than the original soil ball by 2-3 cm; if too deep, it is prone to bud suffocation, and if too shallow, the roots will be exposed; seventh, large seedlings should be staked in time to prevent them from being blown askew by the wind; eighth, after planting, fill in the soil and press it firm, then immediately water thoroughly the first time, water the second time after 3 days, and water the third time after 5 days; ninth, if the planted seedling has flower buds, the flower buds should be cut off to prevent the plant from consuming a large amount of nutrients through flowering and fruiting, which would affect the survival rate.

3. Fertilizer

Magnolia relatively likes fertilizer, but it should not be given heavy fertilizer; in addition to applying enough base fertilizer, generally applying fertilizer twice during the growing season is enough to benefit flower bud differentiation and promote growth. One application is in early spring, and the other is carried out in May to June. The fertilizer is mostly fully decomposed organic fertilizer. Newly planted seedlings do not need to be fertilized; fertilize again after leaf fall or in the following spring. Magnolia's root system is a fleshy root and is not tolerant of waterlogging. It also likes moisture and fears waterlogging, and this principle should be strictly grasped in cultivation and maintenance. However, in practice many people think that because magnolia fears waterlogging, it should be watered as little as possible. But fearing waterlogging does not mean it likes drought; magnolia itself likes a moist environment, so how should this degree be controlled? The author believes that during cultivation, the soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged, and especially during the flowering and growing period, the soil should be kept slightly moist.

4. Pruning

Magnolia's branches and trunk have a relatively poor ability to heal wounds, so unless necessary, pruning is generally not carried out. If the tree shape is unattractive or rather messy, diseased and pest-damaged branches, dry and dead branches, drooping branches, water sprouts, overly dense branches, and useless branches can be thinned out according to the actual situation, so as to facilitate ventilation and light penetration and produce a graceful tree shape. However, this should be done in early spring at the beginning of leaf expansion. Magnolia is generally not headed back, so as to avoid cutting off flower buds.

In addition, after the flowers fade, if seed is not to be kept, the spent flowers and follicle fruit clusters should also be cut off to avoid consuming nutrients and affecting flowering the following year.