How should potted white magnolia (Magnolia denudata) be managed and cared for during the flowering period?

White magnolia is an evergreen tree that likes warmth and humidity, and is neither drought-tolerant nor cold-tolerant. Its flowers are as white as jade, and their fragrance spreads all around. How can you make a potted white magnolia produce more flowers, larger blooms, more vivid flower color and a fragrant scent, and also a long flowering period? The key is to strengthen the management of the potted white magnolia during its flowering period.

First, remove leaves and pinch out growing tips: The time for moving it outdoors is every year between the Spring Equinox and Qingming. Choose an overcast or cloudy day to move it outdoors. After moving it out, give the potted plant 2 to 3 days to adapt to the outdoor environment before you begin removing the plant's old leaves, keeping only a few young leaves at the branch tips to encourage new shoots. Then, after each batch of flowers finishes blooming, also remove a small number of old leaves to promote new branch growth and flower bud formation. During the white magnolia's growth period, also pinch out growing tips regularly to control apical dominance and encourage more side branches.

Second, supplement nutrients adequately. This is an important part of flowering-period management. White magnolia is a flowering plant that loves fertilizer, because it has a long flowering period and many flowers. Therefore, nutrients must be supplemented adequately and regularly in order to produce more flowers, larger blooms, more vivid flower color and a fragrant scent. Besides applying enough base fertilizer when potting, during the flowering period from May to October, apply an organic liquid fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium once every 5 to 7 days, such as decomposed cake fertilizer water. The principle of fertilizing is to apply thin fertilizer frequently; you can also use the method of starting with a weaker solution and then a stronger one. Never apply raw fertilizer, otherwise it will burn the roots. At the same time, carry out foliar fertilization once every 7 to 10 days, spraying the leaves with 0.5% plant growth promoter and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate.

Third, water at the right time. White magnolia has fleshy roots; it needs water but also fears waterlogging. Therefore, from early summer to late autumn, water once a day to keep the soil moist, but during the hot dog days, water once each in the morning and evening, and also spray water on the leaves and the ground around the flower pot to increase air humidity. When using tap water to water white magnolia, pay attention to preventing soil alkalization. If the leaves are found to be turning yellow, apply ferrous sulfate water or water the roots with 0.7% to 0.8% sour vinegar water. You can also spray the leaves with 0.3% to 0.4% sour vinegar solution, which also works very well. In the rainy spring season, water must not accumulate in the flower pot, otherwise the roots will rot.

Fourth, suitable light. White magnolia is a sun-loving plant and needs plenty of sunlight. During the growth period, it should be kept on a balcony or in a sunny spot with long sunshine hours and strong light, especially during the flowering period. Daily sunlight must not be less than 6 hours. If the white magnolia is kept in a shaded place, it will only grow leaves and not bloom, or bloom very little, with slender branches, pale leaf color, thin leaves and no luster, which is very unfavorable to its growth. However, during the hot, high-temperature dog days, it should also be moderately shaded. Generally, from 12:00 to 16:00 each day, avoid scorching sun exposure and also avoid high-temperature radiation from brick walls or concrete ground. At this time, not only should you spray water on the plant to cool it down, but you should also water or spray the ground to lower the temperature and dissipate heat, increase air humidity, and artificially create a suitable environment.

Fifth, prevent and control pests and diseases. In the process of managing white magnolia, besides paying attention to preventing and controlling yellowing disease and root rot, you should also prevent and control anthracnose. If disease is found, promptly remove diseased plants and diseased leaves, and at the same time spray the leaves with a 50% carbendazim solution diluted 500 to 800 times, or use a 70% thiophanate-methyl solution diluted 800 to 1000 times for control. White magnolia is mainly harmed by aphids and scale insects. Aphids harm tender buds and flower buds. They can be killed with sumicidin, or sprayed with a 500-times solution of washing powder, or you can use a cotton swab dipped in washing powder solution to wipe off the pests, then rinse the branches and leaves with clean water. Scale insects can be killed by spraying with 0.3% to 0.4% sour vinegar solution, or removed by hand.