Gardening and Horticulture - Magnolia buds won't open
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WFO
05-07-05, 07:51 PM
We've had a piece of property 1 hour west of Houston, TX for the last two years. There is a 12 foot Magnolia on it that is in all other aspects very healty. However, every year we get a lot of buds, but none will open. The soil is very sandy (but drains very well) with little in the way of nutrients. The last 2 years have been very wet by Texas standards. Any ideas why the buds won't open?
twelvepole
05-07-05, 08:41 PM
Too much shade? Magnolias do best out in the open and lots of sunshine. Too much fertilizer? To much nitrogen can inhibit bud growth. pH problem? Magnolias like acid soil (5.0). Pick up a soil test kit at a local garden center.
Thrips? These insects attack Magnolia buds and cause them to never open. Check buds for brown trails where they eat through petals.
What cultivar magnolia? Not all cultivars do well in all growing zones. Most do well in zones 5-9. What growing zone?
http://home.att.net/~velvet-hammer/information.html
Thrips? These insects attack Magnolia buds and cause them to never open. Check buds for brown trails where they eat through petals.
What cultivar magnolia? Not all cultivars do well in all growing zones. Most do well in zones 5-9. What growing zone?
http://home.att.net/~velvet-hammer/information.html
WFO
05-08-05, 08:42 AM
It gets full sun all day every day. There is no fertilizer added, so whatever nitrogen the tree gets is from the air/rain.
This soil is called "sugar sand" if that gives you any idea of what it is like. Just a notch or two above being at the beach. I'm not sure how that runs, ph-wise, but I"ll get a kit.
Assuming it turns out to be too alkaline, what's the best way to improve acidity? Pine needles? (of which I have copious amounts).
This soil is called "sugar sand" if that gives you any idea of what it is like. Just a notch or two above being at the beach. I'm not sure how that runs, ph-wise, but I"ll get a kit.
Assuming it turns out to be too alkaline, what's the best way to improve acidity? Pine needles? (of which I have copious amounts).
twelvepole
05-08-05, 11:32 AM
Some types of fertilizers can help to acidify the soil and most of them are safe to apply. Acidifying fertilizers include ammonium sulfate, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, urea, and ammonium nitrate. Read the label on the fertilizer bag to determine if it is an acidifying fertilizer.
Because of its structure, sand does not hold on to nutrients very well. Many plant nutrients dissolve in water, so they tend to leach out of sandy soil fast. For this reason, it is important to use a timed-release fertilizer that won't wash through the soil before plants can make use of it.
Because of its structure, sand does not hold on to nutrients very well. Many plant nutrients dissolve in water, so they tend to leach out of sandy soil fast. For this reason, it is important to use a timed-release fertilizer that won't wash through the soil before plants can make use of it.