Magnolias

[Megan Ockers]

My lovely magnolias - stellata and soulangeana - have not flowered again this year.

Any bright ideas, m'dears? Many thanks.

[Caddi Fuller-Teabags]

no ideas, though I am jealous, as I love magnolias.

[Fi]

They do best in full sun. If they are already in a sunny spot, the only other thing I can think of is to feed them just after they have (not) flowered, i.e. about now and then feed them again in late autumn. I know M. stellata likes a slightly alkaline soil, but M. soulangea, as with most magnlias, likes it slightly acid, I think. So it may be worthwhile checking the pH of the soil where they are planted. But don't give up on them - I had a stellata that did nothing for years after it had been planted and then, about 5 years ago, it was covered in flowers and has repeated it's show ever since.

[Megan Ockers]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

I have them protected by a hedge from the early morning sun so the frost doesn't get them, but they're in full sun otherwise. We're in very fertile soil here so it never actually occurs to me to feed anything, but I'm wondering if the hedge is being a bit greedy so I'll give it a go! Thank you!