Hello! Growing magnolia trees from seeds is a fun, rewarding hobby. It’s not difficult to do, but it does take some patience. This guide will help you get started and show you what to expect as your saplings grow.
It is important to plant the right species.
You might also need to be careful which species you plant, as some of them may be illegal to grow in your area. For example, the Magnolia virginiana and M. grandiflora are not legal for cultivation in many states due to their toxicity and invasive nature. The other species that are considered invasive include M. stellata and M. soulangeana.
If you live in New England or other regions where it snows often, considers planting a cultivar that has been bred for cold tolerance like ‘Benjamin Franklin’ (M. macrophylla) or ‘Magnolian Gold’ (M. denudata). These plants can withstand temperatures down into the teens!
Germinate the seeds in a plastic bag.
To germinate the seeds, you’ll need to start by placing a few of them in a plastic bag. Add water to the bag and seal it tightly. Place the bag in a warm, sunny location and check on it every few days. When the seeds sprout, remove them from their bed of moistened soil and plant them in containers filled with potting soil that has been mixed with peat moss or vermiculite for drainage purposes. Water these pots when they feel dry, but don’t overwater them—you want to avoid getting waterlogged roots!
Sow the seeds where they can get plenty of suns.
Whether you have a greenhouse or live in a climate where the ground is frozen for most of the year, you’ll need to provide warmth and sunlight for your seeds. If you’re lucky enough to live where it’s warm year-round (like me), then sow your seeds directly outside in the ground as early in spring as possible. This can be any time from late winter through early summer, depending on where you live and how cold it gets at night.
If not, then look for an alternative location with good light exposure and temperatures between 70°F (21°C) and 80°F (27°C). Depending on how much sun they get each day, some types of magnolia trees may need help breaking dormancy before they will germinate well; if this happens with yours, try placing them near a sunny window until they sprout.
Incorporate compost into the soil.
Compost is a great soil amendment that can help to improve the quality of soil and make it more fertile. Compost is made from organic material such as leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, dead plants, and animal waste. After the materials are shredded or chopped up into small pieces they are allowed to decompose in a process called composting. The resulting material contains nutrients for plants including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which are important for good plant growth.
To incorporate compost into your soil:
- Spread about 2 inches (5 cm) of compost over the ground where you will be planting your magnolia tree seedlings (or other plants). Mix well with existing soil until there are no patches left of unincorporated compost visible on top of the ground.
Mulch around the seedlings with shredded bark or pine needles.
Mulch around the seedlings with shredded bark or pine needles. Mulching helps keep the soil moist, which prevents seedlings from drying out and dying. It also keeps weeds down, so you won’t have to weed after your plants are established. Mulching also helps keep soil temperature even throughout the year: mulch insulates plants from cold winter temperatures and cools them off in hot summers.
Water them regularly and deeply.
Magnolias need to be watered regularly and deeply. Water them when the soil begins to feel dry about an inch below the surface, and water them until water runs out of the holes at the bottom by at least 1/4 inch. This could take up to an hour for each watering depending on their size, so don’t rush it! You might also want to consider using drip irrigation instead of sprinklers if you have a large Magnolia tree; that way you can be sure that each plant is getting exactly what it needs without wasting any water.
Reduce watering during the winter months when there are fewer plants for eating.
- In the winter, you should reduce watering. The less water that’s available, the fewer bugs there will be to eat your magnolia tree and its seedlings. This means less competition for resources among plants competing for sunlight and space in the ground or pot.
- Mulch is good for keeping soil from drying out in hot weather, but it also helps keep soil from freezing in cold weather too quickly, which can damage roots and make it harder for your plants to grow. It’ll also help keep your pots from drying out as quickly on sunny days if you’re growing them outdoors year-round.
- If you decide to follow this method all year long (leaving seeds inside over winter), then make sure that when spring comes around again and temperatures rise above freezing every day or two, don’t forget about those little guys! They’ll need some light so they can sprout into healthy seedlings–if left alone too long without any sun exposure they may end up turning brown before they even get started on growing leaves!
Magnolias can be planted in your yard and thrive, but need some special care.
Magnolias are beautiful plants, with their large leaves and fragrant flowers. They can be planted in your yard and thrive, but they need some special care.
- Magnolias need lots of sun to do well outdoors. Choose a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day; this will help the tree grow quickly while producing healthy blooms year after year. It’s important to note that magnolia trees should not be planted under power lines or next to buildings or other structures where they may get too much shade from nearby objects—this will prevent blooms from forming on branches close to these dark areas.
- Good drainage is crucial for magnolia trees’ survival; if there’s standing water around them (especially during winter), this can cause disease problems that could kill your plant! Always make sure there are no puddles anywhere near where you’ll be planting your new tree before sitting it in its hole; if possible, put down some gravel around its base so it’ll have better access to water when needed later on down the road!
Conclusion
With so many benefits, it’s worth doing some research and finding a place in your yard for a magnolia tree to grow. Whether you decide to use seeds from the ones you already have or pick up some from a nursery, remember that trees need plenty of room to spread out their roots, so choose an area where there is space for them to grow as tall as they want (they can reach heights of sixty feet!), and don’t forget about giving them enough water and sunlight!
