Stagnant’Little Gem’ Magnolia - Ask Extension
We got a 6-7ft tall ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia 3 years ago and it looks like it isn’t growing at all. It had beautiful and abundant blooms the 1st 2...
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Stagnant’Little Gem’ Magnolia #744541
Asked April 15, 2021, 3:28 PM EDT
We got a 6-7ft tall ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia 3 years ago and it looks like it isn’t growing at all. It had beautiful and abundant blooms the 1st 2 years and last year it hardly had 3-4. What might be wrong?
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
There could be several issues causing the problem. I can't tell by looking at the picture what exactly is at play, but I'll list off some possibilities so that you can determine which might be keeping your magnolia from growing and blooming well.
-If you prune your magnolia (which you shouldn't need to do at this point in its growth), make sure to do it immediately after flowering so that you are not cutting off next year's flowers.
-It's possible your soil is lacking in nutrients or is at an acidity level your tree doesn't like. You may want to get a soil test to determine pH level as well as nutrients. Magnolias like a slightly acidic soil.
-You may not be watering appropriately. A good rule of thumb is to give your tree 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter once a week during the summer season. This depends on the type of soil you have, the drainage of your site, and how hot it is. There may also be competition from the surrounding plants. Here's a link for more detailed information on watering. I see a drip line below your tree, but you may need to supplement with additional water. Make sure to moisten the entire root spread of the tree, not just right up close to the trunk.
-'Little Gem' Magnolia has a wider spreading root system than most plants so it's possible that the soil above the roots is getting compacted. I would pull the rocks away from the base of the tree where the roots are and mulch with an organic material that will help preserve moisture and keep the shallow roots cooler during hot weather. River rock is pretty, but it can heat up quickly and stress your plant if it is already on the dry side and rocks don't add any nutrients to the soil.
-Magnolias are prone to getting root bound. I don't see any indication of that in your photo, but if you choose to pull back the rocks, perhaps you can gently scratch around a little to see if there is a root circling around the base of the tree.
-I don't see any indication of disease or insect pests, but if you rule out all of the above you might want to take a closer look at the leaves.
Good luck with your tree, I hope you have more beautiful blooms in the future!
-If you prune your magnolia (which you shouldn't need to do at this point in its growth), make sure to do it immediately after flowering so that you are not cutting off next year's flowers.
-It's possible your soil is lacking in nutrients or is at an acidity level your tree doesn't like. You may want to get a soil test to determine pH level as well as nutrients. Magnolias like a slightly acidic soil.
-You may not be watering appropriately. A good rule of thumb is to give your tree 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter once a week during the summer season. This depends on the type of soil you have, the drainage of your site, and how hot it is. There may also be competition from the surrounding plants. Here's a link for more detailed information on watering. I see a drip line below your tree, but you may need to supplement with additional water. Make sure to moisten the entire root spread of the tree, not just right up close to the trunk.
-'Little Gem' Magnolia has a wider spreading root system than most plants so it's possible that the soil above the roots is getting compacted. I would pull the rocks away from the base of the tree where the roots are and mulch with an organic material that will help preserve moisture and keep the shallow roots cooler during hot weather. River rock is pretty, but it can heat up quickly and stress your plant if it is already on the dry side and rocks don't add any nutrients to the soil.
-Magnolias are prone to getting root bound. I don't see any indication of that in your photo, but if you choose to pull back the rocks, perhaps you can gently scratch around a little to see if there is a root circling around the base of the tree.
-I don't see any indication of disease or insect pests, but if you rule out all of the above you might want to take a closer look at the leaves.
Good luck with your tree, I hope you have more beautiful blooms in the future!
