White Magnolia: Its pure white flowers emit a delicate fragrance, blooming from summer to autumn with a long flowering period. Its leaves are deep green, making it a renowned ornamental tree for gardens and commonly planted as a street tree. Flowers can be used to extract perfume or scented tea, or processed into medicinal extracts to promote qi circulation, clear phlegm, and treat coughs.Rarely producing seeds, it is primarily propagated by grafting onto rootstocks such as Cinnamomum camphora, Michelia camphora, or Machilus thunbergii. Air layering or approach grafting are also viable methods. Native to Java, Indonesia, it is now widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. In China, it thrives in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces, while in the Yangtze River basin, it is commonly grown in pots and overwintered in greenhouses.
Cultivation Techniques Soil For home potted cultivation, select loose, well-aerated soil rich in humus. Opt for porous clay pots, purple clay pots (or vases), or plastic pots with multiple drainage holes. The potting mix should contain varying sizes of granular soil to facilitate drainage and aeration.Repotting Repot the plant into a pot or container of appropriate size based on the crown's size and the plant's age to promote vigorous growth. Wait until the potting soil is slightly dry. Slowly tilt (or invert) the pot (or container), supporting it with one hand while firmly grasping the plant with the other. Carefully remove the plant and transfer it into the new pot.Place a thin layer of loose soil in the bottom of the new container beforehand. Water thoroughly immediately after transplanting to ensure the plant is stable. Light Requirements
From March to April each year, move the potted gardenias outdoors and place them in a sunny location.During summer's high temperatures, use shade cloth or a simple shade structure as needed. This allows the plant to receive morning sun while avoiding the intense afternoon rays (preventing sunburn damage to stems and leaves).Around the start of summer, move plants outdoors to a sunny, well-ventilated spot requiring at least 6 hours of daily sunlight. Adequate light ensures vigorous growth; insufficient light causes leggy growth with few or no flowers. During peak summer heat, provide partial shade to prevent scorching of leaves and tender stems.
During the peak growth period (typically May-June or July-August), fertilize every two weeks with flower fertilizer or apply a small amount of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer (2-6 grams per application) at 20-day intervals.Procedure: Use a small trowel to make several shallow, crisscrossed furrows in the potting soil. Gently sprinkle fertilizer into these furrows, cover with topsoil, and water lightly. This allows nutrients to gradually permeate the root zone with each watering. Never apply fertilizer directly to the roots, as excessive concentration near the root ball can cause "root burn."Apply diluted fertilizer frequently, preferably using cake fertilizer. Do not fertilize during winter. From the emergence of new shoots until June, water with fertilizer solution every 3-4 days. From July to September, water with fertilizer solution every 5-6 days. After several applications, pause fertilization for one cycle.
From the start of outdoor relocation until late June, apply alum fertilizer solution every 7-10 days to maintain slightly acidic soil. During flowering, supplement with one application of quick-release phosphorus fertilizer to sustain continuous fragrance.
Proper watering is crucial for healthy gardenias. Avoid overwatering or excessive moisture. The correct method is to thoroughly saturate the soil in one go. Water only when the soil surface feels slightly dry. Never water daily, but mist the leaves frequently with a small spray bottle.During summer, provide thorough watering at least three to four times monthly (plus leaf misting). A practical guideline: water whenever leaves show signs of drooping. In autumn, water thoroughly two to three times monthly; in winter, once or twice monthly.
As roots are fleshy, they fear waterlogging yet cannot tolerate prolonged dryness.In spring, water thoroughly once when moving outdoors, then water thoroughly every other day. In summer, water thoroughly once in the morning and once in the evening; spray the leaves if it's too dry. In autumn, water every 2-3 days. In winter, reduce watering—keep the soil slightly moist. After rain, promptly drain any standing water. Prevent smoke pollution and keep the leaves clean. If necessary, spray the leaves with water to facilitate normal plant development and growth.
The white magnolia, with its pure white, fragrant flowers blooming from summer to autumn, boasts a long flowering period and deep green foliage. It is a renowned ornamental tree for gardens and is commonly planted as a street tree. Its flowers can be used to extract perfume or scented tea, and their essence can be processed into medicinal extracts. These extracts are effective for promoting qi circulation, clearing phlegm, and treating coughs.
Being intolerant of cold temperatures, it requires indoor overwintering outside South China, with minimum temperatures maintained above 5°C (41°F). Reintroduction outdoors is best timed between Qingming and Guyu (mid-April to early May). Ensure thorough frost protection: daytime indoor temperatures should exceed 12°C (54°F), with nighttime lows not falling below 6°C (43°F) to prevent cold damage. Adequate air circulation and consistently moist potting soil are essential for safe overwintering.Pruning Before moving indoors, prune away dead branches, diseased branches, overgrown shoots, and overly dense branches to minimize the plant's nutrient consumption. When moving outdoors, lightly remove older leaves from the lower parts of branches to encourage new growth. Additionally, be vigilant against pests like aphids that damage tender shoots and take prompt action to control them.