Magnolia - bud drop

[norfolklass]

three or four years ago I bought my mum a standard magnolia for mother's day but it still hasn't flowered. each year it gets more flower buds but before they can open they all drop off. although it's in a large pot rather than in the ground it seems pretty leafy and healthy and puts on growth every year but still no flowers. my mum, bless her, isn't the most attentive of gardeners so I'm thinking maybe it needs feeding/mulching/more regular watering, but any advice would be very welcome. thanks folks!

[norfolklass]

[ACE]

A really good feed should do it some good. I always feed after flowering. April/may then again in the winter just after xmas. Some of these type of shrub/trees start forming next years flowering tips straight after flowering. Makes it a bit hard to prune properly and put down food when it really needs it.

Pehaps a re-pot in fresh potting compost if it has been there some time.

[norfolklass]

thanks Ace.
any feed in particular or just a good general purpose fertiliser?
and when's the best time of year to repot?

[ACE]

thanks Ace.
any feed in particular or just a good general purpose fertiliser?
and when's the best time of year to repot?

Try some slow release stuff. It lasts a long time. I use houseplant food sticks on most potted stuff.

[norfolklass]

thanks again Ace, that's mum's birthday present sorted!

[ACE]

, that's mum's birthday present sorted!

You can sort out quite a few presents this time of year. If you are cutting down old bramble watch out for the frisby, there's one in every patch. clean it up. There's the kids sorted ;)