Magnolia: Has anyone tried to bonsai a Magnolia?

[mashby]

Hi. I am new to AusBonsai but have been reading the posts and threads with great interest. I have about 20 Bonsai of different plants and in various stages of development.
We had some landscaping done to our front and rear gardens about 2 years ago. The landscape gardener planted 3 Magnolia trees but (like an idiot) I didn't ask him what variety of Magnolia they were. I was just excited to see the back end of the sand pits at the front and back of the house. I do know, however, that they are not Magnolia Grandifloria but could possibly be "Port Wine" Magnolias. Several weeks ago (my observation skills are pretty useless) I noticed a small'ish self seeded magnolia growing near the front gate (see the wide shot and closer shot of the seedling

DSCN1809A.jpg

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). As of today, the seedling is approximately 30cm tall at its highest point. The more mature Magnolias (see picture

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) are now approaching or exceeding approx. 3 metres in height. The picture of the almost opened bud of the flower is approx 6 cm wide (

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), whereas the fully opened "old" flower is just over 20cm in diameter

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.
My questions are: Has any one tried to bonsai a Magnolia? If so, was it succesful and, if so, what soil mix did you use. Also, what style would you suggest for the plant. Oh, I forgot, should I put the seedling into a training pot or straight into a bonsai pot and start styling almost immediately.
Thanks for the help anyone may be able to give me.
By the way, I live in Perth, Western Australia.

[hoang nguyen]

Hi
welcome to ausbonsai . You will enjoy this site.
With due respect , the seedling you refer is not a Mag. but looks like a ficus ..
You are in Perth ask Master Pup He will give you a more precise answer.

all the best

Hoang

[kvan64]

Yes, a ficus it is I think. Anyway, it's even better. Magnolias do not reduce leafsize too well and if you are bonsaing Mags for their flowers then it's not worth it as the flowers are shortlive.

[Asus101]

Leaves look awfully like a magnolia....

Leigh Taafe has two. Chinese use them a lot, mostly seem to be shown after leaf pruning.

[NathanM]

They certainly do get used

Not mine, but I do like the pot!

[mashby]

Thanks everyone for their warm welcome to the site. I initially thought it might be a ficus but there are none anywhere in our area si I'm not sure where the seed would have come from, that is why I thought it was probably a magnolia. I will certainly talk to Master Pup and see what he has to say.
Thanks again. The semi cascading Magnolia in the bonsai pot looks great.

[IS2SXC]

well to me that looks like this magnolia i saw at the nursery a couple of times well it sez magnolia its LITTLE GEM or something but what i noticed was it leaves was similiar to a ficuz leaf and different from the one i have at home
if u are choosing a variety VULCAN is a nice variety it has DARK PURPLE FLWERS

[mashby]

Hi IS2SXC
Thanks for the info. I'll have to go and see of I can find a Little Gem or Vulcan. I have also collected seeds from the Magnolias in my front yard and I'll try to propogate them and see what happens. Thanks again.
Michael

[hugh grant]

i have a magnolia that is in my to do list to work on. i dug it up from our backyard about a year and a half ago and they sprout quite well, the only problem is thay send out very upright shoots that basically grow along the trunk. its a port wine magnolia.

Hugh

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[mashby]

Thanks for the information Hugh

[Jamie]

if you can wire the shoots out horisontally early you wont have the trouble of them spliting when you go to wire later after they have hardened off


jamie