AusBonsai

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). As of today, the seedling is approximately 30cm tall at its highest point. The more mature Magnolias (see picture) 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 (), whereas the fully opened "old" flower is just over 20cm in diameter .
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.

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

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.

Leaves look awfully like a magnolia....

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

They certainly do get used

Not mine, but I do like the pot!

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.

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

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

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

Thanks for the information Hugh

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