Saucer Magnolia Propagation

Seed

• Although saucer magnolias planted from seed are not true to type and can take many years to flower, many gardeners prefer this method of propagation because it is simple, inexpensive and has fewer chances of disease transmission. Collect the seeds from fallen cones in early fall and sow them immediately or stratify them over the winter to increase chances of germination. Plant the seeds no deeper than 1 inch in pots filled with soil-less potting mix and set in a room with consistent temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds typically germinate in two to three weeks. Transplant the seedlings outdoors six to eight weeks after they sprout.

Layering

• When propagating saucer magnolias through layering, slits are made into the plant through which roots develop while it is still attached to the parent. The advantages layering offers include lesser plant maintenance and on-site propagation. Bend a low-growing branch until it touches the soil and make a slit through the bark at this point. Insert a peg over the branch to hold it down and cover it with soil. Stake the other end of the branch off the ground, with its tip pointing upward. When the buried section develops roots, usually within one to two years, sever the branch so it grows into an independent saucer magnolia tree.

Chip Budding

• Many types of magnolias, including saucer magnolias, are propagated through chip budding, which is the easiest grafting technique. The method is advantageous to the novice gardener because it is simple and can be performed at any time of the year, preferably during the summer. In this method, a piece of bark, or chip, is removed from the magnolia tree and replaced with another chip that contains at least one bud. With proper care, the bud gradually grows into a new branch with the same characteristics as its parent tree. The success of this method of propagation primarily depends on the level of contact between the cambium layers of the chip and the rootstock.

Rooting Cuttings

• Propagating saucer magnolias through softwood cuttings in early summer usually yields successful results. Cut a tender or soft 4- to 6-inch-long shoot from the new growth on the parent tree soon after new growth finishes. Remove the foliage from the lower 3 inches of the cutting, leaving 2 or more along the upper portion of the cutting. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone before planting it in a pot with sterile potting soil. Provide the cutting warm, indirect sunlight until it roots, usually within four to six weeks.