Reasons Why Magnolias Will Not Bloom

Light

• Magnolias grow best in full sun, although they can survive in some shady areas of the landscape. Too little light is one of the main reason a magnolia fails to bloom. Poor lighting on just one portion of a magnolia tree can result in a tree that forms blossoms on the branches in the sun, while the branches in heavy shade fail to produce any buds or flowers.

Late Frosts

• Although different cultivars of magnolia may have slightly different requirements, most can survive in temperatures as cold as U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone 4. Late spring frosts play a major role in depleting a magnolia of its blossoms. Late freezes that occur after the magnolia develops flower buds can kill virtually all the buds and result in a magnolia that fails to blossom during the active growing season. Covering a magnolia before an expected freeze in late spring may help save some of the blossoms.

Nutrition

• Like other ornamental trees and shrubs, magnolias require an adequate amount of nutrients to form healthy blossoms. Magnolias prefer rich, fertile soil that contains a high amount of organic material. Too much nitrogen in the soil can cause excessive leaf growth, while reducing or eliminating flower formation. Applying a fertilizer that contains phosphorus can help improve the level of nutrients and correct an imbalance of nitrogen in the soil.

Pruning

• Heavy pruning can remove entire sections of flower-bearing branches from your tree, resulting in a bare tree that fails to flower. Avoid removing more than one-third of the branches during a single year. Pruning back just one-third of the branches each year leaves enough branches intact for blossom production, while limiting the extent of pruning stress to these ornamental plants.