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Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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Posted by karen_b_z9 z9, SAC, CA (My Page) on Sat, Jun 17, 06 at 13:01
| I just received my 1 gal Michelia Alba from T Tropicals. Am getting ready to pot it up!! Am thinking of using StaGreen's Tropical Potting Mix for Indoor Plants (purchased at Lowes). Any thoughts on this?? I read the article on the FAQ page about growing Michelias. It recommended using leaf mold?? Not sure where to get that or if u would put it in a pot (can you tell my experience level??).
The article also recommended Safer brand liquid plant food for Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Camellias. I cannot find this doing google search. Or a recommended alternative?? Does anyone know where to purchase this?? The article recommended using Miracle-Gro for acid loving plants if you leach, but I would prefer not to.
I will try to post a pic in case anyone is wondering what you get for 1 gal purchase of this plant from t tropicals.
Karen |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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Ok, here is a try at a pic:
After an hour, cannot figure it out. Do know how to email if anyone interested.
Karen |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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I have 4 Michelia Albas they all grow great in pots....
I don't think they are that fussy, they grow like weeds,
they don't like full sun all the time though, if you can do filtered sun that would be perfect. The flowers remind me of Sweet Juicy fruit gum. I love them. |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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That is good to know. We had a heat wave (bet 105 & 110) for over a wk. Had it getting morning sun til about 1. Leaves were burning, so I moved to my courtyard under shadecloth. It seems to be happy...no more burned leaves so far. Have a humidity tray under it and the courtyard also has a fountain which helps a little with humidity. Will keep my fingers crossed!! Do you leave yours outside all winter? I am so happy to finally have one (was my b.d. present to myself). Can't wait for blooms!!
Karen |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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| Another try of image 
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RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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Here is a web page:
http://home.earthlink.net/~kbweb1/ |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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| Hi Karen - congratulations on your Michelia Alba purchase. You will absolutely love the scent. Make sure you have well drainage. Kasie |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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- Posted by jimshy z7 Brooklyn, NY (My Page) on
Wed, Jul 5, 06 at 12:30
| Looks good! I always forget how big michelia alba's leaves are! Jim |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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Thanks....of course it has fewer leaves after my putting it in the scortching morning sun during a heat wave. It seems to like where I moved it, though...new leaves coming in. Never smelled them before but after reading this forum for about a year...just had to have one. Thanks for all of your cents (quite a few more than 2, I might add) about this plant!! I would have never discovered it without all of you.
Karen |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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Hello,
Thank you for all your comments that I have read.
I live in San Diego, CA and this is my 4th Michelia Alba (heheheh). The 1st three all died. :( I just purchase this one and I am very nervous in killing it.
The leafs are green.
I put it in my patio in a sunny area (west word facing patio). There are no flowers blooming when I bought it.
What do I need to do to make sure that the flowers will bloom and what do I do during winter time in San Diego? thanks for all your help |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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| When potting Michelia Albas, it is best not to overpot (don't use bigger pot than it's root system) and have sufficient drainage. Expert growers told me the best time to re-pot is between May and June. Never repot when there is a heat wave following because one should allow 3 days later to re-water the newly potted plant. This reduces infection to the plant through damaged roots. Guaging water is very challenging. When in doubt, do not water. Best time to water is when your leaves show the first sign of drooping. Once thoroughly water (let water run out of the bottom of the pot), your leaves will perk up immediately. If not, something is wrong with your root system and do not water further. Never collect water under the plant, it will keep soil too wet and chances of root rots increase. Fertilize April thru October since it is the growing season for the plant. Each new leaf to a well fertilized plant will bring one fragrant bud. Do not fertilize from November to March since it is winter and the plant does not grow rapidly then. It was suggested that we plant in pots so we can move indoors when the weather gets too cold. If planting in ground, slopes does best since it is well drained. Best to allow plant to be 6 feet tall before planting in ground. Do find a good spot for it since if you are able to sucessfully grow it, it can be a 25 feet tall tree. |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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Marlene
Where do you live?? Do you grow your outside?? I live in Folsom, CA (by Sacramento) and would love to grow outside if possible. Currently, I bring mine in during winter. If not Alba, has anyone tried another one of the Michaelias outside??
Thanks
Karen |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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- Posted by newgen 9 California (My Page) on
Tue, Oct 27, 09 at 13:19
| I'm in Bakersfield, CA. The cold season is approaching, it almost never snows here, but the temps can drop down to low 40s, sometimes high 30s. Currently my M. alba is in a large pot, under a covered patio, shielded from wind, it gets dappled shade from the patio and from the surrounding banana trees. At what temp should I bring it indoor? 40s? Should I leave it in the garage or inside the house? The garage gets minimal light, but inside the house I can leave it next to a south-facing window to give it some sunlight. I got my plant about 5 months ago, it has not flowered, but has grown quite a few leaves. Thanks!!! |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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- Posted by daxin z9 Bay Area (My Page) on
Tue, Oct 27, 09 at 21:13
| Alba is not that tender. I left mine outdoors all winter even when it gets to low 30s. It will definitely suffer leaf damage below 28F, but if yours is under cover, you have an extra 5F margin. You can bring your Alba inside if a frosty night is in the forecast, even then it is always better to take it outside once the temperature come back up since the big leaves on Alba are magnets for spider mites inside. Also make sure not to overwater your Alba in winter. It is OK to wait till the leaves are droopy and then give it a small amount of water around noon on a relatively warm day. |
RE: Potting Michelia Alba-Few Questions-Will try pic
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- Posted by newgen 9 California (My Page) on
Tue, Oct 27, 09 at 23:19
| daxin: Thanks for the response. The Bay Area is much colder than here (I used to live in SF/Oakland/Berkeley), so with my patio I think I'll leave it outside. I have stakes set up around the pot rim, so that in a pinch I can wrap a piece of cloth around the whole pot for frost protection if it gets that cold. |
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