Will do, thanks Grant! I bought the tree 3 weeks prior. I made sure to choose a tree that had signs of new leaf growth and possibly even a flower (no luck). This tree was originally quite healthy looking apart from a couple of small brown spots on one of the lower branch. I kept in in the original pot for 3 weeks to acclimate to the positlion. Although a couple of more leaves appeared to have additional brown spots, it looked overall healthy. I decided to transpot it because the tree seems quite squished and I also noted how compact the surface roots look. Keeping a close eye on it and hoping for the best. I just wanted to be sure if it was not fungus and/or spider mites or anything other serious problems so I can proactively diffuse the situation. Here’s a photo from a top branch

@Embothrium "Pictures above show too small clay pots filled with coarse soil less potting medium. This combination will guarantee chronic problems with quick drying out and with recurring nutrient deficiencies." that's how I grow my michelia alba as well. I use 511 mix in small clay pot. it does save my plant from root rot. however, it has serious iron deficiency. I wonder if I should fertilize it often or even use iron suphate. my m.alba did had root rot twice and had been repoted 3 to 4 times within a few months. the iron deficiency maybe related to stress as well.

My M. alba was root pruned 4 years ago after it toppled over from freak wind storm and the central branch broke. It suffered severe trauma, I had kept it in shade for over a month before it recovered, limp tiny branches and very limp leaves perked back up eventually. It was under 4’ tall after it broke and had only 3 small side branches survived that the fall. Those 3 branches quickly grew into main branches with the new central leader being at over 13’ tall right now (May 2025). It’s been in the same pot since the last repot back in Fall 2022/Spring 2023 - forgot when. I’m not sure how many gallons but definitely much larger than 8gallons. 8gallons is too small. My pot is double hulled, a bit taller than a half barrel, maybe same width or slightly wider than a half barrel - probably 20-25 gallons. I get blooms and buds all year round and even had 3 seeds last year. The reason it took a month for mine to recover was because I inadvertently sheared off 70% instead of 30% of its roots. I foolishly was shear happy and by time I looked down on the ground I was shocked by what I had done. It was limp and sad for a month and so was I thinking it suffered too much trauma but it bounced back. I would not recommend sheering of more than 30%. It was in same the 12 gallon ceramic planter for a 9 years then it was repotted to 15 gallon w/o root trim. The 15 gallon single hull pot was tall so it contributed to the tree toppling over - my tree was over 9’ tall at the time but in a matter of 5 years it went from under 4’ to 13’+ tall in my large double hull pot (probably 20-25 gallons). I’m in 10a, and I cover it with frost cloth when nighttime temps are forecasted 40° and below. It is outdoors all year round for the 15+ years I have had it. It was root pruned in October 2020 - that’s when the tree had toppled over. It took a good 3+ months before it put out new growth. The photos taken were Jan 2021, Jan 2022, Jul 2022, Aug 2023, and Sep 2023 to give you a sense of its recovery. I didn’t think to take any pictures when I root pruned it back in Oct 2020 when its central leader broke. As you can see, it is possible to keep a Michelia alba tree thriving in a pot for over a decade (15+ yrs) and pot upsizing, post traumas, and an accidental severe root prune. January 2021, ~ 3 months after central leader broke and new growth emerging. January 2022 July 2022 August 2023 September 2023 7/23/2024: bloom measures 5” across from petal tip to tip at the widest point. July 23, 2024: one of 3 fruits/seeds that eventually made it. November 26, 2024: seed pod opened and fell into gauze bag I had tied over it on the tree to prevent losing it.

@RoseMe SD I had a look of your photo in the other discussion with Michelia Alba leave having brown line & edge, I think that is normal for growing leaves: all leaves will eventually get old with brown lines, edges and shrink then fall off the branch. Single Michelia Alba leaves do not stay on tree for longer than 18 months I guess, many survive shorter time.