Michelia champaca - root conditions (zone 8b, Western Europe)

4 years ago

Hello,

I have this Michelia since December 2018.

The branches are missing foliage on the part nearest to the trunk.

The mix is very porous & fast draining (GMX) and I fertigate with a 3-1-2 product at 1/2 dose once a week or more often when temp are high.

The plant is growing at all tips, it receives morning - to noon sun, and some leafs sunburned during the last heatwave.

Is this the normal look for a Michelia or would you suspect there is an issue with the roots (ex. congestion)?

Top pruning = if done now, will it encourage leafing out on the lower parts of the tree or it is better to leave it until mid-May next year?

Thank you.

Best,

Michael

Featured Answer

Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Mike. You might be lucky and have a rooted or mature specimen there. It looks like it should bloom.

Here is what mine looked like just a month ago until the mites got to it. Oh I miss it so much. It cost me 90 dollars When I got it (

Flowers galore and everyone that visited couldn't get over how nice it smelled. Filled the air all over.

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Comments (11)

Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
If that is what it looks like now, you have good growth and they don't mind being pruned back hard if you are looking for a very full tree.
michael_europe_zone8b thanked Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
michael_europe_zone8b
Original Author
4 years ago
That is great news, thanks Mike!

But what about the timing for pruning? Is it wise to prune at the end of the summer? (shorter days, less light...) or better wait until mid-May next year?

Summer is over in Northern hemisphere, temperatures are around 70F, and will only go down from now on.

Best,

Michael
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Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Mike , hi.

If it were my tree, I would cut it back anyways to make room for it in my growing area, and they always did well even now. It should be fine. It's a beauty I can tell you that! Watch for spider mites. I have lost two of them to that. They take you by surprise. Even if you don't see them, spray for them to avoid them. It will be your saving grace. I just lost my prize one growing wonderfully for two years over night! I am so depressed.
michael_europe_zone8b thanked Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
michaelspokane
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Your tree is probably a seedling, and may need to reach 7 to 10 years of age before it begins to bloom. With that in mind, pruning can keep the tree down to a size that is manageable. Also, root pruning will allow you to keep the tree in a practical pot. You may also consider looking for a blooming age tree from the warmest parts of the E.U. and graft a branch onto your tree. I plan to do that the next time I visit Kauai, since I know of such a tree there.

I have heard of grafted Michelia champacas; I think someone on this forum may have posted pics of theirs. Michelia x alba, however, is almost always sold as a grafted plant (on champaca) since it doesn't come from seed. They can bloom as 1' tall plants!
michael_europe_zone8b thanked michaelspokane
michael_europe_zone8b
Original Author
4 years ago
Mike, I really like my Champaca a lot, and I would also be very very annoyed to lose it because of spider mites. I know how sneaky they are. They almost killed two Plumerias last winter. Sorry to hear you've lost the tree...I'm thinking of doing a couple of neem oil sprays before I bring the tropicals indoors (around 15th October).

Michael, when I received the "tree" it came in a 10 cm x 10 cm pot, and i bare rooted the thing immediately (around 10th December 2018). I remember that it looked more like a rooted cutting than like something grown from seed. Maybe I'm the lucky owner of a more mature tree. The tree came from Germany and the nursery is dealing with plants from South-East Asia and also doing their own propagations. I've been several times in Southern Europe...but my eyes were not trained to recognize a Michelia tree. I would love to put my hands on a cutting from a mature flowering tree...

Michael
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
Michael, a very kind member here brought me a surprise! Another Michelia Alba, full size and in great shape. Mature. I am going to keep a close eye on this one. Lot's of fertilizer, moving air, in the greenhouse, sprayed with pesticide even if I don't see any once a month, in a good fast draing mix in a clay pot. Did I miss anything? lol

Mike
michael_europe_zone8b thanked Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
michael_europe_zone8b
Original Author
4 years ago
Now that's a very nice gift to receive! A full size Michelia:)) Enjoy it!

What kind of fertilizer/schedule do you have in mind for Michelia? I feed mine the same as my Plumerias.

What pesticide treatment you will apply? I made a good reserve of cold pressed neem seed oil, I may do the same during the indoor period (spray it once a month, prophylactically).

Any specific reason why you will go for a clay pot and not a plastic/resin one?

Best,

Michael
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I have a grafted Michelia alba. I love when it blooms. It is the best smelling thing in the yard! Now, I am wondering if it is grafted onto a Champaca? I hope it makes a sucker so I can cut it off and root it or layer it, lol. Then I will have a Champaca.
michaelspokane
4 years ago
Because it is relatively easy to grow from seed, M. champaca is the most common rootstock.

Meyermike, I have found that keeping my michelias outside from May to October (at least) makes the bug battle much easier. Even in my dry climate, I never see mites on them when they are outside. The main problem I've had is scale when they come in, but even that decreases when they go outside!
michael_europe_zone8b thanked michaelspokane
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
Michael, hello))

That is exactly what i did. I even plant mines in the ground then dig them back up. Even though outside I was literally quite shocked they even had them. I have never had mites on anything outside before. I guess I should of kept a close eye on them(

Michelia champaca - root conditions (zone 8b, Western Europe)

Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)

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Michelia champaca - root conditions (zone 8b, Western Europe)

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