Hi for a present I have received a Magnolia Leonard Messel. I don't really have the room to plant in the ground so would it be OK in a pot. I understand it needs ericaceous compost to do well.
Wow impressive. I might give it a year or so in a pot and then move to a house with a bigger garden!
Probably the best solution as it’s a plant worth moving house for
You will need to plant in a large container (at least size of a half barrel) in soil based compost, this is the only sort that will have enough body to encourage proper root formation and water retention. But yes, it will outgrow the container in 2-3 years.
I think Leonard Messel is one that tolerates normal soil, even alkali. I planted one years ago at my old house that had alkali soil and it grew pretty big.
Couldn't you squeeze it in somewhere in the ground?
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Yes @Busy-Lizzie is right about the soil. I think it will only be happy in a pot if it is very tiny: I bought a stellata from a supermarket, it was only about 6 inches tall and I grew it on in a pot for a couple of years. It grew like Topsy and went into the ground at around 2 ft. It's taller than I am now.
Posts
It is quite a fast grower, gets large.
Not sure that it will be happy in a pot.
You will need to plant in a large container (at least size of a half barrel) in soil based compost, this is the only sort that will have enough body to encourage proper root formation and water retention. But yes, it will outgrow the container in 2-3 years.
I think Leonard Messel is one that tolerates normal soil, even alkali. I planted one years ago at my old house that had alkali soil and it grew pretty big.
Couldn't you squeeze it in somewhere in the ground?