How Can I Help My Magnolia?

Question

I bought this earlier in the year at a home furnishing store, and it was beautiful for awhile, but has really been struggling lately. As far as environment, I try to keep the soil consistently moist, not wet (have let it dry out a bit recently). It sits in a window with eastern exposure, but I also have a plant bulb (pink light, full spectrum? I forget what they’re called) in the light above it, and is near an ac vent in my home. I have also fertilized with generic houseplant food 2x month. Are any of these factors? Any help would be appreciated, I am afraid I am all will be lost soon! Thank you, Kindra

• 
• 
• 

Answer 1

Unfortunately, they are ALL factors.

In container, the soil needs to dry out down to about 2 inches between waterings.

Feeding should occur 2 or 3 times per year. Feeding more often than this will cause nutrient burn.

These trees prefer sun. They can tolerate shade, but they really want full sun. Those "blurple" LED should really be avoided. The panels that contain enough of the light spectrum to sustain this tree will be way more expensive than necessary, when the sunlight will be much better for it for free. Blue and red spectrum, alone, is not enough to sustain much. These lights are intended for short crops that don't have much nutrients to begin with. (Think lettuce) I would keep this outdoors as much as possible.

An air conditioning vent will blow, very, dry air onto the tree. This will not be good for it, and can dry out leaves.

In order to save this tree, proper care will be necessary. This collection of articles will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/magnolia