Expert: Laura Walker - 9/27/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I live in central Minnesota and bought a Magnolia bush from the local Home Depot.  The directions said to bring it inside for wintering so I did.  Now all the leaves are falling off, even though I have kept it watered.  Is this normal?  Is it just doing ist's winter thing or should I just toss it?  Thanks for your time.  Rose
Answer -
It must be a dwarf or a new kind of indoor plant I assume. Can you tell me exactly what the care tag says including the name(latin or common nam).Magnolias that I am familar with are the big Southern type or the expensive dwarfs. Let me know further info.

No, I'm sorry, I'm a notorius tag destroyer.  The plant or bush is about three feet tall, is very bush like, although it could possible grow to be a
tree, and it was 50.00 for the bush.  The leaves are totally green when they fall off and the sap is white and very sticky.  The plant is trying to regrow leaves which I find encouraging, but I know nothing about magnolias.


Answer
Rose,
I'll tell you what. Go to www.waysidegardens and www.songsparrow.com. They have an extensive array of unusual (and rather expensive) new types of Magnolias and I bet you will find it in one of these places.If not let me know and I will try helping you again.No problem.I know how you feel when you pay for that expensive of a plant and it is frustrating to deal with the thought of wasting money on plants that won't cooperate.