Teddy Bear Magnolia with greying leaves

[phantombucci]

Hi all,

About 9 months ago I purchased a teddy bear magnolia for our balcony. Over the last few months many of the leaves have become increasingly grey and are dropping (see attachments.)

Hopeful for some guidance on what this might be, and how we might go about fixing it.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Oliver Buckle]

It looks like something fungal. I don't know 'Teddy Bear', so I looked it up "Teddy Bear is an upright evergreen magnolia perfectly suited to smaller spaces because it grows just 20 feet tall and 12 feet wide." Sounds a bit big for a balcony plant, and tbh your balcony looks a bit shaded, those are the sort of stress factors that make plants susceptible to this sort of thing.

 

[Twigs]

It may need more sun and more space. The wall/balcony may be reducing air circulation which help dry more naturally.
Is the balcony facing South, Southwest, West? I ask, because it may help answer the type of stress the leaves show. Additionally, how often is it rotated?

 

[oneeye]

I love your tree. Magnolias are deciduous and evergreen trees depending on their location. In early Summer magnolias drop their leaves. The leaves drop off and are replaced by new ones every year in warm areas. Looks like that's the case with your tree. Here's a horticulture tip for big trees in containers. After a year you can remove the top 2 inches of soil from the top of the pot and replace it with super organic soil. I use Roots Organic potting mix for a top dressing. I have plants over 15 years old in the same containers using this method. .