Southern Magnolia grows best in moist, rich soils in full sun. It also is adapted to partial shade and wet or clay soils. It is considered very drought tolerant when grown in areas that allow extensive root growth. It is moderately drought tolerant in areas with poor, dry soil or where its root system is restricted. Recommend that the tree not be fertilized until it has had the opportunity to establish its roots. The application of root stimulator will help with that establishment. It should not need pruning and you should provide a circle of mulch about 4 to 6 feet in diameter and about 4 inches thick around the tree. See the North Carolina State University article on magnolias at this Web site:
kelley.ece.ncsu.edu...
'Little Gem' is a very exciting cultivar, selected by Warren Steed of Steed's Nursery in Candor, NC. This is a smaller leaved, relatively compact form, that is an excellent choice for today's smaller landscapes. It is sometimes referred to as a 'dwarf' cultivar but this is not the case - it has reached 12 feet in 6 years at The NCSU Arboretum (now the J. C. Raulston Arboretum). Nonetheless, the relatively compact form of 'Little Gem' can bring the aristocratic character of Southern Magnolia to gardens without the great need for space required by many mature seedlings or completely full size cultivars. 'Little Gem' has the added advantage of flowering as a young tree with an extended bloom time throughout the summer and fall (although there is some lessening of bloom during the summer's peak of heat). Its important to note that 'Little Gem' is one of the least cold hardy of these selections and will not thrive further north or west of the central Piedmont.
The Ponderosa lemon is not cold hardy and unless you live in a frost free area, should be planted in a container so that you can move it to a protected location in the winter. See this Purdue University Web site for more information on growing citrus as container plants:
www.hort.purdue.edu...
This is in part what it says: "Soil, water and fertilizer needs of citrus are similar to other houseplants. A good-quality potting soil mix with blooming-houseplant food applied according to label directions should be sufficient. Water thoroughly at intervals that allow the soil to dry just a little between waterings." Also see this Web site for more info on the Ponderosa:
hammock.ifas.ufl.edu...
'Ponderosa' is not a true lemon, but its fruit are much like lemons, only larger and more pear-shaped, and citrons, which it also resembles in some tree and fruit characters. It originated as a chance seedling about 1886 and has been grown primarily for ornament in dooryard plantings. 'Ponderosa' can be used as a lemon substitute.
The fruit is large, obovoid to pyriform, with a broad nipple and radially ribbed collar or short neck. The peel is lemon-yellow, thick and slightly bumpy. The flesh is pale green, juicy and acid. Fruits are seedy and monoembryonic, maturing year round. The tree is small, productive and somewhat thorny. It is more cold sensitive than true lemons, which l imits its range to central and south Florida.