Let's assume you are talking about Southern Magnolia, the
one with the dark green leaves with rusty backsides and large, fragrant
flowers. These trees are notoriously difficult to transplant. Seedlings must be
dug with the entire root system intact and transplanted at the same depth they
were growing and even then the rate of success is low. Use a well-drained soil
in the container and keep it moist but not wet until established. Also, keep
the containers in shade to protect the seedling.

Magnolias can "sulk" for years upon transplanting and be
difficult to establish even when planted from a nursery container. The leaves
should not turn brown and fall off; Southern Magnolia is considered evergreen
though it drops plenty of leaves. If your seedlings have dropped their leaves,
gently scrape the bark with your fingernail, if it is green the seedling is
still alive.

Seeds are used for propagating magnolia, but need special
treatment. The red, fleshy coating around the seeds should be dried or removed
before planting. Spread the seeds out in a thin layer and place in the sun
until the coat is very dry, stir the seed every so often. Or soak the seeds in
water for 24 to 48 hours and remove the softened coat by rubbing together in
your hands or across hardware cloth, then dry the seed before planting or
storing.

Dried seeds may be stored for several years at temperatures
at or near freezing, but not in a home refrigerator, there are gases produced
by fruits and vegetables which affect the seeds and the temperatures tend to
fluctuate.

Magnolia seeds are dormant when the cones drop from the tree
and require treatment to germinate. The small plant inside the seed or embryo will
only grow if exposed to cold temperatures between 32 and 41 degrees F for 3 to
6 months. Sowing the dried seeds in the fall in climates with the appropriately
cold winter will do the trick. So will storing the seeds in moist peat and
artificially chilling them. Protect the seeds from freezing.

Germination should occur in 3 to 6 weeks after the dormancy
requirement is fulfilled. If seedlings appear before the danger of frost has
past, move or cover the seedlings to protect them on cold nights.

All that being said, this is one plant I spend a few dollars
on at a reputable nursery. Seedling magnolias can take up to 10 years to bloom
and do not always look like the tree that produced the seed. Most commercial
nurseries sell trees that have been propagated from cuttings, grafting or other
vegetative means to produce vigorous plants that bloom quickly.

Let us know what works for you and good luck. Check out
Learn2Grow's plant profile about Southern Magnolia at http://www.learn2grow.com/PlantDatabase/Plants/PlantDetails.aspx?PlantID=2304383e-2d6b-4f0c-8043-5fb6ffacfd4c
for more information.

Carol