Hi Y'all,
Just recieved my little 5 year old Crepe Myrtle today. Lagerstroemia Indicum 'Chickasaw'. Just under 7 inches from the top of the pot to the tip of the tallest branch. Pot is 6 inches across at the long axis on the inside part of the rim. Here's the front...
[img]https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad43/derkap10_photo/Bonsai/BonsaiDooDah008.jpg[/img]
and the back...
[img]https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad43/derkap10_photo/Bonsai/BonsaiDooDah009.jpg[/img]
thinking about making this the 'new' front when I repot...
[img]https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad43/derkap10_photo/Bonsai/BonsaiDooDah011.jpg[/img]
Don't think I'm really going to do anything at all with it this year except let it grow. See if it flowers. Probably do some moderate pruning in fall. Next spring I might put into a slightly larger pot. Or even, possibly, a small pond basket for a year. I'm really liking this variety of Crepe Myrtle. The leaves are really tiny and the branch ramifications are excellent. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks,
Allen
Looks like you have some nice material to work with, I'm glad you have it in a relatively large pot, because I agree, it needs a bit of free growth. I think a pond basket is also a great idea. I took the liberty of doing a few virtuals, but your vision will probably change once it grows out a bit.
Current front
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/JTsoccer59/BonsaiDooDah008.jpg[/img]
Possible future front (I like this one better)
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/JTsoccer59/BonsaiDooDah011.jpg[/img]
Current front
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/JTsoccer59/BonsaiDooDah008.jpg[/img]
Possible future front (I like this one better)
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/JTsoccer59/BonsaiDooDah011.jpg[/img]
Hi JTred,
That's some pretty good work with the virtuals
. Really pretty close to what I had in mind. Should be interesting. Although every summer it'll end up getting rather scraggly looking as I want it to flower and it'll be needing the new growth for that. Hoping it does well. I'm finding this particular cultivar more amazing every day!
That's some pretty good work with the virtuals
. Really pretty close to what I had in mind. Should be interesting. Although every summer it'll end up getting rather scraggly looking as I want it to flower and it'll be needing the new growth for that. Hoping it does well. I'm finding this particular cultivar more amazing every day!-
TomM
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derkap10, Nice little tree. I've never worked with Crepe myrtle (yet) but from the looks of yours I'm betting it is a bit 'brittle' or stiff like bahama berry or serissa, and, if so, might be a hard to train with wiring. But it would be good to pull branches down a little before they harden too much.
I wouldn't go to a larger pot anytime soon. I know you want to thicken the trunk. Let it grow out at least 2 years. 3-5 would be even better. During those years train your branches to look more mature.
Yep - nice tree. Hope it flowers well for you.
I wouldn't go to a larger pot anytime soon. I know you want to thicken the trunk. Let it grow out at least 2 years. 3-5 would be even better. During those years train your branches to look more mature.
Yep - nice tree. Hope it flowers well for you.
Hi Tom,
Probably not going to be able to take your advice about not repotting anytime soon. Right after I got it, and before I took the pics, I trimmed up all the bits of root that were coming up out of the pot around the sides and the drainage holes. If I had had a suitable pot at the time I probably would have gone ahead and repotted then as it seems to be pretty well root-bound right now. Next spring I'll move it from its 6 inch pot to, maybe, an 8 inch. Fairly deep. Thinking that should hold it for the next 2 or even 3 years. Hoping I can start working a little nebari next spring as well since it's already showing some good signs. The new growth seems surprisingly soft and springy and shouldn't be too hard to train. Again, next year. Took 2 little cuttings from it to try to root (wish me luck!). Hopefully will start to flower within the next month or so. Fingers are crossed. Right now this little feller is my pride and joy. I likes it!
Probably not going to be able to take your advice about not repotting anytime soon. Right after I got it, and before I took the pics, I trimmed up all the bits of root that were coming up out of the pot around the sides and the drainage holes. If I had had a suitable pot at the time I probably would have gone ahead and repotted then as it seems to be pretty well root-bound right now. Next spring I'll move it from its 6 inch pot to, maybe, an 8 inch. Fairly deep. Thinking that should hold it for the next 2 or even 3 years. Hoping I can start working a little nebari next spring as well since it's already showing some good signs. The new growth seems surprisingly soft and springy and shouldn't be too hard to train. Again, next year. Took 2 little cuttings from it to try to root (wish me luck!). Hopefully will start to flower within the next month or so. Fingers are crossed. Right now this little feller is my pride and joy. I likes it!