Crepe myrtle

[melbrackstone]

Last year I potted this into a beautiful Murrumbung pot, but I don't think the style of the tree suited the pot, at the time. Now I've chopped it back, it might be able to go back into it sometime in the future.

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Then I lost it with this tree, felt that the top section was too straight and tall, and so I gave it a chop a month ago after repotting it. Hoping for some new buds to shoot so I can build a better tree.

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[loyskirineba]

Great progression and love the pot mate!

[melbrackstone]

thanks @loyskirineba....I'm waiting for it to change colour now, so it'll match the reds in the pot....lol.

I think this pot is actually meant for penjing, but I wanted to give the tree a bit of root room to encourage it to bud out.

[anthonyW]

Lovely tree Mel, actually like the image of the right side as my front with a 10 to 20 degree anti - clockwise turn just hiding the back trunk in other words, but thats just me Mel LOL, but don t change a thing its easy sitting here and not in the flesh.

Love the pot too, very mosaic - ky (spelling ? lol) looking.

Anthony

[melbrackstone]

Cheers Anthony, I also am reconsidering the front, thanks for the input!

Apparently the pot was made with different colours of clay.... although haven't managed to learn much about the technique..

[Steve B]

Nice tree mel! I’ve wanted to try a crepe myrtle and this one shows the potential.

I too like the looks of the side views as a future front - keeping in mind that’s from a photo 2D perspective! Shows quite nice gentle movement from those angles on the main trunk. I guess the challenge will be how much front to back movement you will get if you do use this angle as a front. From your front and back shots it’s clear there’s quite a bit of movement in each direction. Might mean leaning the tree so the main trunk heads backwards and then toward to front (or vice versa). That would leave you with some thinking about what to do with the smaller secondary trunk and also what the nebari looks like as a result.

Either way, this should be something you can be pretty proud of as it looks like it’s not far away from being a bit of a stunner!

[melbrackstone]

Thanks Steve

I'd recommend a crepe myrtle to anyone, although not sure how they'd go in Canberra?

I too like the looks of the side views as a future front

Yes I agree, it certainly takes the problem straight trunk out of the equation!

The nebari is a bit hit and miss, so I suspect that might be what sets the final position, at least until I can build some new roots.

[GavinG]

They grow well in Canberra, although some years I will only pinch once before leaving it to grow flower shoots - in Sydney you can get away with pinching it hard twice. Our growing season starts later, finishes earlier.

Ground-growing gives good thick trunks quite quickly, highly recommended, although you need to keep the roots shortened and ramified in the ground by lifting it each year. They grow quite easily from cuttings.

Usual problems with fine twiggy growth often dying back over winter. Get some good movement in it early when you are growing it on, as curves and swerves become fluid and graceful with age.

Mine stays in full sun all year, and has had no problems with mildew - one advantage of our dry climate.

Gavin

[melbrackstone]

That's good to know, Gavin, thanks!

[melbrackstone]

so this happened....

[Muddy]

Saw this one in person at the Bimer show today. Lovely tree

[melbrackstone]

Thanks Muddy, another 4 or 5 years and it might just look the goods!

[anthonyW]

Wow, very nice Mel

cheers Anthony

[melbrackstone]

Cheers Anthony, it's kinda strayed from your diagrams, sorry matey....

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

I'm blown away with this one Mel