Large Crepe Myrtle

[kvan64]

Looking great Fly. Will make a nice broom style bonsai.

[MattA]

Hey Fly,

I was thinking about this stump the other day, it really has thumped away

It was originally collected November '09 & flowered March '10 so there is hope for yours, it was planted in the ground tho & that has a major influence on the speed of recovery with larger collected pieces like this. The down side of letting it flower is the drain on energy after the major surgery it has had this spring.

If it was me (and in my climate) I would be very tempted to tip prune back to some mature leaf & buds, pump high NPK feed into it & give it as much water as you can. That should generate a second strong flush of growth. Autumn drop the N and find the warmest most protected spot to get the longest growing season possible. Keep it dry over winter to avoid any rot of even the smallest roots. Next year it will be powering & ready for you to go to town again!

I also have had a large one for four years and have yet to see a flower. I hope you have better success.

Bodhi, what is your pruning routine with your CM? In my experience, until very mature or styled with its growth habit in mind, its usually a choice between flowers or having a tree that looks like a 'Bonsai'.

Matt

[alpineart]

Hi Flybri , mate its a ripper and growing well .My air layers flowered but the base Trunk didn't . I took a look around town last season and a lot of the tree's had flowered up top but not down low where people have pruned them . I'm guessing it would take a season or two to develop flowering buds without root work or removal for bonsai .

Cheers Alpineart

[bodhidharma]

Bodhi, what is your pruning routine with your CM? In my experience, until very mature or styled with its growth habit in mind, its usually a choice between flowers or having a tree that looks like a 'Bonsai'.

Hi Matt, it is not a Bonsai yet. It was collected 4 years ago and it is in a large grow pot. No work done yet but also no flowers

[MattA]

Bodhi, what is your pruning routine with your CM? In my experience, until very mature or styled with its growth habit in mind, its usually a choice between flowers or having a tree that looks like a 'Bonsai'.

Hi Matt, it is not a Bonsai yet. It was collected 4 years ago and it is in a large grow pot. No work done yet but also no flowers

HHmmm very odd. Over the years I have dug many CM's & if dug before december almost always flower the same season. I tend to ground grow them for a year or 2 so that may be a factor. I did have a dwarf crepe that never flowered in a pot, since being in the garden it flowers its head off!

Matt

[MattA]

Hi Flybri , mate its a ripper and growing well .My air layers flowered but the base Trunk didn't . I took a look around town last season and a lot of the tree's had flowered up top but not down low where people have pruned them . I'm guessing it would take a season or two to develop flowering buds without root work or removal for bonsai .

Cheers Alpineart

Crepe's flower on the tips of the current seasons growth. Tip pruning during the growing season will affect flowering potential but if pruned during the dormant period should have no bearing.

[FlyBri]

If it was me (and in my climate) I would be very tempted to tip prune back to some mature leaf & buds, pump high NPK feed into it & give it as much water as you can.

Gday Matt!

I've been thinking about your suggestion, and I might prune it back hard now - if nothing else it will make me feel like I am taking positive action for the tree's future. There are still no signs of flower buds, but meanwhile the purple flowering Crepe in the garden is about 1/4 covered in flowers. I reckon I can safely abandon any hope of flowers this year.

Thanks!

Fly.

[FlyBri]

... I might prune it back hard now.... I reckon I can safely abandon any hope of flowers this year.

I didn't, and I haven't.

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_0212_01.jpg

I may regret it later. Looking pretty healthy, if I do say so myself!

Updates to follow...

[MattA]

... I might prune it back hard now.... I reckon I can safely abandon any hope of flowers this year.

I didn't, and I haven't.

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_0212_01.jpg

I may regret it later. Looking pretty healthy, if I do say so myself!

Updates to follow...

very nice Mr Fly, now you can find out the exact colour, I was always a bit confused which tree was which.

[FlyBri]

very nice Mr Fly, now you can find out the exact colour, I was always a bit confused which tree was which.

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_0212_02.jpg