How to Grow Crape Myrtle? A Complete Guide to Planting Methods and Precautions

Since the crape myrtle came into being, people have praised it profusely, because the crape myrtle is a plant with very auspicious symbolic meaning. In the past, however, most cultivation was small-scale home growing, mostly a voluntary pursuit of flower lovers, so whether it was grown well or not was not very important. Today, though, the appearance requirements for growing crape myrtle are higher, so the importance of planting techniques and methods is becoming increasingly prominent.

How to Grow Crape Myrtle

Crape myrtle is suitable for growing in a warm, humid, sunny environment, and can also tolerate semi-shade. Its growth requires sufficient fertilizer, and the soil is best a fertile, deep sandy soil; both acidic soil and calcareous soil are acceptable. In terms of humidity, crape myrtle should be planted in moist soil; it has some tolerance for drought, but fears waterlogging, so when planting in the ground, do not choose low-lying, wet spots with a high water table. Crape myrtle also has strong pollution resistance and can to some extent resist pollution from sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride and chlorine gas.

Crape Myrtle Planting Methods

1. Soil

Crape myrtle has strong environmental adaptability, and ordinary potting soil is suitable. If conditions permit, a deep, fertile sandy soil can be chosen for cultivation, which is most favorable for the growth of crape myrtle.

2. Watering

Crape myrtle is drought-resistant and fears waterlogging. Each year before bud break in spring, water once with "greening water," and after leaf fall in autumn, water once with "freezing water." At other times, remember "do not water unless dry." During spring drought, water 1-3 times; during the rainy season, drainage work must be done well to avoid root rot caused by water accumulation; in autumn, generally no watering is needed.

3. Light

Crape myrtle needs sufficient light to grow; otherwise, the flowering period may produce few or even no flowers, and more seriously, the entire plant's growth will weaken.

4. Temperature

Once grown, the crape myrtle plant is very cold-resistant, but cold protection and insulation work for seedlings must be done well. After the plant has been cultivated for three years or more, insulation can be stopped.

5. Fertilizing

Similar to the timing of watering, fertilize once before bud break in spring and once after leaf fall in autumn. Human feces and urine or sesame paste residue can be applied, which can promote more vigorous plant growth the following year and more abundant, vivid flowering during the flowering period.

6. Pruning

Because the crape myrtle's flower clusters are borne at the tips of the current year's new branches, pay attention to heavy pruning and cutting back of one-year-old branches, which helps concentrate nutrients and makes the branches grow more robust. Water sprouts, drooping branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, dry and withered branches, slender branches and inward-growing branches should all be removed. During the young tree stage, the lateral branches growing from the lower part of the main trunk should also be cut off in time, reducing nutrient consumption and ensuring that a good crown can form on the upper part of the main trunk.

7. Pests

Crape myrtle is easily infected by pests such as felt scale, yellow slug moth and large bagworm moth, so measures such as spraying pesticides should be taken promptly for control.

Precautions for Growing Crape Myrtle

1. Flowering period

Crape myrtle itself has strong branching ability and produces many long shoots, so after the flowering period, the spent flowers should be cut off to encourage new growth, so that the next round of flowering branches develops as quickly as possible, thereby extending the flowering period. At the same time, water sprouts, diseased branches, stacked branches and crossing branches should also be cut off in time to prevent excessive nutrient consumption.

2. Repotting

Potted crape myrtle should preferably have its pot and soil changed once every 2-3 years. The growing medium can be mixed in the ratio of loose mountain soil : garden soil : fine river sand (5:3:2), and organic fertilizer (bone meal, soybean cake meal, etc.) can be used as base fertilizer. Be careful to avoid direct contact between the roots and the fertilizer, otherwise it will burn and damage the roots and harm the normal growth of the plant.

Grafting Propagation of Crape Myrtle

This method should be carried out from late February to early March each year, that is, before the crape myrtle branches sprout.

A relatively robust seedling should be selected as the rootstock for grafting. The scion can be chosen according to personal preference for flower color, and the cleft grafting method is commonly used when grafting.

First, make a vertical cut about 5-8 cm deep on the outer part of the rootstock's top end, then take a scion about 5-8 cm long with 2 buds retained and cut it into a wedge shape, then align it with the cambium and insert it into the cleft of the rootstock; then wrap the entire scion tightly with plastic film, leaving only the bud head exposed.

This method can be used to graft branches of different colors in layers onto a single rootstock to create "one tree, multiple colors."

Crape myrtle has very clear environmental requirements, so when we grow crape myrtle, we should also use these requirements as the benchmark, so as to ensure the normal growth of the crape myrtle. In addition, some other care techniques for crape myrtle can help the crape myrtle grow more perfectly and flourish.