How do you care for a potted crape myrtle tree? A few tips from a flower farmer

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The crape myrtle tree is also called "hundred-day red," and it has many other nicknames too. Its main use is still as a landscaping plant to beautify cities. The crape myrtle blooms in summer, usually flowering for about 3 months; different varieties may vary somewhat in timing.

The crape myrtle tree can be grown as a potted plant, and a potted crape myrtle is quite elegant, refined and full of character, and when it blooms it carries so many flowers that it truly is a potted plant that can spill over the pot - otherwise how could it be called "hundred-day red."

To grow a potted crape myrtle, you first need a spot at home with plenty of light. The crape myrtle tree especially loves light; from growth, to sprouting, to blooming, it cannot do without light. If the light conditions at home are poor, it may cause slow growth, few flowers, a short flowering period and various other problems.

The crape myrtle tree is not strict about soil either, and can survive in most soils. Grown in fertile, deep, slightly acidic soil, it grows more vigorously than in other soils, and the flowering period is noticeably longer. The crape myrtle tree is not tolerant of waterlogging; waterlogged soil will stall its growth, and in serious cases may affect the flowering period and even cause it to wither. Every watering should be measured in amount, and different soils need different amounts of water; just keep the flower soil moist. Never let the flower soil become waterlogged.

In March, apply a nitrogen fertilizer once to promote the growth of the tree. By May, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer three times in a row, about 10 days apart, to promote root development, sturdy branches, and flower bud differentiation. When the flowering period arrives, three applications of foliar fertilizer are needed to replenish the nutrients consumed. After the flowering period ends, applying a major-element fertilizer once is enough.

After the flowering period, the branches need pruning. Every bonsai has its own unique meaning; growth is relatively fast in summer, and messy branches still stand out after the flowering period, so start pruning according to the shape you want. After pruning, apply a little healing agent to the wounds. This is basically one care cycle for a potted crape myrtle tree.

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