Winter care methods and precautions for crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) stump bonsai

  As late autumn approaches and winter draws near, we need to be especially careful with the care of crape myrtle stump bonsai, and pay particular attention to changes in the weather. This is especially true of the period of careful tending from when the crape myrtle enters dormancy until the soil freezes over. It is usually necessary to water it sufficiently with freeze-proof water to avoid adverse effects during the winter drought.

  Because sufficient water was applied earlier, after the soil freezes a frozen layer generally forms around the roots of the crape myrtle, which ensures the roots maintain a constant temperature and are not harmed by the sudden drops in outside temperature, thereby improving the tree's resistance to cold and freezing. At the same time, scientific and reasonable watering in winter also allows the tree to receive an adequate supply of water, which is of great significance for extending the flowering period later on.

  However, in the cold winter, taking freeze-proof and warming measures is the top priority in the care of crape myrtle bonsai. In addition to doing the winter watering for the crape myrtle stump bonsai in advance, we can also take the following measures to improve the cold-resistant and warming effect.

  1. Spraying a limewater mixture

  Because trees absorb a large amount of heat from sunlight on clear days, the temperature of the crape myrtle trunk also rises quickly, but winter nighttime temperatures are often much lower than daytime temperatures. With this alternation of heat and cold, the trunk is prone to cracking, especially in crape myrtle stump bonsai.

  In view of this, we can spray the main trunk with limewater to prevent cracking. Because the limewater sprayed on the trunk is still white, it reflects a large amount of sunlight on clear days, preventing the tree's own temperature from rising too high and avoiding excessive temperature differences between day and night, thereby effectively preventing the trunk from cracking.

  But in order to make the effect of narrowing the temperature difference more obvious, while also delaying the sprouting and flowering of the crape myrtle and preventing damage from early spring frost, we can also add some sulfur, salt, animal and vegetable oil and other substances to the limewater. As long as they are combined scientifically in a certain ratio and used reasonably, it is fine. However, note that the prepared mixture should not be left to stand for too long, lest it solidify; it is recommended to mix it well and use it immediately after preparation.

  2. Erecting windproof and cold-resistant fencing

  After entering the cold winter, it is necessary for us to erect fencing for crape myrtle bonsai, mainly to block the biting cold wind from attacking the crape myrtle bonsai, minimizing the degree of freeze damage or even effectively avoiding it. This is especially true for newly potted crape myrtle stump bonsai, for which it can greatly increase the survival rate; and for old crape myrtle stump and ancient-tree bonsai, it also provides a very good protective effect.

  The fencing does not need to be made very exquisitely, as long as it can achieve the effect of blocking wind and resisting cold. If it is a single tree, the recommended approach is to erect fencing and supports on the east, west, north and directly above, in four directions. Although the method is simple, everyone should take strong winds into account when erecting the fencing, so the materials used to build the supports must be strong enough.

  3. Applying antifreeze agents

  In addition to the above measures, we can also apply some antifreeze agents at the appropriate time. Generally, before the tree is about to enter dormancy in late autumn, several days before frost and cold waves arrive, around the time the tree begins to sprout in early spring, when the temperature drops sharply, or during consecutive rainy days or when the temperature and climate environment improves, applying antifreeze agents under the above conditions often achieves a good freeze-proof and cold-resistant effect.

  To a certain extent, antifreeze agents can effectively improve the disease resistance and cold resistance of crape myrtle bonsai, and this is especially important during a late cold spell in spring. Timely application of antifreeze agents in winter can also effectively prevent the attack of morning and evening frost, greatly reducing or avoiding the occurrence of freeze damage, and even if some freeze damage occurs, it allows the bonsai tree to quickly return to a normal growth state.