How to care for a crape myrtle potted plant
This article introduces how to care for a crape myrtle potted plant, including cultivation methods and precautions related to the plant. The editor will provide detailed answers for you next.
1. Planting and Transplanting: The best time for transplanting crape myrtles is from March to early April, with Qingming Festival being the optimal time, followed by autumn. When transplanting, the plant should be kept with soil, leaving the trunk 100 to 120 centimeters and cutting off the top part. After new buds grow, select 3 to 4 main branches with the most suitable angles to bloom.
Image: Crape Myrtle
2. Sunlight and Watering: Crape myrtles are light-loving plants, so during the growing season, they must be placed in a sunny outdoor area. They also require a lot of water during the growing season, needing to keep the soil moist. Keep the potting soil moist in spring and winter, and water twice a day in summer and autumn. During high-temperature seasons, increase the frequency of watering.
Image: Crape Myrtle
3. Regular Fertilization: Crape myrtles are fertilizer-loving plants. A lack of fertilizer in potted crape myrtles can lead to weak branches and yellowing leaves, resulting in weakened plant growth, fewer flowers, or even no flowers. However, excessive fertilization can cause excessive growth of branches and leaves. Fertilize more during the vigorous growing seasons of spring and summer, less in autumn, and no fertilization during winter dormancy. Avoid fertilizing in the rain season and on hot summer afternoons.
4. Fertilizing: Follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. In early March, combine the use of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers to promote branching. From late May to early June, apply a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer to promote flower bud enlargement and strengthen branches and flowering. Apply flowering fertilizers in late July and early September, using cake fertilizer water, etc., to make the flowers more colorful.
Image: Crape Myrtle
5. Pruning and Shaping: Crape myrtles have a strong branching ability and a large growth rate of new shoots, making them very tolerant to pruning. After the plant blooms, remove the spent flowers to extend the blooming period. Timely remove cross branches, diseased branches, and radiant branches to avoid excessive nutrient consumption. To beautify the shape, usually make a short cut 1 centimeter above the full terminal bud of other branches, retaining about 5 centimeters.
How to care for a crape myrtle potted plant
Image: Crape Myrtle
6. Timely Potting Change: Potted crape myrtles need to change the potting soil every two to three years. Mix 5 parts of loose mountain soil, 3 parts of garden soil, and 2 parts of fine river sand to make a cultivation soil. When changing the pot, use organic fertilizers such as bone meal and soybean cake powder as base fertilizers, mixed into the topsoil layer. Do not let the fertilizer come into direct contact with the roots to avoid root burns and affect plant growth.
The above green plant care tips for crape myrtle potted plants and cultivation methods and precautions introduced by Green Enthusiast Network [www.lvzhimi.com] hope to bring help to you in your daily life!