Questions About Growing a Crepe Myrtle

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Hi!

I recently received a Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) bonsai grow kit as a gift, and I have a few questions about growing it.

Firstly, it says that it has to be brought inside when temperatures drop below 50°F and to overwinter it in a partially heated room where temperatures drop at night to mimic nature. It doesn't say how much the temperature should drop, or what the ideal temperature for overwintering it is. It likes temperatures of around 75°F -85°F when it isn't winter. I'm wondering what temperature it needs to be overwintered.

My second question is if it's alright to plant the seeds now. It takes about a month for the seeds to sprout, so it'll be fall by the time they sprout. Should I wait until spring so they can grow a lot and be overwintered later in the year, or am I able to grow them now? If I'm able to grow them now, do I overwinter them this year or wait until next year to start overwintering them?

Thanks!
 
Welcome to the site!

Can you put your general location into your profile so we can give specific advice based on your location? Lagerstroemia indica (if that is truly what you have) is a sub-tropical that thrives all the way to Zone 7 - which means they can take minimum winter temps below freezing if they are established in landscaping.

Also, where are you getting your seed cultivation information? From the kit or somewhere else? Everywhere I am reading says to cold stratify for 60 days (?)
 
What hardiness zone are you in? Update your profile to reflect this so people can give you specific information relative to your zone.

Crapes can be pretty hardy from 7 and higher, but really zone 5 and under could be a problem. They'll need good winter protection in these areas. I've seen some issues in my area with some varieties like the "magic" and "diamond" series.

Established (planted in the ground for 2-3 years) crapes can definitely take temps below 20°F for a few days, but some varieties can be killed to the ground and then regrow from the root system the following spring. But, in a pot, the root system may not be able to handle much below freezing... Point being the cultivar is really important in determining its hardiness.

If you're really itching to get started now (which we all here will understand :p) you could germinate the seeds now and keep under grow lights or a bright window until next spring; not the best scenario but it could be done.

You'll want to plan on keeping this outside though throughout it's life unless you live somewhere in the world where it does ever warm up:eek::eek::eek:

Good luck!
 
Welcome to the site!

Can you put your general location into your profile so we can give specific advice based on your location? Lagerstroemia indica (if that is truly what you have) is a sub-tropical that thrives all the way to Zone 7 - which means they can take minimum winter temps below freezing if they are established in landscaping.

Also, where are you getting your seed cultivation information? From the kit or somewhere else? Everywhere I am reading says to cold stratify for 60 days (?)

I am in zone 6A according to the USDA hardiness map. The kit says that the scientific name is Lagerstroemia indica, so it should be what the seeds are. The seed cultivation information comes from the kit and states instructions on how to plant the seeds in the pot but says nothing about stratifying them.

What hardiness zone are you in? Update your profile to reflect this so people can give you specific information relative to your zone.

Crapes can be pretty hardy from 7 and higher, but really zone 5 and under could be a problem. They'll need good winter protection in these areas. I've seen some issues in my area with some varieties like the "magic" and "diamond" series.

Established (planted in the ground for 2-3 years) crapes can definitely take temps below 20°F for a few days, but some varieties can be killed to the ground and then regrow from the root system the following spring. But, in a pot, the root system may not be able to handle much below freezing... Point being the cultivar is really important in determining its hardiness.

If you're really itching to get started now (which we all here will understand :p) you could germinate the seeds now and keep under grow lights or a bright window until next spring; not the best scenario but it could be done.

You'll want to plan on keeping this outside though throughout it's life unless you live somewhere in the world where it does ever warm up:eek::eek::eek:

Good luck!

Perhaps I'll begin germinating the seeds in late winter so nothing goes wrong and so they'll be on the right track. This overwintering thing sounds tricky.

Thanks to both of you!
 
Hi!

I recently received a Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) bonsai grow kit as a gift, and I have a few questions about growing it.

Firstly, it says that it has to be brought inside when temperatures drop below 50°F and to overwinter it in a partially heated room where temperatures drop at night to mimic nature. It doesn't say how much the temperature should drop, or what the ideal temperature for overwintering it is. It likes temperatures of around 75°F -85°F when it isn't winter. I'm wondering what temperature it needs to be overwintered.

My second question is if it's alright to plant the seeds now. It takes about a month for the seeds to sprout, so it'll be fall by the time they sprout. Should I wait until spring so they can grow a lot and be overwintered later in the year, or am I able to grow them now? If I'm able to grow them now, do I overwinter them this year or wait until next year to start overwintering them?

Thanks!
Crape myrtles are very tough and overwinter well. I haven't had any problems with them down to 20F on the bench. I'd recommend placing on the ground below 25F, though, just to be safe. I've had them survive 15F on the ground for a couple of days.

I don't know of any crape myrtle variety that can't take temps below 50F down to freezing. Not sure where they got that information from.

Zach
 
Crape myrtles are very tough and overwinter well. I haven't had any problems with them down to 20F on the bench. I'd recommend placing on the ground below 25F, though, just to be safe. I've had them survive 15F on the ground for a couple of days.

I don't know of any crape myrtle variety that can't take temps below 50F down to freezing. Not sure where they got that information from.

Zach

So all I have to do to overwinter it is to keep it outside when it becomes colder? What if it gets below 15°F?
 
So all I have to do to overwinter it is to keep it outside when it becomes colder? What if it gets below 15°F?
It depends on where you are and how long you expect it to go below 15 and stay. I'm in the Deep South, so there's no way it'll stay below 15 for more than a couple of days at the outside. If you live in an area where the ground freezes solid, I'd recommend a cold frame with the root zone mulched if you get long periods below 15.
 
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