TP Grande Crape Myrtle

[thumblessprimate1]

I've liked Crape Myrtle for their muscular trunks and bark. I don't care too much for their flowers. So I started getting into CMs this year.

This Crape Myrtle was collected spring of this year without any feeder roots. Actually few, but not much at all. I had not chopped off anything on top either. That work was done every year or other year by maintenance workers who clear brush at fences.


I didn't take any pictures of it after washing away mud and gravel in all the crevices and hollows as it was nighttime when I did that. There was actually little roots in one hollowed spot at the top. It appears roots will grow anywhere there is moist soil on CMs.

Here's how it looks today. I'm betting there's lots of feeder roots now. It's been growing in pure pumice.


I'd like to get it into a wide shallower pot next yeat, if thats not too soon. How agressive can I be with root reduction? Best decide next year after examining what's below the soil next year?

@johng what do you think? I hope to bring out the soul of this tree. Thanks for looking.

 

[Vin]

Although it's going to require quite a bit of carving, it should turn out to be a very cool piece. CM's are right there with Elms in my opinion. I would say your best course of action is exactly as you stated; make the call next year after you get it out of the pot. I have cut several back hard (root work) two years in a row and they never skipped a beat. They did take a bit to get back going again though.

 

[LanceMac10]

Lottsa' wood there.....no experience with this breed, but it looks like it's responding to your affections!!!
Its massive!!!

 

[sorce]

This could turn out very interesting.

Or very dookified.

I wouldn't carve it much...

Build some branches...

Or...small trees on the mountain!

Nice!

Sorce

 

[johng]

That's a chunk! I think it has potential to be something very interesting!

I think you can certainly repot next season into a more appropriate container. These develop fast but I still wouldn't rush into a bonsai pot...i used half barrel liners from the pond section of a big box store..$11. 22" inside diameter and maybe 6" deep.

If you want to shape those new branches at some point in the near future you might want to consider pruning now...if you wait and dont prune this seasn they will b too large to bend

 

[just.wing.it]

Cool!
This is an interesting one.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

That's a chunk! I think it has potential to be something very interesting!

I think you can certainly repot next season into a more appropriate container. These develop fast but I still wouldn't rush into a bonsai pot...i used half barrel liners from the pond section of a big box store..$11. 22" inside diameter and maybe 6" deep.

If you want to shape those new branches at some point in the near future you might want to consider pruning now...if you wait and dont prune this seasn they will b too large to bend

Thanks everyone, for the comments!

John, Thanks for taking the time to look and offer me some guidance. I see this as becoming some sort of multitrunk in the future. Will draw some sketches, and then take a look this weekend to see what branches keep, remove, or prune. Not at all in any hurry to rush into a bonsai pot. I really want to develop a badass nebari. Something that would add to the tumultuous character of the trunk.

 

[Lars Grimm]

That's a great looking piece of material. You could also consider grafting a dwarf or semi-dwarf variety onto it. The flower spikes would then be much smaller if you so desired.

@johng Do you have a rough maximum diameter of branch in mind before you can't bend anymore?

 

[johng]

@johng Do you have a rough maximum diameter of branch in mind before you can't bend anymore?

Its hard to say but I let several shoots get to 4' in length which probably equates to .5" in diameter and they were pretty stiff already. They could probably still be wired but it would be much better/easier to do it earlier.

 

[zachkent29]

Man, I thought mine was chunky (Yeah, I heard it). This should be awesome in a few years.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I made the cuts the previous weekend, and I'm delighted to see buds popping today.


Some of the interesting old scars. With branches removed, I could get a look at the trunk again.

From a lower perspective of the same scars you find a little arch.


Some more old scars.


Biggest scar, a hollowed out one.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

A view around. Got to admit, I was nervous cutting back. I'd like to remove some thick subtrunks, but I'll wait for next spring.

Feel free to make a virtual. Any style. I'm curious what others see. I have a vision of creating a tree at least twice its current height.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

 

[0soyoung]

Storybook.
(as opposed to 'The Graduate' in which the one word to remember was 'plastic')


I cannot help but echo several previous comments - that is a big chunk of wood!

 

[sorce]

I totally just deleted this pic and rotated it for JKL!

Sorce

 

[bonhe]

A view around. Got to admit, I was nervous cutting back. I'd like to remove some thick subtrunks, but I'll wait for next spring.

Feel free to make a virtual. Any style. I'm curious what others see. I have a vision of creating a tree at least twice its current height.

]

Excellent specimen. I can see the sumo bonsai right there. If I was you, I will let those needed shoots grow unchecked to gain the branch sizes. I combine both wiring and cut and grow techniques.
Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

If it was mine, I would do this.


Bonhe

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Just thinking about next year's work. I'd like to reduce some downward growing large roots in the spring, and get it into a wooden grow box or container like JohnG advised. I want a flat bottom encouraging horizontal roots and get the base expanding. Thank Goodness, Crape Myrtle grow vigorously. Still this project is going to take a long while.

Here's the direction I'd like to take it.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

The deed is done.

 

[Anthony]

Thumbless,

just to let you know, the shrub, needs no winter or cold. They grow down here like weeds and even the one's brought
in from the US [1980 ] are thriving.

How's that for adaptability.

They have been local for well over a 100 years.
Good Day
Anthony