Precautions for the maintenance of crape myrtle

one. Watering

The crape myrtles grown in pots at home also need to receive sunlight similar to that outdoors, and generally do not require shading even in high temperature environments.

The cultivation location should be chosen on a brick floor or a mud floor away from the wall as much as possible to prevent poor ventilation at the wall from raising the temperature of the microenvironment, which is not conducive to the growth of crape myrtle.

Watering in all seasons should follow the principle of "don't water unless the soil is dry, and water thoroughly when you do". The specific amount of water should be determined according to the actual moisture content of the potting soil. If the potting soil leaks, add soil in time to increase the density of the potting soil.

Fertilizer and water should be applied during the spring budding period, summer bud formation period and flowering period. The amount of water should be controlled from late autumn to early spring of the following year, and the soil in the pot should be kept as dry as possible.

two. Cuttings

Specifically, it is divided into two types: softwood cuttings and hardwood cuttings. Generally, softwood cuttings are carried out in the rainy season, and hardwood cuttings are carried out in spring, and the survival rate is good.

For cuttings, choose one-year-old, thick and strong branches from the vigorously growing mother plant, trim them into branches about 10-15 cm long, and the depth of cuttings should be about 8-10 cm.

It usually takes about 20 days to take root. It needs proper shading and moderate watering. The survival rate of branches is high and it can grow to about 60-80 cm in the same year.

three. Flowering period

Crape myrtle has a strong ability to grow branches and has a large number of long shoots, so it is necessary to cut off the remaining flowers after the flowering period to promote new growth of the plant and grow the next round of branches as soon as possible, thereby extending the flowering period.

At the same time, you should also cut off the overgrown branches, diseased branches, overlapping branches and interlaced branches in time to prevent excessive consumption of nutrients.

Four. Fertilization

Base fertilizer should be applied to potted crape myrtles, and topdressing can be done before new branches sprout or between May and June. Apply less in autumn and no fertilizer in winter.

In addition, it is not suitable to apply fertilizer in hot and rainy weather in summer. Fertilization at other times should follow the principle of "applying small amounts of fertilizer frequently".

Excessive fertilizer can easily cause the branches and leaves to grow too long, while too little fertilizer can easily cause the branches to become weak and the leaves to turn yellow. In severe cases, the growth of the entire plant can become weak, and there can be few or no flowers.

five. Soil replacement

It is best to change the potting soil of potted crape myrtle every 2-3 years.

The cultivation soil can be prepared by mixing loose mountain soil: garden soil: fine river sand (5:3:2), and the base fertilizer can be organic fertilizer (bone meal, bean cake powder, etc.).

Be careful to avoid direct contact between the roots and fertilizer, otherwise the roots will be burned or damaged, endangering the normal growth of the plant.