Does anyone have cuttings or starts of some.
I have a big project going. A bank in front of the house is being terraced using 17 x19 inch concrete blocks. 100 ft long and five blocks high staggered. Need to plant the blocks as pots. Thought that grape myrtles and coleus would fit the bill. See lots of what I like but the cost of so many is out of my reach.
Wanted dwarf grape myrtle
Howdy - last year I know Hazel in the TX Froum bought a mini crepe myrtle, if you Daved her she might be willing to part with a cutting.
Got reading on proatration and this is the wrong time of the year to try it. Will try again come June to try to get some cuttings. Will order six for 59 dollers this spring and take some cuttings off them. If all works ok will share come fall.
TA,
I have a Queen Crape, one of the ones that gets 40 feet tall, that is constantly putting up volunteers. If you're interested in it I'd be glad to share.
Merry Christmas,
Leslie
I have 16 of the srtandard one along the fence. Looking for the ones less then 2 to 3 ft tall. Thanks anyway. Wanting to put them in large square concrete pots
(Blocks 8" X 17" x 19").
Hi Ted,
I didn't know there were dwarf Crepe Myrtles. This is the size I would like to have as I don't have the room for the large variety.
Can you tell me where you are ordering yours from please?
Thanks,
Donna
http://www.lagerstroemia.com/crepe_myrtles_ordering.htm
If you find a better place let me know. You will love the height and colors.
Edited: Just looked up the link on Daves watch list and do not order from them. 87% Negative on the web.
This message was edited Dec 30, 2005 4:05 PM
I just found this. I have a dwarf crape myrtle. It's a very nice bush, and definitely a dwarf because I've had it as long as my others, and it's still small--about 3 feet. If you want cuttings, I can send some.
Nancy
Thanks Nancy I would like some to try. Just looked at the link I posted for the plants. Not a good report. Negative from 87% of the ones posted.
Beware
Sure would like to find a good sourse for buying them.
I looked at the site, too, and I wouldn't trust it just on its visual impact. Too cold. Most of the companies rated well have more attractive, friendly-looking sites. The owners also seem to have a love or passion for the plants.
I think I got mine from either Home Depot or Lowes. Being an inexperienced gardener, I bought it because it was a pretty bush with lacy, pink flowers. Plus crape myrtles survive in my full sun yard and lack of expertise. Right now the plant is dormant and looks scraggly, but when I prune it at the end of February, it will start growing new shoots. I will send you some of those.
If the older wood cuttings will work, I could send you those now. I never tried propagating a crape myrtle (or anything else for that matter).
I grew a bunch from seeds many years ago. Got all kinds of variations, some more dwarf than others. Here in the sun belt everything grows taller than stated in the stats. Sorry, but I have already pruned mine so can't share with you at this time. You might want to try finding the seeds. As I remember, they germinated well and back then I didn't know much about starting seeds.
DigsGardening
I copyed this from the net. Same as most all cuttings. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hort/landscape/crapemyrtle2.htm
To propagate by hardwood cuttings take 8 inch long and 1/2 inch diameter cuttings in early to mid-November. Stick several cuttings in a container filled with a potting soil or well drained garden soil. About an inch of the cutting should protrude above the soil line. These cuttings can be left outside but should be protected from severe freeze. Once new growth emerges place the container in a sunny location and keep watered until you can plant them in the summer or fall.
Softwood cuttings consist of 4 to 6 inch cuttings taken from actively growing shoots at any time during the growing season. The cut ends can be dipped in a rooting hormone and then stuck in a well drained potting mix. Keep the cuttings misted to avoid drying out before roots can form.
Another great link for them. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/scripts/htmlgen.exe?DOCUMENT_MG266
This message was edited Dec 31, 2005 6:36 PM
Those sites give a lot of information, TA. The myrtles pictured are beautiful. I'll try both methods for propagation and see what happens. Even though it's past November, it's not continuously cold down here, so hardwood cuttings may still work. I am trying to let the myrtles in my front yard to grow into small trees, but keep the dwarf one a bush. If the cuttings work, I'll send some.
Fireant 13. LOL You would be right at home with all the fire ants I have around here.
Great on your quest to try the hardwood cuttings, and hope they will work.
Try to root a couple with H020 solution and a air bubblier set up to see if that works.
I read your diary and got to see your crape myrtle in your front yard and the painting of the lion cubs. Great job on this. Will have to start me one Ted
I didn't know fire ants were in Okalahoma.
Thank you for the comments on the diary. Since I am on break now, I have a lot of time to write in it.
My daughter finally showed me how to add some more of her work from her website. She prefers the graphic design more than art, but the college required that she learn art before the computer design. There are a few other images I'd like to place on here, but she doesn't have them in computer files or on her site. She has a website, but she has to update it. It gives descriptions of the work. The address is
http://geocities.com/melan7ec/index.html
This message was edited Jan 1, 2006 3:53 PM
This message was edited Jan 1, 2006 8:41 PM
I bought a drawf crape myrtle "pixy white" from www.crapemyrtles.com and 6 yuma crape mrytle. They were a little ratty looking when I got them but it was also before they were fully dormant. I have rotted a "natchez" before by dipping the cutting in rooting powder.
The three regular sized crape myrtles I have in the front of my house were ratty looking when I got them. They cost only a $1 per plant. It took three years, but they grew and filled out. Last year they looked their best. Right now they're dormant. They are easy to care for and pretty tough plants.
I read their claim on shipping fully developed 1 to 4 foot trees. They are part of the 87% negative comments and you rfead on the net.
Did your colors turn out to be true to the one your ordered. Purple and
White
This message was edited Jan 3, 2006 8:04 AM
There's a wholesale nursery nearby that grows crape myrtles. Those are different colors--lilac, white, deep pinks, but I don't think they grow dwarfs. These don't appear to be dwarfs. I don't know its name or if it sells/ships, but those myrtles are healthy and colorful. I got mine from the agricultural department at the school where I work. They are the pink color of old myrtles and are unnamed. I didn't have much hope for them, but they are fine now.
I got one of these at Home Depot last year. I can't remember what it cost, but I think it was very inexpensive. The one I got was maybe 8 inches tall, and I put it in a pot on a table outdoors. I made the mistake of putting it in a clay pot, which got too dry. Eventually it went dormant. I thought it was dead and composted it - realized too late it was not.
It was really pretty while I had it though. I think I will try again this year.
Cindy