Crepe Myrtle Not Blooming

RE: Crepe Myrtle Not Blooming Post By Shirley (Guest Post) (09/14/2008) Is there anyway of getting a crepe to bloom if it has been pruned improperly? Also, I live in Northern Ohio. We brought this plant back from N. Carolina in 2002. It bloomed the first 2 years but nothing since. It is in a container. We have moved it to a new container last year thinking it needed more space but no blooms yet. Any ideas? Thank you Report Spam or Abuse RE: Crepe Myrtle Not Blooming Post By Vicki (Guest Post) (06/23/2008) We just bought several "white" Crepe myrtle's in 5 gal. pails and transplated them about two weeks ago. We trimmed the bottom branches to form more of a tree. The leaves are larger than the ones on a very mature Crepe that is near the patio so I know it is a different variety, but am not sure what exactly they are. They are all in the sun but 2 of them get partial shade. Can we expect them to bloom this year? Some at Home Depot (different color) were actually blooming in the containers. Ours are getting new growth, but have seen any blooms yet Report Spam or Abuse RE: Crepe Myrtle Not Blooming Post By sm new jersey (Guest Post) (05/31/2008) Tree 4 years old. Looks great & health with lots of leaves and bark. Get's lots of sunshine. Loaded w/ pods/seeds/buds, but little flowers. Rarely, any flowers. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Crepe Myrtle Not Blooming Post By Lynda (Guest Post) (10/12/2006) It could be poor drainage, lack of fertilizer being in balance with your soil type, too much water, or too much shade. Being tall always makes me suspect the tree is reaching up for more light. No blooms and few leaves seems to be in their food/water problems. I'll share with you how I treat mine. Typically, all of mine like moderate to sparse water, clay soil (which is short only in Nitrogen), and the removal of all spent blooms/grape-end type branches and small dead twigs throughout the plant and the year. I avoid any drastic pruning, except twice a year of the suckers and undesireable branches cut flush with the main branches. If you have only one tree per 15 feet in diameter, it's not crowded. If you have two trees sharing the same space, one might crowd out the other or steal all it's water/food. I have a single trunk 30 yr. old tree Crepe, and it's offspring about 15 ' away, which is too tall to do much to it keep it pruned/groomed. So, it manages on it's own quite well. A secret I discovered for all leafless Crepes is spraying Sea Kelp on it's leaves, top and bottom, IF there is no powdery mildew. A healthy Crepe has nice med. sized green leaves, in abundance, unless there is thick grass mulch around it's base, bringing all sorts of pests to attack an otherwise self-sufficient tree. These truly are one of the most rewarding trees once you get the " hang" of their habits, needs, and laid back attitudes. LOL Treat them with the respect they deserve and they seem to reward you with just what you hoped they would, lots of blooms. Keep the trunks to 1-5 branches if close to house or walk way. If not close, allow it to become a large blooming bush, covered in blossoms. They go dormant here in Tx. throughout the winter, with new growth from the old wood/branches and new saplings at the base. Do not let the old twigs/branches you trim fall to the ground beneath the tree, toss them. Call your Agricultural Extension Center, if you have one, and ask what type of soil is in your area, and how to amend it to acommodate the Crepes. I was so pleasantly surprised with the Sea Kelp, and I know you will be too if you follow the directions. Give them plenty of space to grow to the 20' height they can get. They can be messy, so provide lots of ground for them to drop blooms/leaves/even bark peelings (natural for them) as they get older, then don't worry too much about keeping them picked up unless near concrete. Good luck, and God bless you. : ) Report Spam or Abuse