Pocomoke Crape Myrtle

This is the tree that Jim and I were talking about...let me know what you all think and what I should do----John

John, I think this one oughta go out in the yard to add a few pounds before you put it in a pot. These things thicken up rapidly in the ground.

Unfortunately, Pocomoke is only top hardy to Zone 7. It might be risky to put it in the ground in West Virginia.
However, I would plant it in a big pot of coarse bonsai soil to accomplish the same result.
You have several oversize branches or sub-trunks competing with each other. Think about picking one as your main trunk & shortening the others.
Iris

thanks Jim and mrs.bonsaier..they do have these trees in landscape here i don,t know if this one would be ok or not..it is a stick in a pot i know..what ever is better ..let me know..thanks again john

Yeah. He bought it at a local nursery. Local nurseries don't stay in business if they sell too many plants that aren't hardy in the area.

Hi John,
I have been growing this dwarf for two years. The man who had it before me grew it from a cutting approx ten years ago, in regular nursery potting soil. I repotted it into bonsai soil and have been rewarded with lots of flowers. My photo doesn't show the depth, but I'm trying to arrange the trunks to create a framework for foliage pads to display the flowers. This tree will never be a great tree; I could cut it way back, but I'm trying my luck with shaping to display the flowers. Next Spring I will plant it in a larger pot to encourage more top growth; to give me more selections for cutting back, etc. Your tree reminds me of this one, as it once was years ago, probably. I also find that these trees "take kindly" to branch bending and heal easily from breaking/cracking the branches. Better to do it when it is on the dry side.



Another myrtle, not a dwarf, that I'm working on which has been cut back numerous times:
(even with the reverse taper, etc, I like where it is going )


Have fun with it! Todd

TODD,,I Like your trees the way you have them going..I will think about this stick and do something with it..thanks for the pictures...John

What do you think now??

Oh, dear. You need to let it alone for the rest of this year. Then next spring, cut it back some (not as much as a standard), then pinch like heck until the middle of June. Never mind wires for now. You want it to bud back & become more compact.

MRS BONSAISR,,,,Thank you for your comment...i am going to let it alone,i slip potted it into that 12 in.plastic pot because i can not plant in the ground where i live..i will have to admit.i got carried away but had become angry with it because i could not make it look the way i wanted it to...not good bonsai i know..thank you for your help...john