Crape Myrtle

Attila Soos

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Here is a Crape myrtle by Bruce Hisayasu - for inspiration.
(Credit: NABF Newsletter 1, Nanpu-kai 2002 show)

It's probably the best crape myrtle bonsai in the world, west of China.
He is my neighbour, I love to visit his garden a couple of time a year. He has some great Koi as well, btw.

Just an update on this tree. I met Bruce last weekend and he said that his cape myrtle is dying, it is 80% dead now. He didn't think that there was any mistake done, it's just the old age of the tree. Crape myrtles don't live to a great age, such as conifers.
 

irene_b

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Just an update on this tree. I met Bruce last weekend and he said that his cape myrtle is dying, it is 80% dead now. He didn't think that there was any mistake done, it's just the old age of the tree. Crape myrtles don't live to a great age, such as conifers.
How sad to lose such a great tree.
 

R_F

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Just an update on this tree. I met Bruce last weekend and he said that his cape myrtle is dying, it is 80% dead now. He didn't think that there was any mistake done, it's just the old age of the tree. Crape myrtles don't live to a great age, such as conifers.

That's sad. How old does he think it is? I have an old one listed here http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1668

I'd hate to loose it to old age:(
 

Attila Soos

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That's sad. How old does he think it is? I have an old one listed here http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1668

I'd hate to loose it to old age:(


I have no idea how old the tree is.
Of course, saying that the tree dies of "old age" doesn't tell us much. Nothing really dies of old age. Old age doesn't kill, only diminishes resistance to external pathogens, meaning that the tree cannot recover from disease. So if we reduce the chance of being infected, the old tree will live much longer.

Your monster tree seems to be in the prime of its life, so I wouldn't be at all concerned.
 
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R_F

Chumono
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Update....

This tree lost all its leaves, which is really weird because it usually doesn't do that until November December. I did move to a new home about 30 minutes North and a few weeks later both of my shohin crapes dropped their leaves like it were fall. I got color and all. Could a short distance like that really bring fall sooner? Only problem is...it's sprouting some new growth....
 

irene_b

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Mine have done the same, lost all their leaves and have also started to re sprout...
 

R_F

Chumono
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Mine have done the same, lost all their leaves and have also started to re sprout...

At least I'm not the only one....has it happened to you before?
 

R_F

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Just thought I'd share a pic of the ruby red new leaves that this variety of Crape has when first putting them on. I've also decided to keep it in this training pot for another season or two. Al got me thinking about the branch proportions between the top and the bottom. I'm going to see if I can let a couple sacrifice branches go on the bottom branches to thicken them up a bit more than the ones on the top.
 

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ericN

Mame
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good job on this tree ryan! its progressing really well.

eric
 
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