Orlando Bonsai Crape Myrtle

Crape Myrtle (Purchased Fall 2002) Orlando Bonsai Store

It really started out with no potential as a bonsai as it was. However grafting changed all that. Apr 2002

It was cut down to a short trunk and allowed to bud out. Crape myrtle had been shortened dramatically and repotted. Dec 2003

The dwarf crape myrtle is shown behind in the white pot.

April 2004 and the leaves have budded out. As you can see high up on the top branches are the normal Crape Myrtle leaves. Below are the much smaller grafted dwarf crape myrtle leaves. These trees are still joined as the grafts have not taken as of yet. Should not be long though.

July 2004, The dwarf crape myrtle has begun to bloom. As you can see the flowers are much smaller than the regular crape myrtle. The branches are just weeks away from being fully grafted. I will most likely leave the two trees attached for the remainder of the summer just to be certain.

Well the time had come to separate the trees. However not all the grafts did very well. The problem I encountered is the different rates of growth between the two trees. To illustrate take a look at these tow photos. Notice where the thread grafts exit the tree. Notice the build up of excess cambium. The crape myrtle was growing so fast that it started to form around the new branch. I don't know if these grafts will take or not. Some look better than others. However in the spring we will know, and I'll be sure to posts the results. (December 2004)

Well everyone has been patiently waiting to find out the results of the graft. I am happy to report that ALL grafts have taken and the tree is doing very well. As an added bonus the grafts took so well that both ends of the grafts are putting out leaves. This means that leaves are growing from where the graft went in (not always happens) and where the graft came out of the tree. I'm just going to let this one grow out this year and gain strength. April 2005

In the fall the leaves dropped to expose a great network of branches. This tree should be ready to style in the upcoming year. Nov 2005

I finally wired this tree out for the first time since it was grafted. What a mess it was. However I was able to sort it out pretty well. The efforts should pay off in a much better branch structure this year. Jan 2008

This tree still needs a top, but to do that I need one more thread graft. I'm growing out a branch on the left side to use for the final graft. I'd say by next year at this time this tree should be complete. June 2008

Mike Rogers and I grafted a dwarf crape myrtle to a crape myrtle. The branches of the dwarf crape myrtle were thread-grafted through the crape myrtle. Dec 2003.

The graft were sealed with this paste

This tree is really going strong now. Just a matter of time before I can separate the two trees. May 2004

One good thing that I must point out is the increased thickness of the upper truck of the crape myrtle. It is amazing how much it increased in just a sort time. (December 2004)

I'm feeling a little bit better about this tree this month. The trees were separated from the graft host last month, and still the branches are flexible and green. I hope that's a sign that the grafts have taken. January 2005

So you tell me, do you think the grafts were a success. They sure were. This tree flowered and has grown so much it amazes me. I holding off until this winter and maybe longer to let this tree really strengthen. In only a few short years this tree will be pretty impressive. July 2005

The tree has filled in and is full of flower buds. It still needs to develop quite a bit further but it has the basic structure. It also has become more compact and less leggy. So it is well on its way to becoming a very nice Shohin bonsai. Sept 2006

As I examined the top of this tree I realized that the graft on the top right side had been taken over by the tree and it was reverting back to its old foliage. No problem, I just need to do another thread graft later this year. I plan to take a shoot from the branch below and thread it through that mass at the top. This may actually work out better than the original plan. Jan 2008

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Case studies last updated: Jun. 2008