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ambitiousbeginner

Whats Wrong With My Crepe Myrtle

19 years ago

Hi,

I am new to this site and hope someone will be able to answer my question regarding my Dwarf Crepe Myrtles (DCM) About a month ago I purchased two DCM and planted them in the front of my home between my hedges. They seem to be doing ok except recently I noticed some of the leaves are starting to turn red with black spots. Also the DCM does not seem to be flowering as they should. There are a lot of little green buds which I assume are the flowering buds but they will not open. There is some flowering but not much. I have an irrigation system which comes on every other day ( Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Zone 1 of the irrigation system is where my DCM are located as well as my Azaleas and Begonias. A walkway separates the DCM from the Azaleas and Begonias. I have heard the best way to water a DCM is from the bottom, ensuring no water gets on the foliage. Is this true? I live in Zone 7 - Virginia. I did not fertilize them when I planted them because I thought it was to late. My Azaleas are dormant as they should be and my Begonias are blooming wonderfully. I am thinking about turing Zone 1 of the irrigation system off and water the plants myself. Any suggestions!

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Comments (9)

  • 19 years ago

    The critical question is: How much direct sunlight do they get?

  • 19 years ago

    Are you sure that the green things aren't seed pods forming, and that your plants have not already bloomed before you purchased and planted them?

    Over head watering is not a particular problem with crapemyrtles. The powdery mildew that can be such an issue with some species is not spread or made worse by water. You are right about the fertilization.

    Can't answer about the watering.....only you can be the judge of whether the plants are getting enough or not. Three times a week seems a lot to water established plants, however. I'd turn the system back to a more appropriate schedule and hand water the crapes a couple of times a week, deeply.

    Full sun, right?

  • 19 years ago

    Thank you both, eldo 1960 and rhizo 1 for responding to my question regarding my DCMs. The plants do get direct sunlight so that is a good thing. I'm glad to know that over head watering is not a problem with DCMs. Rhizo 1 its funny you mentioned about a possibility of the DCMs having already bloomed before I purchased and planted them. A friend of mine at work said the same thing to me but because I am a beginner at planting was not really sure if this was good or bad. What are seed pods and what purpose do they have? I just checked them and some of the pods are opening and I can see the flowers. I guess I will just have to wait and see how they will do. I've turned Zone 1 of my irrigation sytem to run only 1 day a week. Once again thank you. Now I will try my green thumb (HA HA HA) at Junipers (Procumbens - Nana (Dwarf). Wish me luck!!!!!

  • 19 years ago

    Flower buds and seed capsules are quite different. The seed capsules are formed after the flowers are pollinated and the begin to fade away. Crapemyrtle seed capsules are green in the beginning (and could be mistaken for buds by the newbies) but then turn brown as they mature on the plant. In the winter, they open up and scatter the zillions of seeds in the wind.

    I think that these seeds are a nice winter feature and like to see them remain on the plant for the duration. They will fall off as the plant begins to grow in the spring.

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks again rhizo 1. YES I AM A NEWBIE at planting :-). I really do want to learn as much as I can about all different types of plants, knowing which plants to plant to compliment each other as well as how to take care of them especially since my husband and I have only been in our newly built home for 6 months. We had the front and sides of the home professionally landscapes with azaleas; sedums, hostas, salvia and dwarf russian sage and they are all perenials and they are doing great. I am just trying to test my...EXPERTISE :-) at some additional plantings and I want to make sure the plants I have planted (DCMs)will survive. I know I can do this so once again WISH ME LUCK!!!!

  • 19 years ago

    Everybody starts out as 'newbies'. ;-)

  • 19 years ago

    MY CREPE MYRTLEs ARE BLOOMING......I cannot believe it. Isn't it a little late (September). My husband was outside tonight and he called for me to come out. When I did he told me to look at the CMs and low and behold the buds which I thought were seed pods have opened and you can see the beautiful pink flower coming out. It had to be to much water I was giving them for my questions to the forum.

  • 19 years ago

    > It had to be to much water I was giving them for my questions to the forum.

    More likely they were just taking some time to get those flowers ready for you. Yes, you were watering too frequently, you're better off with your new schedule, but apparently you did not damage the plants. CMs are late bloomers - that's one big reason most of us grow them.

  • 19 years ago

    ambitiousbeginner:

    What type of dwarf crape myrtles do you have? For example, chickasaw, pokomoke, etc. Or, how wide are yours.