I think my Weiglia Pink is dead

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Its been about 4 years that I had this shrub in my front yard's half wine barrel. About this time of the year ( Spring ), it would be almost in full bloom. So far not a even a bud. Not too long ago, it looked like there were some new signs of buds emerging, but since, its shriveled. We have been having a very wet Spring this year, maybe that is the cause? Anyhow, I got a razor and scraped some branch's to see if it were still green, but all i see is light brown. Is there a definitive sign or is that it? I need to know soon, cause if its dead, I would like to place a cutting of crepe myrtle that my parent one gave us, and put that in its place before Summer arrives.

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Comments (7)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Photos? And where are you located? Plants grown in containers - even ones as large as a half wine barrel - are far more susceptible to winter cold damage to the root system than the same plant being grown in the ground. It is possible the roots froze........
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
also.. potting media wears out and becomes a problem itself ... and that is why pots need to be repotted every few years ...

media is a water management system .. and when it gets old .. breaks down .. it is no longer a water management system.. and water management in winter.. is usually an issue when things fail ...

ken
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Anthony .
Original Author
8 years ago
Funny, i change the soil in my small pots, but never thought of doing so in that wine barrel...mea culpa!
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
If you are in the northeast, there was in late December and early January cold that was unusual in duration and which would have frozen the entire half barrel even in areas where it normally wouldn’t be an issue.
Anthony .
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes, that is true, but as I was removing the shrub and half or more of
the soil, i had forgotten that i had also filled that barrel with a big
piece of Styrofoam as to make the barrel lighter to move, if necessary
in the future. So maybe that limited the roots to go through it as they
were growing. I removed it and now its all soil and ready to put in a
cutting of crepe myrtle.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
Next fall consider surrounding the planter with bags of leaves or a couple of layers of bubble wrap and mulch the surface. The temperature will fluctuate less and be less likely to freeze solid if you are in a warmer zone than I am, which hopefully will be easier on the crape myrtle. Or plan to move it into a sheltered spot such as an unheated garage. In most of the US I would expect a crape myrtle to not survive in a half barrel over winter. Where you are located is important info for this problem.
Anthony .
Original Author
8 years ago
I live in one of the boroughs of NYC. My main Crepe Myrtle of 30 years is going strong, 20' tall. It spurts offsets at its base, which i took cuttings and rooted them. I know the ground is different than from a half size barrel..but it may be worth a try and to your suggestion about bubble wrap and etc. sounds cool.