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Lagerstroemia Indica

Lagerstroemia indica

It is a sub-tropical tree, native to China, Japan and Korea. It is an ornamental plant, widespread in the Mediterranean basin and in the southern United States. It is popular for its generous and spectacular flowers, with white, pink and lilac shades, showing at the end of summer. Blossom time is quite short, but bonsai specimens are interesting also for their decorative bark, which comes off in long strips, exposing a gray trunk with pink and brown areas.

 

Lagerstroemia indica
 
Detail
Detail

   
Exposure
Exposure
 

In mild climate it can be grown outdoors during summer. In winter keep it in a cool place, paying attention to frost, to help the fall of the leaves and winter lethargy. The combination of high temperature and faint lighting produces a too long and tender growth: give it a cool environment in winter and at the beginning of spring, when daylight is reduced.

Watering
Watering
 

Everyday from spring to autumn. Water it less frequently during winter lethargy: check the soil every so often and do not let it get dry.

Fertilizing
Fertilizing
 

Every two weeks during the vegetative season.

Repotting
Repotting
 

Every year at the beginning of spring, in base mixture.

Pruning
Pruning
 

Let the new growth develop until late spring, then shorten every bud to 2-3 leaves. Prune it in autumn, when the flowers show on the new buds, grown after the last spring pruning operation.

Propagation
Propagation
 

By seeds in spring, by semi-wood cuttings in summer.

Bonsai styles

Suitable for Informal Upright, Slanting, Prostrate, Root over Rock styles. Suitable for mean-big sizes.

   

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