Brutish crepe myrtle

[Lou T]

Found an ugly one. This crepe was growing through weed mat into the ground amongst a forest of runaway ligustrum, sago palm and a quiver of fern in the dark shabby depths of a Florida nursery. Having fallen long ago, the crepe grew as a raft, it’s former nursery pot enclosure found fractured and strewn amongst weeds. The nursery was expanding through this neglected sector so the plant had to go in order to grade for a concrete pour.

I put it in this Anderson pot about 6 or 7 weeks ago and it finally broke bud this week. I trimmed back it’s awkward, stretched root system significantly and left it with almost none so I’m excited to see it pushing.

It has some very interesting uro and deadwood features in my opinion. Very brutish. Almost reminds me of bone. No idea where I’m going to steer this ship yet. Plan is just to let it grow and see where it flies itself for now.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Top notch Fairytale bonsai potential there, Lou. I'm anxious to see how it progresses.

 

[Lou T]

Top notch Fairytale bonsai potential there, Lou. I'm anxious to see how it progresses.

Thanks Joe. I’m lucky to have come across it. I’m learning that I’ve got an eye for the strange and unusual. This is only the beginning of my bonsai journey. Hopefully this one stays with me for the long run. I’ll be sure to update.

 

[Lou T]

Update on this tree 3 months after collection and drastic root and branch reduction:





Looking for direction in this tree! This is one I’d like to bring to a club.

Bonus: unknown cool looking moth species

 

[Joe Dupre']

It looks like it wants to live. Good deal.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I would consider reducing all of those branches back to one or two leaves, and wiring the new growth that emerges. At this time of year, it should also help develop secondary ramification, and you should see more buds pop from the trunk.

 

[Lou T]

I would consider reducing all of those branches back to one or two leaves, and wiring the new growth that emerges. At this time of year, it should also help develop secondary ramification, and you should see more buds pop from the trunk.

All right I think I’ll do that tomorrow. Thank you.

 

[Lou T]

Found two more ugly dogs:




Tucked away in a neglected area of the nursery in town sat these two in 3-gallon cans. I got both for 5 dollars. Pruned off the reverse taper and large branches and cut them flat, tossed them in Anderson flats. I’m confident there is plenty of time left in our long Florida growing season for these to recover. Potted up:



The first one growing well after pruning and defoliation: