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I have 2 specimens. Mine are luxurious except...they refuse to bloom. They are on a south wall, get adequate sun. Crepes do very well here in extreme Southeastern Pennsylvania. Neighbors have Crepes...covered in blooms! Not me! Can someone help? Please???
How long have you had them? Sometimes plants will take a couple years to really get going on the blooms so if you've only had them a year or two they may just need time. Some other possibilities...can you define "adequate sun" a little better? They bloom best in full sun so it would help to know how many hours of direct sun they're getting. One other possibility is if you've been giving them too much high nitrogen fertilizer that can give you lots of lush green growth at the expense of blooms.
As they have said, Crapemyrtles require full sun , do not like to have their feet wet, and require very little fertilization. Below is a link from Auburn University on Care for Crapemyrtles.
I think different varieties will bloom at different times, and also, sometimes our crape myrtles have bloomed in June and other times not until much later in the summer. Why? I have no idea! Well, maybe *some* idea. I tend not to water them, leaving them to fend for themselves. This usually works out just fine because as has been said, my understanding is that they don't like things too moist. But I'm also thinking that if things get *too* dry, it may delay or disturb the blooming. I'm no expert, just have lived in this house for 4 years and that's been my uneducated observation.
LiseP
Various crape myrtles have a genetic tendency to bloom at different times of the growing season. That's one reason to have more than one variety if you have a lot of room.
When is the best time to transplant a Crepe Myrtle tree? In the spring when it is dormant or while it is in full bloom in October? I live in Rhode Island, if that makes a difference. I am moving and want to take my tree with me. It is about 4 feet tall.
I've always found crepes to be very hardy. I think if you dig up a good root ball and wrap it in burlap and keep it damp it will be ok. Might shed some leaves but it will come back.
