How to care for and maintain Lagerstroemia indica or Jupiter Tree?

There are species that are so beautiful that anyone can want to have one copy, or several. This is the case of the Jupiter Tree, whose scientific name is Lagerstroemia indica. It is a plant with such high ornamental value that we might well think that it is very delicate, but the reality is quite different.

It produces flowers at an early age and in such quantity that when it does it becomes a sight to see. However, How do you take care of yourself? 

Origin and characteristics of Lagerstroemia indica

Our protagonist It is a tree native to China known by the names foams, Jupiter tree, Jupiter, Indian lilac, southern lilac, crepe, or in English crepe myrtle. It is a plant, often with several stems, that can reach a height of up to 15 meters. Its leaves are small and dark green that turn orange in the fall before falling.

Flowers appear during spring in terminal panicles of more than 9cm in length that are white, pink, mauve, purple or crimson. The fruit is a green drupe that, when ripe, turns olive (bluish-black).

Cultivar types

There are several cultivars of Lagerstroemia indica, such as the following:

• Nivea: white flowers.
• Red Imperator: red, lilac or lavender flowers.

Dwarf varieties

• Lavender Dwarf: lavender flowers.
• Pink ruffles: pink flowers.
• Victor: intense red flowers.
• White dwarf: white flowers.

How do you take care of yourself?

Would you like to have a Lagerstroemia indica in your yard or garden? If so, we recommend that you provide the following care:

Location

This precious little tree it must be outside protected from direct sun. In temperate-cold climates it can be in a sunny area.

Soil or substrate

Depending on where you are going to have it, you will need one type of soil or another:

• Garden: the soil must be acidic (pH 4 to 6), rich in humus and well drained.
• Flower pot: substrate must be used for acidic plants (pH 4 to 6). In hot climates like the Mediterranean I advise mixing 70% akadama with 30% kiryuzuna.

Irrigation

Irrigation frequency it has to be frequent in summer and scarcer the rest of the year. Thus, during the warmer months it will be necessary to water 3 or 4 times a week, and the rest every 4-6 days. It is necessary to use rainwater, without lime or acidified (diluting the liquid of half a lemon in 1 liter of water).

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Throughout the growing season, that is, from the beginning of spring to the end of summer, it must be fertilized with fertilizers for acidic plants that you will find for sale in nurseries and garden stores. You can also throw him Organic fertilizers, such as egg and banana peels, tea bags, pasty greens, and the like.

Pruning

It is not necessary, but pruning is recommended at the end of winter to remove diseased, dry or weak branches. If necessary, it can also be trimmed a bit to control its development.

Planting or transplanting time

The best time to spend the Lagerstroemia indica to the garden is in spring, when the risk of frost has passed. If you have it in a pot, you should transfer it to a 3-4cm wider pot every two years.

Multiplication

Seeds

The seeds have to stratify in the fridge for three months during the winter before proceeding to plant them in pots with substrate for seedlings in spring. For it, you have to follow this step by step:

1. Fill a tupperware with vermiculite.
2. Place the seeds inside.
3. Cover them with more vermiculite.
4. Sprinkle copper or sulfur to prevent fungus.
5. Water and place the tupperware in the fridge (in the part where you put the milk, yogurts, etc.).
6. Once a week, for three months, the tupperware must be opened so that the air is renewed.
7. After that time, the seeds will be sown in pots, covering them with a thin layer of substrate.

The seeds will germinate in 1 or 2 months at most.

Cuttings

To multiply the Lagerstroemia indica by cuttings it must be done at the beginning of the summer. The way to proceed is as follows:

1. A semi-woody branch of about 40cm in length is cut, which does not have flowers.
2. The base is impregnated with powdered rooting hormones.
3. And it is planted in a pot with a sandy substrate, like akadama alone, outside.

If all goes well and the earth is kept moistened, will root at 3 months.

Management

It can be attacked by mushroomsand powdery mildew or the cercospora. The first manifests itself as a dry, ash-colored powder, and the other causes spots to appear on the leaves.

The treatment consists of apply fungicide on leaves, stems and branches, and avoid wetting these parts when watering.

Rusticity

Withstands frost up to -18ºC and heat up to 38ºC. It can live without problems in cold climates, but also in warmer ones as long as the minimum temperature is at least -1ºC.

Can it be worked as bonsai?

By supuesto. Proof of this is the top image. The tree of Jupiter you see in the image may be a hundred years old behind it, but it looks beautiful, right? If you also want to be able to show off some bonsai day, or if you just had one, these are the care you should give it:

• Location: outside, in full sun.
• Irrigation: every 2 days in summer, and every 5-6 days the rest of the year. Use lime-free water.
• Subscriber: from spring to autumn, with bonsai fertilizers.
• Substratum: 100% akadama or mixed with 20% volcanic gravel.
• Pruning: early spring.
• Pinching: throughout the year. You have to cut two leaves from the stems that have 6-8 leaves.
• Wiring: only if necessary, in spring.
• Styles- Fits almost any style, especially the formal upright and woods. More information on this topic here.
• Rusticity: needs protection against frost.

Where can Lagerstroemia indica be purchased?

This tree wonder you can buy it in nurseries and garden stores in temperate climates. If it happens to you like me that you live in an area with a mild climate, I recommend that you look in online stores. Surely you will find it that way 🙂.

Its price varies depending on the size. If they are very young plants of about 20 centimeters they can cost you 1 euro, but if they are 1 meter or more specimens the cost will be higher (20 euros or more).

What did you think of the Jupiter Tree?