Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on December 5, 2022

Planting instructions

There are two main growing requirements that you should keep in mind while choosing a growing location for your Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree. First, this plant needs to grow in an area that receives full sunlight, meaning six hours of exposure per day or more. Second, the soil in which this plant grows must have good drainage. As long as those conditions are in place, you can plant your Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree in a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and about twice as wide.

Watering and nutrients

Water this plant often enough during the establishment period to maintain consistent soil moisture. Following the first season of active growth, your Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree will develop decent drought tolerance. However, this plant will perform best if you give it some water whenever you notice that the first three inches of soil have become dry. To feed this plant, all you need to do is apply a balanced fertilizer, such as one with a 10-10-10 nutrient blend, once per year during the early spring.

Pollination

Your Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree will begin opening its blooms during early summer, and will likely continue blooming until the fall arrives. Throughout that long bloom period, many pollinators, including honey bees, will arrive to pollinate this plant. Pollination typically occurs quite easily for the Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree since it is self-fertile, meaning that a single plant can pollinate itself. However, you won’t need to worry about pollination when growing this plant since its fruits are not ornamentally appealing or commonly eaten.

Pruning

As is the case for nearly all crape myrtles that you’ll come across, the Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree is a plant that sets its flower buds on new growth. This means that pruning during early spring is permissible, as you won’t risk cutting off any flower buds that are set to bloom during the growing season. When pruning, ensure that your tools are as sharp and sterile as they can be. Your main goal during pruning should be to remove any branch that is dead, damaged or diseased.

Pests, diseases and animals

There are a few pests and diseases that can harm your Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree, which you should watch out for when caring for this plant. Some of the most common pests that will infest this plant are Japanese beetles, aphids, scale insects and ambrosia beetles. However, the Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree is often quite capable of resisting and recovering from such pests. Regarding disease, the Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree can contract root rot, powdery mildew, black spot, blight and canker, among other complications.

Achieving maximum results

Pruning during the early stages of your Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree’s life can have a significant impact on how this plant develops over the following years. One of the best approaches for pruning while this plant is young is to encourage a few main stems to develop. As your plant grows, it is also helpful to remove any branches that are exceptionally long and leggy compared to the others. This allows your Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree to maintain a balanced and structurally sound form.

Compare Similar Products