# Collected crepe myrtle evolution

**URL:** <https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-crepe-myrtle-evolution/3263>\
**Category:** Beginners\
**Created:** [May 19, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-crepe-myrtle-evolution/3263 "2019-05-19T18:12:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 9

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**Author:** ![hierophantic](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/hierophantic/32/3338_2.png) [@hierophantic](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/hierophantic)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/collected-crepe-myrtle-evolution/3263/9 "2019-08-24T17:43:13Z")

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**Structural Setting 8/24/19**

Two big events for this tree:

1. I’ve struggled to get Mirai’s top dressing to thrive in Louisiana, so I’ve applied kiryu to several trees instead – and it’s transformed my watering practice. Thanks much to @joe_perry and [this thread](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/kiryuzuna-is-the-superior-top-dressing/1222) for the suggestion!

2. Per @ryan’s advice in [Forum Q&A 29](https://live.bonsaimirai.com/library/video/forum-qa-29), I went out and did the tree’s first structural setting. This was my first time working on a larger, more expensive piece of material – and one that I feel so strongly about! – so I feel pretty good about how it went! Actions taken:

- Wired out the defining branch on the far right (lowered it, gave it some motion, moved the tertiary pieces around to maximize light access); the furthest point is pointing straight up because I cracked it riiiight at the end of the living tissue, and I’m trying to keep that bit from dying off;

- Significant reduced some of the unusable pieces near the base of the defining branch on the right;

- Raised the apical branch ~10 degrees; it’s very stiff, so I’m nervous about giving it any more movement right now;

- Thinned out the large clump of branches in the top left, mostly to balance vigor (didn’t lose any serious mass);

- Didn’t touch the bottom left-hand branch; it needs to do something, but it’s not flexible enough right now for the bend I want, and I’m hoping to get some back budding that I can cut back to for a more interesting angle.

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_BEFORE_

 ![00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20190802180104089%20(1)](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/c/ccb4ff8017ea705dd5821b2140ac46b66b68f521.jpeg)

_AFTER_

 ![IMG_20190824_121633](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/b/b6e2b951759ae20f64e08302576fb6fb74c109df.jpeg)

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As always, I welcome feedback!

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