I've been experimenting with rooting crepe myrtle cuttings this summer, and I wanted to share what's been working for me. I started by taking semi-hardwood cuttings around early July. Selecting branches that were around 6 to 8 inches long, I trimmed off any flowers and leaves from the lower half. The trick seems to be in the preparation: I dipped the cut end in a rooting hormone powder. Initially, I used just water for rooting, but the success rate was pretty low. So, I switched to using a mix of perlite and peat moss, ensuring good drainage but enough moisture retention. I kept the humidity high by placing a plastic cover over the cuttings, making sure it didn't touch the leaves, which really seemed to boost the rooting process.

In terms of environment, indirect light has been crucial. Too much sun scorched the foliage, while too little light slowed down the rooting. I tried moving my setup to various spots in the garden, and the shadier area under a tree with some morning sun yielded the best results. Watering can be a bit tricky—overwatering caused some of my cuttings to rot. Keeping the soil just moist enough was tricky, but I settled on lightly watering every few days. After about four weeks, I noticed tiny roots beginning to form. The whole process does require some patience, but watching those roots develop is completely worth it.