Sorry - I just saw this in System Messages quite by accident. Thought I was supposed to get a tmail.
A Crape Myrtle is hardy in Zone 7 - heck they are root hardy here in Zone 5 B. I have 5 3 YO old plants, 2 2 YO plants and one that I grew from seed in 2014 - it is 2 feet tall. They all made it thru last winter - which was not horrible, but pretty bad none the less.
The 2 2 YO plants were planted in early November 2014. As it turned out, I did not even mulch them. I forgot.
If I had this plant here, I would probably simply plant it in the ground, water well, mulch with leaves to a foot and wish it well. In the next few days it will be in upper 50s here and things are going whacky. I have heathers blooming.
Note that if you do plant it, place it in its final location.
Second best would be to sink the pot, water well and mulch with leaves to a foot deep. Preferably on South or East side of house near a foundation.
I wonder why they suggested wintering a Crape Myrtle it over in the garage in Zone 7?
@flaflwrgrl - For stuff that I over winter in the garage - I water sparingly, but ~ once a month or so. I check the plants weekly. The plants tend to tend look like hell by Spring, but I lost nothing last year - including Calibrachoa which is way out of zone here, but is a tender perennial, geraniums, and other plants. It got down to right at 32 in my garage and it is unheated for all practical purposes.
@Natalie - If you decide to keep it in the garage, give it a drink now and water once a month or so over winter sparingly. Don' be shy, but don't drench it either. If there is a window, place it near the window. Put a couple pieces of cardboard or plywood on the floor under any pots you store there.
From what you said above, it sounds like the plant has shut down for winter. Note that it will likely be a bit late to arouse in spring (CM's nature), so don't think it is dead. Bring it out after last frost. In my area that would be around Mother's day.
Good luck. Be happy to answer any other questions you my have.
In Zone 7 your Crape Myrtle should flourish and become a real tree. They are beautiful. In my zone, they mostly die down to the ground like a perennial and the top regrows. But one of mine, Muskogee, had about half its growth that made it through winter last year ~ 10 feet. I had it wrapped in burlap stuffed with leaves to 3 feet.
I have:
Muskogee
Pink Velour
Dynamite
Sioux
NOID
