boxwood bonsai (need help)

tycoon · White Belt Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

Hello All

I recently just puchased a boxwood shrub and am going to add it to my bonsai collection. But i don't know how to start, should i trim then pot, or pot and then trim.Also the plant comes in a fair sized pot and i'm a little rusty on repoting so any tips would be most apreciated.

By the way if it helps I live in Ontario, Canada I keep the soil moist at all times (water every day) make shure that soil has a chanse to semi dry before next watering.

Thanks in avanced!

steve · Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: boxwood bonsai (need help)

Boxwood can be tricky to style as they are very brittle once the growth hardens off. If you plan on bending any branches take it very slowly. They will need repotting every year as they produce masses of fine roots. I would be inclined to wait until next spring and then repot in early spring in following years as well. The tree itself will tell you what style to go with though most lend themselves to informal uprights. Good luck and keep coming back with any questions or updates on your tree.

tycoon · White Belt Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

Thanks a lot for your help, I'll be sure to do that. Also I know that this is an open ended question but I've had really bad luck with evergreens as bonsai in the past. I have had 4 Junipers and Two other conifers (all outdoor plants), all that remains after one year of training is a single small Juniper. I think it's because I've been doing so much to it with re-potting and styling in the same year. Like I said I live in Ontario, Canada and any help is appreciated. Oh yeah they are in full sun most of the time.

steve · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 4:18 am Post subject: Re: boxwood bonsai (need help)

Actually when you do major pruning you should give the roots an equal trim as well.Try to limit your pruning to one third of the foliage and one third of the roots on junipers. Bonsai is something to be done in years not hours. Also try this when you water- water until saturated then come back in ten minutes and repeat it. If your soil is properly mixed this won't over water but will ensure the soil is thouroghly watered. Remember watering not only provides the tree with moisture but also draws air into the soil for the roots. Good luck with the trees and don't get discouraged if I had only killed a handful of trees in the first year I would have been much more satisfied. I've wiped out more trees than a handful of loggers along the way and I'm sure I'll lose more before I'm done. It's all part of the learning experience.

Stymie · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: boxwood bonsai (need help)

A word of caution Tyke. Buxus don't come in the thirsty category. They need rather less moisture than the average tree/shrub. The compost should not be allowed to dry out completely nevertheless.
We're in the middle of a heat wave here in the UK at the moment. I know that it won't last for long but my small sized pots are being watered twice daily at pres.

zzt6688 · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: boxwood bonsai (need help)

One thing that helps when wiring trees is to let them dry out a bit. You should hold off the water for one day or two days prior to wiring. I am not really sure how long would be enough for the boxwood, since I am readying my tree for a pruning session myself.
But here is a follow up question Steve, if he prunes, wires and shapes the boxwood, should he also repot so that there will be a balance between the leaves area and the root area? Or should he hold off the whole thing until next spring?
When you answer this question try to also think about my own tree, It needs to be re potted. I can always repot it into a bigger pot, but that will only defeat the purpose of trying to minimize the container it goes into. but if need be Rolling Eyes

I can wait until next year.

steve · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 12:13 am Post subject: Re: boxwood bonsai (need help)

I have in the past pruned heavily and then potted in the following spring. The growth seems to have longer internodes and not be as vibrant but that could just be me. Another option may be to wait later in the year when closer to dormacy. New growth would then be at a minimum.

tycoon · White Belt Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

Thanks for the feed back

I'm not an expert but it seams as though every time I pruned and then re-potted the tree gets brown and eventually dies. This could also be because all of the bonsai that I have pruned and re-potted were all Juniper and the leaves dried up and went brown.

could that be?

steve · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 3:08 am Post subject: Re: boxwood bonsai (need help)

Juniper can take a pretty good beating so it may be that you are taking too much off the roots. Do you comb out the roots and then trim once you have them untangled?

tycoon · White Belt Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

That's probably what it is. I just trim them and leave the roots in the root ball because I'm afraid that if I comb them out that that will hurt the tree. The tree comes in a container that is about eight inches high by five inches wide, and I'm afraid that taking that much off and then combing the roots will disturb it too much.

Also I was wondering about soil content for my boxwood and Juniper. If anyone could talk to me in English about the type of soil (peat moss, grit etc.) rather then the Japanese version such as Akadama it would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the help All!

steve · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: boxwood bonsai (need help)

This may be part of the problem then. It is important to comb out the roots with a root hook or rake (you can make one by bending an old fork). This keeps the roo