Most boxes are grown as hardy bonsai, but the Harland box has been successfully grown as an indoor plant. Box is very popular for bonsai due to its tiny leaves and flowers and its tolerence for extensive pruning and shaping. One note of caution: box leaves are poisonous, and eating even a few can kill a small pet.
Lighting: | Box is not particular. Sun or shade both work well. Buxus harlandii prefers shade or semi-shade, and has an indoor light requirement of only 800 Lux. |
Temperature: | Hardiness depends on variety, but Box needs protection from frost and cold winds even when grown in the proper climate. In the summer, box appreciates fresh air. |
Watering: | Moderate, but does not like wet soil. Allow the box to dry somewhat between waterings. |
Feeding: | Every two weeks during growth. Harland Box, every 20- 30 days. Use a liquid bonsai fertilizer with one application of pulverized organic fertilizer during active growth. |
Repotting: | Every two years. Spring is the best time, but as box is a broadleaf evergreen, there is more leeway with appropriate times to repot than with deciduous trees. It can be repotted in summer and autumn if need be, but avoid repotting during very hot weather or during a growth spurt. Use basic bonsai soil. Box dislikes acid soil, and the use of limestone in the soil mix or adding an occasional dose of lime to the soil is recommended. |
Styling: | Trim new growth as necessary. Growth on the dwarf varieties can be very slow. Box can be wired at any time. It is tolerant of radical treatments, such as jin, shari and being grown root over rock. Fine bonsai material may frequently be pillaged from old hedges. |
Propagation: | By division in spring, or from hardwood cuttings taken in late summer or autumn. Air-layering is also possible. |
Pests etc.: | Blackfly, greenfly, and red spider mites. Although box is very disease resistant, honey fungus and rust are sometimes encountered. |
I look for information about Boxwood names for my job in a school of agriculture in Belgium. Thank you for responding.
I have "winter Gem" boxwood and am trying to finish a hedge in my formal garden. I have been waiting vainly for similar plants to come in at my local garden center. Today I found some boxwood labeled "green beauty" that looked identical in form, leaf shape and size, and color to the ones I already have. Could these actually be the same plants?---or at least would they grow to be the same size and survive the harsh Wisconsin winters as well? Hope you can help me---the people at the garden center couldn't answer those questions, nor could they access their reference books. Thank you for your help, Allen Babbitz
ACTUALLY, I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT IF I CAN PLANT "DWARF ENGISH BOXWOODS" DURING THE MONTHS OF JULY-AUG. I WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIVE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME YOUR ADVICE ON THIS QUESTION. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER I PLANTED 9 BOXWOODS AT THE ENTRANCE TO A VERY OLD GRAVEYARD THAT IS ON OUR PROPERTY (LOOKOUT, WV.- SOUTHERN WV NEAR BECKLY AND 1 HR NORTH OF BLUEFIELD, VA/WV.)
From: iasnob@aol.com (IASNOB) Date: 5 Mar 1996 06:55:56 -0500 Buxus harlandii is an interesting bonsai specimen--the bark on these extremely s l o w growing specimens is particularly attractive. I would advise you to consider the following recommendation: 1. In a cool room, keep the winter temperature at no higher than 65-degrees Fahrenheit. If any higher, you will need to spray the foliage a few time per day, and keep the bonsai on a suiban filled with water to increase humidity. 2. Keep the bonsai in a bright area. 3. Provide the bonsai with a weak strength fertilizer during the winter. 4. When the temperatures approach the mid-fifties, move the specimen outdoors for the spring and summer. I find Buxus to be extremely disease resistant. You can wire this specimen at any time of the year. Michael Persiano
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