Product Description:
Boxwood is a very hardy plant and grows rapidly as well. These great characteristics make it a good tree to use as bonsai. Boxwood has more than 70 species and the common boxwood is the most popular. This is highly used as an ornamental plant and is grown and shaped into a variety of designs. These species of trees can be found in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central America. Of all these species, however, the Chinese boxwood (Buxus harlandii), Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla), and the European common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) are most often used as bonsai. They are extremely popular bonsai due to their hardiness and ease of styling. Boxwood trees naturally have very tiny leaves. This makes them look more balanced as a bonsai tree. The leaves also grow in a very compact fashion which is often soughed after in bonsai trees. Broxwood is very popular, especially in England due to this compact leave structure making it easy to style.
Light:
Buxus bonsai do best when placed outside in full sun or semi-shade. If your tree has full sun, make sure to protect it against the harshest rays of the sun during midday in summer.
Water:
Water the plant as needed to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Reduce watering dramatically during the fall and winter.
Soil:
Bonsai soil peat moss, and sand in a ration of 2:1:2; Boxwood does not tolerate acid soil so add some ground limestone.
Fertilizer:
Feed with bonsai fertilizer every 20-30 days from spring through fall. Do not feed in winter.
Pruning:
Pruning the branches can be done at any time. When six pairs of leaves have developed, cut new shoots back to two or three pairs of leaves. Roots should be pruned in spring at the time of repotting.
Propagation:
Well ripened cuttings in late summer
Repotting:
Repot the boxwood every two to five years depending on its age and size. Boxwoods tolerate root pruning well. The soil mix should have a pH value of 7 to 8. You can add some pumice or lime rock gravel to your normal soil mix.
