Box Store Boxwood - What to do with the cones?

[theone420]

I picked up this Boxwood from one of the Big Box stores a couple weeks ago. When I saw it I thought big oak tree so that is my idea. Did a little trimming but didn't want to do to much since they are slow growers.

First I have a question regarding the cones at the tips of the branches.
What are they?
Should I leave them be or should I remove them?

And some questions regarding design
Any suggestions where I should start?
what branches should be removed?
Any help is appreciated as I am a total noob to designing bonsai.

these cone things


here are pics of the full bush


And some pics of the inside

 

[sorce]

Fittin to be flowers....

I only seen them when they are old and ratty so I wanna take em off....

But I don't know how they react, and the one I got flower buds on I can't chance effing!

I'd cut the small red now, and mow it next summer for them backbuds,.but leave green on the left side!

Nice bloody start!

Sorce

 

[just.wing.it]

Fittin to be flowers...

Yup!
Flower buds for springtime!
Though insignificant flowers, still cool.

 

[theone420]

Thanks Sorce, I kinda knew I needed to get rid of that branch crossing over but the one behind it I didn't think about because it would remove a lot of the foliage. But if I cut all the branches back hard as you are suggesting I can see how both those branches could be removed and will put it into scale for the size of the trunk

And do you all think I should wait for the flowers to pop before I chop it or should I chop before?

 

[sorce]

chop it or should I chop

I'd let it build up energy till the solstice. Round Father's Day.

But you know what.....
Colin Fraser shared us this....
And this dude don't leave green in California either.

So...

Great flick...got me back on Box hardcore and I successfully put 2 nursery joints in bonsai pots!

Sorce

 

[theone420]

I did cut one of the branches for now and I have a lot of new growth all over the tree.

in the pics you can see a lot of new leaves starting(circled in red)

It looks like the cones are sprouting out leaves. the blue circles show the bud with green leaf pods that come out and open to 4 leaves

 

[theone420]

So with this much growth do you think it would be ok to cut the tree back a little more?
Should I leave the branches with new growth?

 

[sorce]

Here....
I've had flower buds set since like late August/Sept....

But they're just sitting dormant till spring.

There...?

Seems the box may have came from a colder climate.
Should say on the tag but when I zoom it starts to look Arabic.

Sorce

 

[Ramron67]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I could not resist picking up two boxwoods at HD for $4 a piece.
The photo below is of one of them that has two trunks, which I hope to be able to work with.
The other one is a pretty straight-trunked tree.
I live in the north eastern USA, so I was planning on keeping them inside over the winter. I am new to bonsai, but from my reading one shouldn't do much to boxwoods until the Spring.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rockm]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I could not resist picking up two boxwoods at HD for $4 a piece.
The photo below is of one of them that has two trunks, which I hope to be able to work with.
The other one is a pretty straight-trunked tree.
I live in the north eastern USA, so I was planning on keeping them inside over the winter. I am new to bonsai, but from my reading one shouldn't do much to boxwoods until the Spring.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
View attachment 516436

They will die inside.

 

[Wulfskaar]

They will die inside.

Yeah. Listen to rockm. He gives cold, hard advice, but it will save your trees.

Since they were only $4, you can have some fun with these. On mine, I started by removing some of the unwanted branches and clearing out a bit of the leaves from the inside areas. This will give you a better idea of what you've got and will also give needed light to the inside as well.

In spring, you can consider repotting. That's a whole learning process in itself.

 

[Ramron67]

Since they were only $4, you can have some fun with these. On mine, I started by removing some of the unwanted branches and clearing out a bit of the leaves from the inside areas. This will give you a better idea of what you've got and will also give needed light to the inside as well.

Should I wait until the Spring to trim them, your post suggests that I could start now?

 

[Wulfskaar]

Should I wait until the Spring to trim them, your post suggests that I could start now?

I think early spring is best. I read you can prune any time during the growing season, so I imagine that fall and winter are not best.

I think you can do a little now, but it's probably best to do major pruning in early spring.