Boxwood bonsai soil recommendations

[Tulsabonsigh]

I just dug up a boxwood. First cuts today.put it in its native soil or a gravel type composite? If composite what recommendations. Tempted to do half native soil half Napa 8822

 

[kale]

I just dug up a boxwood. First cuts today.put it in its native soil or a gravel type composite? If composite what recommendations. Tempted to do half native soil half Napa 8822

Do 100% 8822 instead of adding native soil

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Mine did alright in 40%lava/ 40%pumice/ 20% pine bark. I haven't used much napa, but 80/ 20 with pine bark would what I would use if that is what I had.

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

Also can I cut all the leaves off on a first prune? If I do will they come back on the parts I leave??

 

[Mellow Mullet]

You should always leave some green on a boxwood.

 

[sorce]

8822 wasn't good for me in a pond basket.

Quite sure it was because of the volume underneath and the easy ability for water to runoff the top.

It's been fine in my shallower baskets and bonsai pots so far. 2-3 years.

No native.

Sorce

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

Well went with Napa 8822 and moss covering on top.
have no idea what shape I will go with but it’s trimmed down and transplanted

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

If anyone has any examples they think I could aspire to shape mine to, feel free to share

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

Going to go in stages. This first stage was really just transplant and cut off some green so I could see structure of plant.
I love the color of this boxwood. That’s why I picked it. Trunk isn’t amazing, it’s nice and thick but nothing prize worthy

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

Front and back. It has years to go before it’s even near bonsai looking.

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

Final product. Took me a few hours of staring at it to figure it out but I’m happy with this! feedback!?

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

Well this has been fun. I have enjoyed documenting my progress. I’m very happy with how she turned out. Let me know if you took time to read these!

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

Do 100% 8822 instead of adding native soil

Thanks for this advice. I ran with it! Added moss on top for aesthetics

 

[PaulH]

You should always leave some green on a boxwood.

I don't know how that myth got started. I've collected hundreds of boxwoods. I seldom leave any green, and they always bud back.

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

I don't know how that myth got started. I've collected hundreds of boxwoods. I seldom leave any green, and they always bud back.

well fortunately mine had some green in places I don’t mind so it got left! But thanks so much for the feedback I’ll try both ways now!

 

[Tbrshou]

I don't know how that myth got started. I've collected hundreds of boxwoods. I seldom leave any green, and they always bud back.

Im soooooo glad you said this!!!

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I don't know how that myth got started. I've collected hundreds of boxwoods. I seldom leave any green, and they always bud back.

It is not a myth, in the deep south, if you cut back to nothing, especially on really old material, the branch usually dies. I have read that others in different areas of the country have luck with bare branches budding, but have never seen any proof of it, just words, so I guess that is a myth also. I was not sure of Tulsabonsai's skill level, so I made recommendations on the safe side. Leave some green, after it buds further back, you cut back to it.

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

people are supposed to be telling me what a great job I did on my boxwood!! Not arguing about buds on dead limbs! I took the safe route and left green, a newbie would be stupid to do anything else!

 

[Mellow Mullet]

people are supposed to be telling me what a great job I did on my boxwood!! Not arguing about buds on dead limbs! I took the safe route and left green, a newbie would be stupid to do anything else!

It is hard to just say "good Job" without knowing your vision or goal for your final design. Looking at what you have done I will say that you did good at cutting out/ thinning the unnecessary growth to establish a framework. If it were me, I would wire down the two lower branches that you left below the "Y' in the trunk now. Boxwood branches are extremely hard and once they get any size to them they are very difficult to move. After it recovers, I would also think about shortening the two main branches above the fork. Good start though.

 

[Tulsabonsigh]

Thanks for the feedback! Yeah I haven’t wired before so I’m going to buy some wire today. I made a couple more cuts last night. I think I need to stop for now and wire and let it rest.