Boxwood Bonsai Care

Boxwood, also know Box, or Buxus, is a small evergreen shrub used as an ornamental garden plant and is often seen as topiary or small hedges.

I bought a small Boxwood from a nursery in late 2016. Since then I have been trying to grow it as a bonsai. You can see how it is developing in my Boxwood Bonsai Progression

What Is The Natural Habitat Of A Boxwood Tree?

Boxwood naturally grows throughout Europe and into Asia, but is more commonly found in gardens.

What Soil Do Boxwood Bonsai Need?

Boxwood bonsai prefer a well draining soil.

I have used my standard mix of equal parts Perlite/Molar Clay/Compost and my boxwood has loved it.

(For more info on soil read – A General Guide To Bonsai Soil)

How Do you Water A Boxwood Bonsai?

Boxwood bonsai should not be allowed to dry out and the soil should remain slightly damp at all time.

They can take a lot of water during the summer and you should water them just as they are about to dry out. If you have a good well draining soil then your tree will not be waterlogged and instead will be damp at all times, which should keep them happy.

(For more info you can read –How To Water A Bonsai)

How Much Sun Light Does A Boxwood Bonsai Need?

Boxwood bonsai can take full sun, but they can also handle partial shade. Obviously the more light you can provide them, the faster and stronger they will grow, so if you can, place them in full sun.

How Hardy Are Boxwood Bonsai?

Boxwood are fully hardy in the UK.

They can survive down to around -15°C / 5°F while in the ground, so in a pot they might not be able to handle it this low, but they will be able to handle anything the UK winter has to offer.

If your climate is getting this cold, especially for an extended period of time it is best to shelter the tree in an unheated greenhouse or shed to keep the extreme cold off them.

How Often Do You Feed A Boxwood Bonsai?

I feed my Boxwood bonsai once a month during the growing season with an all purpose fertiliser which seems to keep it happy enough.

(For more info you can read – Do You Need To Use “Bonsai” Fertiliser?)

How Do Boxwood Bonsai Respond to Pruning?

Boxwoods are used in topairy, so as you can imagine they respond very well to pruning.

Something in the back of my head says that when you hard prune boxwood, you should always leave some foliage on the branch, or it will die. I need to do more research on this to confirm. I’ve either imagined this or got confused with another tree species. So until I can confirm, just be cautious. (if you know for sure, email me).

When you prune a boxwood, they will usually send 2 shoots out at the nodes just below where you have trimmed. I have found they will often send more shoots out, so you might need to go back in a few weeks and remove any shoots you do not want.

(For more info you can read- How To Prune A Bonsai Tree)

Repotting A Boxwood Bonsai

Boxwood bonsai should be repotted in spring as the buds are starting to swell.

The roots can handle really hard pruning. So long as your tree is healthy and you are doing this at the right time, the tree should not suffer and will not really notice you have worked on it.

(For more info you can read – How To Repot A Bonsai Tree)

Wiring A Boxwood Bonsai

Boxwood bonsai can be wired, but be careful, as the bark can take a long time to heal if it is damaged.

They can be a little difficult to bend once they get older, but when they are young you will have no problem getting the shape you want, so this is the ideal time to set the structure.

(For more info read – Why Do We Wire Bonsai?)

What Is The Leaf Pattern Of A Boxwood Bonsai?

 Boxwood bonsai have small green leaves that are in an opposite leaf pattern. They are also evergreen so you may not get much change throughout the year.

However, I do notice they do go a little yellow over winter, and then green up again fully in the summer.

What Pests Does A Boxwood Bonsai Suffer From?

Boxwood bonsai are quite resilient to pest and I’ve never had any trouble with mine.

However, they can be affected by the standard pests and fungus that are in the garden such as scale and aphids.

Just inspect your trees often and you should be able to spot if anything is wrong.

Can You Propagate A Boxwood Bonsai?

Boxwood bonsai can be propagated from cuttings. They can take a while to root, but given the right care and conditions, they will root.

I’ve not heard of any one air layering them, but I would imagine this would work. It is difficult find boxwood that are very thick, so I guess no is interested in air layering a thin tree.

What Is The Growth Rate Of A Boxwood Bonsai?

Boxwood bonsai grow slowly and they take even longer to thicken. If you are looking to get a thick trunk, it is best if you a buy a tree that already has one established.

I’ve been told that even in the ground, they take a very long time to thicken, and to be honest, when I see them planted in gardens, they are tiny, even if they have been there for years.

If you have watched my videos on my tree, you will see I have mine in a small pot, so I am not expecting any thickness to develop on mine, its going to be pencil thin for its whole life.

Should You Get A Boxwood Bonsai?

Boxwoods are slow, but they are still a great choice for bonsai.

They are small in general, with small leaves and can be easily worked. they are really easy to care for and can take a lot of abuse.

They can make really nice trees given enough time and if you can find one with a thick trunk, you will have a great tree in no time as it is very easy to get thick dense foliage on them.

You can read more about If Boxwood Are A Good Tree For Bonsai.