Cultivation method of boxwood

Boxwood, also known as boxwood and thousand-year-old dwarf, is an evergreen shrub with slender branches and very small, emerald green and shiny leaves, making it particularly suitable for bonsai. So how to grow boxwood bonsai well? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Pot soil selection

Generally, red or black clay pots are sufficient, but ceramic pots are also acceptable. The diameter of the pot is determined based on the thickness of the plant. In terms of soil, boxwood likes loose, fertile and breathable soil, so it can be prepared with humus soil, garden soil and river sand in a ratio of 4:4:2.

2. Light and temperature management

Boxwood is a sun-loving plant that prefers light and grows well in an environment with sufficient light. It is usually required to be exposed to the sun in spring, autumn and winter. If the light is too strong in summer, appropriate shade can be provided. In addition, boxwood bonsai also requires a warm environment, and the most suitable temperature is 18-25℃.

3. Scientific watering

Boxwood needs to maintain a certain amount of moisture in the soil, so when watering you should make sure the soil surface looks moist. However, during the seedling stage, the root system of boxwood is relatively shallow and it is very sensitive to water, so the amount of water should be slightly less. When the growing season arrives, you can water the plants heavily, and make sure they are watered thoroughly each time. However, don't overwater, as this can cause root rot.

4. Reasonable fertilization

Generally, when the first sprout of boxwood is 3 to 5 cm long, start applying an appropriate amount of decomposed liquid fertilizer , and then apply it once every half a month or so. The amount of fertilizer can be determined according to the size of the pot , generally 1-2 grams.

5. Pruning tips

Boxwood trees grow quickly and require regular pruning and shaping to maintain their attractive shape. Pruning can be done in spring and fall. When pruning, be sure to first cut off the withered and yellow branches and leaves on the boxwood plant, shorten the overgrown branches, and thin out the dense branches.

6. Pest and disease control

The main diseases and pests of boxwood are scale insects, leaf rollers, brown spot disease, leaf blight, etc. To prevent and control leaf roller larvae and scale insects, you can spray 1500 times diluted 80% DDT. The key to preventing and controlling brown spot disease is to remove fallen leaves and destroy them in time to reduce the source of infection, and spray lime sulfur, or carbendazim, mancozeb and foliar fertilizer in early spring for prevention. Leaf blight can be controlled by spraying carbendazim and azole pesticides.



In general, boxwood is relatively easy to grow, has strong sprouting ability, is resistant to pruning, and most importantly, is very frost-resistant. Basically, as long as you pay attention to the above maintenance details, it is easy to grow the boxwood into good condition.