Struggling boxwood

[Ollie]

This boxwood has been struggling all year, and now some trips are dying. I've just repotted in 50:50 spahgnumerlite in hopes of reviving it.

I'm considering bringing it inside to grow under lights and break its dormancy early (I've read they can be grown indoors), alternatively I can leave it in an unheated shed until spring (3-ish months away)

Which is the best course of action?

 

[Ollie]

spahgnumerlite

Woops

 

[Joe Dupre']

I would be curious to know too. I've had a couple of boxwoods do this too. A horticulture graduate tells me it's some kind of disease that can't be cured consistently.

 

[sorce]

What was it planted in before?
Same pot?

Lack of attention kills em real good.

Sorce

 

[Ollie]

What was it planted in before?

It was in a poorly-aerated compost mix (I didn't know about bonsai soil when I potted) in a slightly bigger pot, and didn't really grow any roots for a year.

I've read they prefer slightly drier soil so I guess that's the culprit.

 

[AJL]

Could well be Box Blight https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=96

 

[BonjourBonsai]

Could well be Box Blight https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=96
View attachment 348536

I think so too.

 

[Ollie]

Possibly, I might give it an anti-fungal spray.

So bring in or leave outside?

 

[AJL]

Box is perfectly hardy in the southwest so why bring inside?

 

[Ollie]

I thought repotting might reduce its hardiness?

 

[AJL]

When you repotted how much of the root system did you prune back? I suggest keep outside in a sheltered spot such as against a wall and protect the roots eg with free draining mulch or wrap pot in bubble wrap - as its in quite a small pot .

 

[Ollie]

I didn't touch the roots because there were so few of them. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll keep it outside.

 

[sorce]

I thought repotting might reduce its hardiness?

We should rewind to how that tree got in the old pot situation, the one it suffered in.

The idea is to avoid "confusing" the tree. If you are in a position where you think further confusion, ie, bringing it indoors, will help, we should be figuring how to prevent this in the future.

Sorce

 

[Ollie]

how that tree got in the old pot situation

Last year was my first potting season and I didn't really understand the importance of bonsai soil. I think I'll follow your advice RE not confusing the tree