Boxwood: care, reproduction

The boxwood plant is an evergreen shrub that grows in warm countries. It is often used for hedging or bonsai, as it thrives in confined spaces and forms branchy bushes.

Planting boxwood

Contrary to popular belief that plants are best planted in spring, autumn is ideal for planting boxwood. The best option will be the second half of September. But individual gardeners manage to successfully plant boxwood and warm weather. For boxwood, a shaded place with clay and moist soil is suitable. It is good if lime is present in the soil. Bright rays are detrimental to boxwood leaves.

Decide on the date of planting the boxwood and the day before this period, abundantly water the root system of the plant closed with a clod of earth. This is necessary so that later it would be easier to remove the plant from the container. If you can, remove the plant from the container right away and place the roots in the water.

Make the deepening in the ground three times larger than the size of the earthen coma. Sprinkle the bottom of the pit with a layer of drainage two or three centimeters thick. Perlite is suitable for drainage. Mix it with the soil that you took out of the hole. Spread out the root system of the plant and place it in the hole. Cover the roots with a mixture of soil and perlite, avoiding the formation of air pockets. Then compact the soil and water the plant with settled water. Then add more soil. Make a shaft of soil around the seedling at a distance of twenty centimeters from the trunk. It is necessary so that water does not spread during watering.

Boxwood care

This plant does not tolerate bright sun and freezing. As a result of the action of low temperatures and cold winds, boxwood may die. Therefore, take measures in advance to preserve the plant.

Boxwood seedlings can be insulated in different ways - it can be special nets, burlap, plywood boxes, spruce branches and so on. After the onset of warm spring weather, immediately remove the insulation, otherwise the plant will vomit.

During the summer season, mulch the soil with peat or humus, and water it constantly. In general, the soil surrounding the boxwood should always be moist. Spray the boxwood with an aerator to moisten the leaves. In summer it is obligatory feed plant with organic fertilizers or mineral fertilizers.

Before the onset of the winter cold, water the boxwood well, thereby giving the plant a supply of moisture. Then cover the soil near the box with peat or pine needles. Do not use fallen leaves for this purpose.
Mow the plant several times a year to give it an aesthetic shape.

Reproduction of boxwood

This plant can multiply by seeds or vegetatively. The first method gives a fairly good result. From the seeds sprouts hatch quite quickly and during the warm season they manage to grow up to 15 centimeters in height. But at the same time, this method also has several disadvantages:

• Only very fresh seeds can be sown. Literally a year later, they lose their germination.
• The seed germination rate is very low. Even after pre-sowing treatment, no more than a third of the seeds emerge.
• Since the boxwood is constantly trimmed, the maturation of full-fledged seeds is very problematic.

From this point of view, propagation of boxwood by cuttings is more attractive. Use pruning shears to cut a twig of boxwood up to 20 centimeters long. Try to take twigs from the bottom of the plant. Take branches that are not yet stiff, but strong enough. Remove the lower leaves to expose two internodes. Now slightly damage the bark of the twig by running a needle or just a fingernail over it.

Use only soil for rooting. Take small pots and fill them with light, permeable soil. Plant no more than four cuttings in each pot. If you are rooting cuttings on the site, then observe the distance between them 10 centimeters.
Cover the seedlings with foil to create the right microclimate. Water them sparingly but regularly. When the plant begins to grow and two new leaves appear, this will signal the plant to root.

Boxwood at home

For growing at home use boxwood varieties such as evergreen, small-leaved or bolear that do well in small spaces. As a houseplant, boxwood requires careful maintenance, otherwise it will shed its leaves.

The plant must be kept in a moderate temperature, and in winter even in a cool room. Water and spray regularly during the summer season. In winter, reduce the number of waterings. In the warm season, constantly feed the plant, alternating mineral fertilizers with organic matter. As the plant grows, repot it in a new container. Pruning can be done throughout the year as needed.