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SHS
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Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:13 am
Location: South Florida - Zone 10

Boxwood from nursery stock

We also found what I thought would be a good specimen of boxwood today.(local nursery stock)

As we brought it home, raw and untrimmed.
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/Bonsai/018.jpg[/img]

After some trim...yes the trunk is at 2.5-3" in width, depending upon agle.
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/Bonsai/036.jpg[/img]

the trunk at various angles.
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/Bonsai/034.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/Bonsai/043.jpg[/img][img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/Bonsai/041.jpg[/img]
I like this as a possible front of the trunk
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/Bonsai/055.jpg[/img]
Although it is tough to choose the final angle of view yet.
I will do more trimming and let the plant speak to me...
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/Bonsai/050.jpg[/img]

Comments and suggestions welcome.

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SHS
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Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:13 am
Location: South Florida - Zone 10

I trimmed more and applied some wiring on a few branches I want to train.
Several angles in the pics below and I am still not completely decided upon the front.
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/018.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/019.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/020.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/022.jpg[/img]


Base width...
[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/023.jpg[/img]

The height is now at exactly 12".

again, comments and suggestions are welcome.

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Tachigi
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Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:26 am
Location: York, Pa

I think this is nice material! Not sure if I agree with your front...you have other possibilities to show off that really nice nebari.

For what its worth..my 2 cents. I would bring back the tree a bit more to focus its energy. I would find the trunk line you want to use..keep those branches and prune, then eliminate the rest. This will provide a finished image quicker....relatively speaking as boxwood are slow growers.

Take your time with this one...its good piece of material

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SHS
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Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:13 am
Location: South Florida - Zone 10

I am not sure if I agree with my front either. Each time I look at it I sway one way then the other. That is one reason I have not cut it back further.

The nebari is striking to me. I agree I want to show it off but the best view of the nebari is not the best angle for the limbs so what you say makes sense. I might get first hand advice on this one at the club meeting.

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Tachigi
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Location: York, Pa

I think your choice will be easier once you re-pot this material. Seeing whats below the soil line always forces you in one direction or another. If all else fails you can pot it up in a round pot which would always afford you a new front with a simple rotation :P

As it sits now.....this would be my chosen front, truly superior nebari. With the left fork removed you would have outstanding taper and an awesome tree.

[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/Bonsai/041.jpg[/img][/url]

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SHS
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Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:13 am
Location: South Florida - Zone 10

I agree with the front and this is where I am stopping for now to let it recover and grow some in the original pot.

[img]https://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz114/id_shs/007-1.jpg[/img]

I am fairly sure this is my front.

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SHS
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Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:13 am
Location: South Florida - Zone 10

Does anyone have here experience with feeding/fertilizing boxwood and if so what do you recommend. I want to keep this little guy healthy - I think he will be a nice addition to my collection.

I have some miracle grow liquid that I use on the other patio plants but I am not sure if he likes high levels of other compnents I might not have.

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djlen
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Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:37 pm
Location: Just East of Zone 7a

SHS wrote:Does anyone have here experience with feeding/fertilizing boxwood and if so what do you recommend. I want to keep this little guy healthy - I think he will be a nice addition to my collection.

I have some miracle grow liquid that I use on the other patio plants but I am not sure if he likes high levels of other compnents I might not have.
[url=https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Buxus.html]Boxwood[/url]
[url=https://www.absolutebonsai.com/boxwood_bonsai]Boxwood2[/url]

Neither of these sites give a recommendation for NPK for this plant. When in doubt I use an all purpose like 20-20-20.

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SHS
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Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:13 am
Location: South Florida - Zone 10

Tachigi wrote:I think your choice will be easier once you re-pot this material.

As it sits now.....this would be my chosen front, truly superior nebari. With the left fork removed you would have outstanding taper and an awesome tree.
Tom,

I think I will wait to pot this and let it recover from prunning. I hear Boxwood is less hardy than some other species and I want this one to make it, I like the potential it has.

I am looking at this and wondering which "left fork" you are reffering to.

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SHS
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Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:13 am
Location: South Florida - Zone 10

Tom I know you will be disappointed with this outcome, I know I was. We moved last summer and it never recovered from the change in position. That along with the fact that I repotted it into a bonsai pot even after I was advised to wait.

This one was my fault completely. I over watered then under watered and heck, I killed it. My wife will not let me get rid of it though, it was coming along so nicely, it is sitting on a shelf in the kitchen now as it still has character after the life has left it and it has taken on a new life. I have to admit it is quite interesting even after it died. Oh lessons lessons lessons.

The good news is that I have been working with another boxwood for a year now and will post pics soon as it is progressing very nicely and yes I am taking this one very slowly.

Three posts of late and all are epitaphs.....grrrr. I have to take some pics of my new stuff and get it on here for advice. I have been working on what I think will be my most impressive (from stock) specimen of an Ilex Shilling.



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