bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Boxwood and Camelia Question

It the boxwood is older, collecting it could be problematic. In order to collect it successfully, you need alot of feeder roots close in to the trunk. If the soil is right, older box can send out long heavy roots with feeders accumulating atthe ends. That means you've got to "push" newer feeders nearer the trunk. A two year collection is probably safest if this is your first time collecting--I wouldn't count on the camelia. It is really too large for bonsai and camelia aren't easy trees to keep, especially huge ones like that--a pot to house that monster would be well into the hundreds of dollars--even if it's mica.

This spring, cut a 12 inch deep 1/2" wide trench around the boxwood, 6-8 inches out from the trunk. severing all the roots on that side. Backfill with bonsai soil. Wait for next spring. dig the other side, pull the plant out --chop the lower 8 inches of root ball off. Wash the remaining soil off. Get it into a big training container with good bonsai soil. Put the plant where it will get morning sun for a few hours. Make sure its out of the hottest pm sun in the summer.

Wait two years.

Begin pruning for design. Expect ALOT of upright, stiff branching that can't be altered much--old box won't take to wire training, the wood is simply too stiff and pops back to its original position even after being wired for a few years. Wiring one can also kill the plant, since boxwood has bey thin bark that strips easily off of the branches.

That leaves the "cut and grow" method of training, which entails pruning for direction. This can work very well, but it takes time and patience to accumulate believable branching on the plant.

Good luck.

14-Nov-2005	#5
rockm bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Oct-2003 Location: Fairfax, Va Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 4,561	It the boxwood is older, collecting it could be problematic. In order to collect it successfully, you need alot of feeder roots close in to the trunk. If the soil is right, older box can send out long heavy roots with feeders accumulating atthe ends. That means you've got to "push" newer feeders nearer the trunk. A two year collection is probably safest if this is your first time collecting--I wouldn't count on the camelia. It is really too large for bonsai and camelia aren't easy trees to keep, especially huge ones like that--a pot to house that monster would be well into the hundreds of dollars--even if it's mica. This spring, cut a 12 inch deep 1/2" wide trench around the boxwood, 6-8 inches out from the trunk. severing all the roots on that side. Backfill with bonsai soil. Wait for next spring. dig the other side, pull the plant out --chop the lower 8 inches of root ball off. Wash the remaining soil off. Get it into a big training container with good bonsai soil. Put the plant where it will get morning sun for a few hours. Make sure its out of the hottest pm sun in the summer. Wait two years. Begin pruning for design. Expect ALOT of upright, stiff branching that can't be altered much--old box won't take to wire training, the wood is simply too stiff and pops back to its original position even after being wired for a few years. Wiring one can also kill the plant, since boxwood has bey thin bark that strips easily off of the branches. That leaves the "cut and grow" method of training, which entails pruning for direction. This can work very well, but it takes time and patience to accumulate believable branching on the plant. Good luck.