Curling leaves on a Japanese Boxwood?

DeltaHF

Hello everyone, I purchased a little Japanese Boxwood tree a little over two weeks ago from a roadside Bonsai stand outside Monterey, California. It looked extremely healthy when I bought it, and have carefully followed the instruction sheet which was provided with it (the man who owned the stand spoke very little English, so communication was difficult). I have watered it twice a week for the past two weeks, by filling a small bowl with water about half an inch over the top of the pot, and submerging the pot in the water for 10 minutes. The tree appears to be nicely potted, with two screened drainage holes on the bottom, with drainage rocks visible in the bottom of the pot. When I first brought the tree home, I kept it close to my window, where it was able to get about 2 hours of filtered sunlight through my window between 9:00 and 11:00 AM. However, my preliminary research has shown that such a tree needs to be kept outside, so it has spent the last 3 days in the sun for about 4 hours and I bring it inside at night.

The problem with the tree is that the leaves are starting to "curl" up, showing the lightly-colored bottoms of the leaves more than the top. This wasn't an issue when I bought it, but you can simply tell by looking at it that something is not quite right. My own uneducated guess would be that the tree needs more water, but I can't imagine it would need more than it's getting, as the soil still feels moist. Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words, so you'll find a few that I have attached. What should I do? Thanks for any input you can provide!

Attached Images

	DSC03128.jpg (58.1 KB, 55 views)
	DSC03130.jpg (63.4 KB, 37 views)
	DSC03131.jpg (67.7 KB, 73 views)

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Joanie

That is an unhappy looking boxwood.

Never water on a schedule, watering should be done when the tree needs it. Water it from the top, using either the hose with a sprinkler head on it, or a watering can. Water it until the water runs out of the bottom, and then don't water again until the top part of the soil is dry and the bottom part of the soil is just damp. Use your finger, or a chopstick stuck into the soil, to tell how the underneath soil feels.

Two hours of filtered sunlight through your window definitely wasn't enough. It's hard to tell from photos whether your tree will recover, but the best thing to do is to put it outside (which you have done) into a place where it will receive morning sun and afternoon dappled shade, or something like that. Let the soil dry out some between waterings, especially since those crispy leaves aren't using much water. If the roots stay too wet all of the time, they will rot.

Even though the crispy curled leaves look like they need water, it could be a symptom of too much water also.

Also, check for bugs, but that doesn't look like your problem.

Be patient, a sick tree can take a very long time to recover. And if it doesn't recover, go and get a new one, and learn from your experience. Most of us have lost plenty of trees, it's all part of learning bonsai.

Good luck!
Joanie

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DeltaHF

Joanie, thank you for your help! I am glad that we were correct in assuming that the tree needed to spend more time outside, and your confirmation will definitely ensure that is where it spends its days. I am also eager to try out your suggested watering technique, but I will wait a few more days and test the soil before I water the tree again.

Of course, leaving the tree outside is no problem now, during the summer, but what should I do in the fall/winter? If it returns to good health, will it be hardy enough to survive outside? As I put in my profile, I'm located in Kentucky - our winters aren't too bad but it just looks like such a delicate little tree... Also, should I scrape off the green moss that is growing around the rock and the bottom of the tree?

Joanie

There is a lot of information here on overwintering. (I don't have to do it, I live in So. Calif., so can't give specific advice about it) Search the forum for 'overwintering'. You will probably want to bring the boxwood into an unheated garage or something. But the house, in the winter, is too dry usually. The boxwood would do better outside. It may look like a delicate little tree, but you'll hurt its feelings assuming that it needs over protection. It is, after all, a tough and venerable bush.

Let us know how it goes. Keep it damp but not wet. You may see new growth up close to the trunk... that will be a good sign. If so, keep an eye out for aphids. If you see them, remove them with a Q tip and squish them. Your tree is in a vulnerable position, and can't take much messing with.

edit: you can remove the green moss, but it actually won't hurt to have some on the tree or the soil. In your damp climate, it's probably pretty hard to escape moss. Remove it carefully, if you like, but unless it is harboring bugs or is keeping the water from soaking down into the soil it really won't hurt the tree.

Joanie

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henryoh

Hello All, I too have a Boxwood that I think I over watered...the leaves are yellow and it does not look good! All yellow leaves!

In the beginning of the summer I am in Northern CA Wine Country it was extremely hot...100+ degrees. So I submerged it every other week in bonsai tree fertilizer and water. I had lost two trees the last summer from the heat of course did not want to lose another.

I kinda figured it was too much watering because it sits outside ...and it appeared that the soil was not drying out....I think at this point ...rather than wait to find out ...that the roots are rotting I am going to transplant it ...probably will not see a change till next spring but it will be assured of proper drainage and possibly save this gorgeous plant. I would say it is 30 years old.

I am going to consult with someone first ...I was looking for someone with the same problem on the internet and sure enough I found them.


Henry