Kingsville Boxwood Help...

topherallen

Hello,

I received a Kingsville Box as a gift several months ago, and despite things going smoothly early on it has started looking very sickly.. I live in Northern DE, with a rather wet/cold winter, and have kept it inside the apartment. I've heard debate back and forth about this; are indoor conditions detrimental to the King box(assuming moderate humidity)?

The leaves are getting pale and crispy, and more than half have already fallen off. Is this at all expected for its winter dormancy? I have it in a humidity tray, with good soil which will maintain some moisture for a day or so after watering.. Also, it has been getting a small dose of liquid 'Superthrive' every other week. Lighting conditions were previously rather limited and indirect, but I have been putting it near a growth lamp the past couple of weeks. Again, not sure if this is the best course of action due to conflicting reports read..

There doesn't seem to be much life left in the leaves, is the poor guy a lost cause??


Thanks for the insight!

Advertisement

3069James

do a scratch test use your fingernail scratch the bark if it's green it's still alive what kind of light if it's incandesant you probably fried it flourecents are better also it should have been outside this is the only way it will go into dormancy you probably killed it live and learn by a new one and try again don't give up

MoSinister

Topherallen,

All is not necessarily lost.

First, make sure you are watering properly—that is, often enough without overwatering. This can be very tricky as the top can look bone dry and the bottom still wet. It’s dependent on whether or not you have a good draining soil.

Second, make sure it is getting adequate light.This means usually being placed in a room with an east or south facing exposure. I'd suggest the brightest room in your house. But, I have read that you shouldn't put it in a window sill, because the direct sunlight can heat the pot up much more than you realize.

Regarding humidity, most homes have far less than people believe. It may be 50-60% outside, but in your appt, the air conditioner/heater has depleted humidity levels to less than 30%. Some sort of misting is usually suggested.

As for whether or not a boxwood can be grown indoors, I'll leave that up to more experienced growers.

I would suggest checking at http://www.bonsai4me.com/. There are several good links there on bonsai basics, watering, and species guides.