AusBonsai

hi just wondering what species this is, dug it up from a friends yard.

SOLVED

Buxis sempervirens - By chrisatrocky

Maybe New Zealand Christmas bush - Metrosideros?

no sure ive never seen any flowers on it

english, japanese maybe?
google them

pretty sure its a english box found this. Leaves of Aureovariegata have creamy-yellow margins, some of them may be completely yellow, others entirely green

Looks like Japanese box.

When did you dig it and where are you keeping it at the moment.

Matt

dug it out about 2 months ago had lots of dead twigs and branches had a hard life in bad soil and poor watering, am keeping it in pretty much full sun

Water with Seasol every other week and wait... come spring it should thump away with new growth. Lots of people will tell you box are slow growing and to a certain extent they are right, it takes a long time for the trunks to thicken but foliage wise these just throw it out in bucket loads, its why they are a popular choice for hedging & topiary.

Patience and perserverence (the 2 biggest things needed in bonsai) will be rewarded in time. Talk to it every day (yes I am serious) water when needed and when the buds start to swell you can start giving it a feed with one of the liquid ferts (half strength) on the alternate week to the seasol. As growth gets underway you can increase the feed to full strength.

While your waiting for your tree to come back to health you can start thinking about possible styling options. The longer you leave it to get back its strength the better it will respond when you do start shaping.

Matt

thanks for the help any ideas for a style, i no is early but planning helps

looks like Buxis sempervirens(common or european box)

chris