AusBonsai

Hi All,

Hope I'm posting this in the right place. My first bonsai in development is a little buxus. I'm after some help on how I should begin to develop/train the foliage.

Thanks in advance for any help you might have.

Very timely topic mate, I am going to pick one up today ^_^

This is what i have found so far

http://www.bonsaigardener.org/boxwood-bonsai-care.html

http://www.bonsai4me.com./SpeciesGuide/Buxus.html

http://www.bonsai4me.com./SpeciesGuide/ ... ndepth.htm

The tree has a decent base, you will first need to work out what style you want to grow the tree and trim back extending shoots that you don't want.

Most buxus tend to look like this.

http://tinyurl.com/27oqaoa

Kinda broom shape

*ps, they don't like too much water.

well if it was me i would cut it back to that last little shoot and start from the but you probable don't want to do that. This buxus has very nice base and roots maybe you get some thick wire and pull it towards you or next time u repot it get it to sit up a bit straighter. They are a bit of a slow growing tree so they will take a bit longer to becom more deveolped move then a juniper but i love them. So probable lett it grow and grow untill you get a lot more folage and once you have done that then worry about wireing. don't rush into wiring just yet you will get a better tree if you wait a little bit.

Beaumatsu

If you are going to develop it in its current height start your wiring now. Buxus become prone to snapping if left to develop older wood. Wire it while the branches are green and accommodating. This has been my experience with them. They set readily though.

Thanks for your posts.

I plan to develop the tree at its current height. What I'm having trouble with more specifically, is visualising a shape to work towards with regards to the foliage. Also once I work out what it could look like, do I need to set the basic structure in place now? Or should I let the growth go for a season and then see what I have to work with?

I'm aware that buxus tend to be quite brittle once the new growth hardens so would like to develop a plan early. Also I plan to plant it more upright next time I pot it. This was about as far as I could take it this time because of the shape of the roots - the tree had been growing almost on its side.

I like the slant

You ca get some 1mm wire and start to move out the side shoots for branches and some thicker wire to move the larger shoot towards the middle, you can cut just under the ends of the new shoots to stop them growing upwards

Hi amcd,

Not that I'm very good at verts, but I have tried for you.
If you want to keep at this height I would wire as others have said, getting the branches to grow down so they look older, have used your last pic and shown it witha little more shape, with the bottom 2 branches grown on a bit

Good luck and don't forget to post more pics as you work on this tree
Cheers Nora