How much does a small-leaf boxwood (Buxus sinica var. parvifolia) seedling cost per plant? How do you grow it? How do you make it into a bonsai tree?

Small-leaf boxwood is also called melon-seed boxwood. It is a shrub in the family Buxaceae, genus Buxus. It grows low, with dense branches and cylindrical stems. It blooms in March and fruits in May-June. So how much does a small-leaf boxwood seedling cost per plant? How do you grow it? How do you make it into a bonsai tree?

How much does a small-leaf boxwood seedling cost per plant?

How do you grow small-leaf boxwood?

1. Small-leaf boxwood is propagated by cuttings. In East China, the cutting season is May to July, when the temperature is 25-33°C and the air humidity is relatively high. Cuttings begin to root after 70-90 days, and are planted in autumn or the following spring. For the specific cutting method, friends who are interested can look up the relevant materials and read about it, or come to Changjing Landscape to visit and learn.

2. This kind of nursery stock has a low price and a small profit margin, so large nurseries are not advised to grow it. The planting spacing depends on the situation; Changjing Landscape plants 18,000-20,000 seedlings per mu. Plant 3 as one, and they can go on the market in 1.5 years. The cycle is short and the profit is thin, so it suits small individual growers with little investment capital.

3. Cultivating small-leaf boxwood balls requires careful custom pruning. A plant spacing of 1.8-2.5 m is recommended, with pruning three times a year in February, June and August. After pruning, fertilize and water. Compound fertilizer can be broadcast as fertilizer, and in winter broadcast organic farmyard manure such as pig manure, chicken manure and cow manure. Stop watering one month before winter begins, otherwise there will be frost damage in winter.

4. The place of origin of small-leaf boxwood is in the East China and South China area. The main producing areas nationwide include Shuyang County in Jiangsu, Yanling and Xinyang in Henan, Weifang and Qingzhou in Shandong, and Baoding in Hebei, among others. Small-leaf boxwood is not tolerant of flooding, is cold- and drought-tolerant, has strong stress resistance, and has few pests and diseases. By nature it likes to grow in an environment with deep soil layers, fertile soil and sufficient light, and it requires well-drained, flat fertile fields such as loess, black soil and clay soil. Small-leaf boxwood blooms from March to April each year, and the seeds mature in August to September.

5. At the seedling stage, weeds grow easily. To let the boxwood seedlings absorb more nutrients, weed and loosen the soil regularly. April and August each year are the seasons when weeds flourish, and during these periods they must be cleared regularly. After each weeding and soil loosening, let the sun shine on the land for 3 days to kill the weeds and grass roots, then water and irrigate, and then fertilize. Apply compound fertilizer 2 times a year, broadcasting 50 kg of compound fertilizer per mu each time.

How do you make small-leaf boxwood into a bonsai tree?

Large-leaf boxwood (Euonymus japonicus) grows quickly and has relatively strong compatibility with small-leaf boxwood. Its root and stem base is rugged and has a good ornamental effect. Grafting the two together gives a good ornamental effect as a bonsai.

1. Select large-leaf boxwood and cut the root system short. Completely remove the diseased and weak branches, reverse-growing branches and sharply bent branches on the rootstock, and keep two to three grafting branches.

2. Determine the bonsai style according to the root stump, whether it is single-trunk style, lying-trunk style, cliff style, forest style, and so on, and graft small-leaf boxwood onto it by the branch grafting method.

3. During the stump-growing period, do not use too much water and cause root rot, and do not fertilize. Simply spray water on the branches and leaves frequently in a shady place. After the scion survives, do not immediately wire and bend it, as this easily breaks the graft union; it is best to do it the following year. Cut short and wire according to the style selected earlier. Boxwood grows quickly, so frequently check whether the wire is too tight or too loose, to avoid it cutting into the branches and stems and affecting growth and ornament. The bonsai can take preliminary shape in the second year, and after that it is pruned every year.

4. For bonsai care, control water and provide sufficient light, to avoid problems with pests and diseases and leggy growth. Control the use of phosphorus fertilizer when fertilizing.