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What to do with a neglected Box plant in a container.

fennaricFywrOrzyfennaricFywrOrzy Posts: 4
in Plants
Hello, I wonder if anyone could advise. I have a neglected Box plant that has been in a large plastic pot for several years, total height including pot about 4 feet. There are leaves all over the plant but it has become tall and straggly, lost it's density. It has 4 or so main inner thick stems that I can see new growth on. What can I do to help this plant regain it's bushiness. My instinct is to cut it back but I'm not sure how far and what part of the stems to prune to. Perhaps the pictures help. Thanks.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd hack that right back, replace some of the soil in the container - or better still, repot in fresh soil [not just compost] water well and keep it well watered through summer.
    If you cut back to decent growth initially, that will let you see how it shapes up as it gets more new growth.
    Like all foliage plants, they benefit from something like a liquid seaweed feed now and again, but I'd leave that until it's recovered. The fresh growing medium will give it enough of a boost for the next few months. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • fennaricFywrOrzyfennaricFywrOrzy Posts: 4
    Thanks Fairygirl. Will do, I'll take it down to about a foot tall, take off some straggly thinner branches and re-pot as you said. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's certainly not  a thing of beauty as it is, so anything would be better than leaving it!
    Hopefully you don't get the box caterpillar or blight where you are. Those two things have caused a lot of bother with box in recent years.
    The fact that it's still producing new foliage suggests it's actually quite robust.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • fennaricFywrOrzyfennaricFywrOrzy Posts: 4
    Hah, yes, it's had very little attention, hopefully it will withstand my hacking as well. I have an old unopened bag of Homebase sterilised with nutrients topsoil and a new bag of compost, what do you think of a mix of those two for the repotting?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think that would be ideal  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • fennaricFywrOrzyfennaricFywrOrzy Posts: 4
    Many thanks Fairygirl for the advice and reassurance. Normally I only hack things down to get rid of them or to severely reduce because of nuisance(they always grow back), this one feels a bit different and you've been a great help.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't think you've anything to lose. It isn't going to look good left the way it is. Taking it back to the healthy growth first is probably the best route. That's what I'd do if it was mine, and then go from there. The repotting will be a big help to it. 
    Fingers crossed it comes away well  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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