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#1
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Potted Buxus and plant food question
Hello all,
I live in a flat and tend to go for easy-to-look-after plants but have never had a box plant before. I purchased my first box plant just over a week ago, re-potted into a 10-inch terracotta pot with compost, a few stones at the bottom of the pot and have fed it once with phostrogen. Couple of pics he http://tinyurl.com/box-plant http://tinyurl.com/box-plant-2 Picture taken after I gave it its first trim this morning. I will let it fill out now before I shape it again. Although I think it looks fine as it is, a bigger ball and less soil on view would probably make it look better. While mixing up a bit of phostrogen isn't particularly difficult, I would rather use a slow release plant food and so I have bought some Miracle-Gro Slow Release All Purpose Plant Food (the little bead things). This website: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=88 mentions, "Apply a liquid feed during summer. Topdress established container-grown plants in spring with fresh compost and a little slow-release fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4 or blood, fish and bone." I will topdress the soil next spring but my question is regarding the Miracle-Gro beads as I have never used these before. I'm assuming these slowly disintegrate and vanish altogether after time. Should I just sprinkle a few more on when they have gone or wait a while before I feed it again? Also, the RHS website mentions feeding during the summer months but I have read elsewhere to feed in Spring, Summer and also Autumn. So, should I feed it during summer only or during 3 seasons? I know I should not let this plant dry out and also not have it standing in saturated soil but any additional tips would be greatly received. Sorry for the simple questions but I'm a bit of a novice. Paul. |
#2
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Potted Buxus and plant food question
On 20/05/2013 16:52, Bat 'n' Ball wrote:
Hello all, I live in a flat and tend to go for easy-to-look-after plants but have never had a box plant before. I purchased my first box plant just over a week ago, re-potted into a 10-inch terracotta pot with compost, a few stones at the bottom of the pot and have fed it once with phostrogen. Couple of pics he http://tinyurl.com/box-plant http://tinyurl.com/box-plant-2 Picture taken after I gave it its first trim this morning. I will let it fill out now before I shape it again. Although I think it looks fine as it is, a bigger ball and less soil on view would probably make it look better. While mixing up a bit of phostrogen isn't particularly difficult, I would rather use a slow release plant food and so I have bought some Miracle-Gro Slow Release All Purpose Plant Food (the little bead things). This website: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=88 mentions, "Apply a liquid feed during summer. Topdress established container-grown plants in spring with fresh compost and a little slow-release fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4 or blood, fish and bone." I will topdress the soil next spring but my question is regarding the Miracle-Gro beads as I have never used these before. I'm assuming these slowly disintegrate and vanish altogether after time. Should I just sprinkle a few more on when they have gone or wait a while before I feed it again? Also, the RHS website mentions feeding during the summer months but I have read elsewhere to feed in Spring, Summer and also Autumn. So, should I feed it during summer only or during 3 seasons? I know I should not let this plant dry out and also not have it standing in saturated soil but any additional tips would be greatly received. Sorry for the simple questions but I'm a bit of a novice. Paul. Thanks all! Paul. |
#3
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Potted Buxus and plant food question
On 18/06/2013 15:40, Bat 'n' Ball wrote:
On 20/05/2013 16:52, Bat 'n' Ball wrote: Hello all, I live in a flat and tend to go for easy-to-look-after plants but have never had a box plant before. I purchased my first box plant just over a week ago, re-potted into a 10-inch terracotta pot with compost, a few stones at the bottom of the pot and have fed it once with phostrogen. Couple of pics he http://tinyurl.com/box-plant http://tinyurl.com/box-plant-2 Picture taken after I gave it its first trim this morning. I will let it fill out now before I shape it again. Although I think it looks fine as it is, a bigger ball and less soil on view would probably make it look better. While mixing up a bit of phostrogen isn't particularly difficult, I would rather use a slow release plant food and so I have bought some Miracle-Gro Slow Release All Purpose Plant Food (the little bead things). This website: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=88 mentions, "Apply a liquid feed during summer. Topdress established container-grown plants in spring with fresh compost and a little slow-release fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4 or blood, fish and bone." I will topdress the soil next spring but my question is regarding the Miracle-Gro beads as I have never used these before. I'm assuming these slowly disintegrate and vanish altogether after time. Should I just sprinkle a few more on when they have gone or wait a while before I feed it again? Also, the RHS website mentions feeding during the summer months but I have read elsewhere to feed in Spring, Summer and also Autumn. So, should I feed it during summer only or during 3 seasons? I know I should not let this plant dry out and also not have it standing in saturated soil but any additional tips would be greatly received. Sorry for the simple questions but I'm a bit of a novice. Paul. Thanks all! Paul. I have a few of those kicking around. Some in pots, some in the beds. I trim them once a year (gently with scissors), about now, and chuck some chicken manure pellets on them if I think of it. They put up with almost anything, and always look presentable |
#4
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Potted Buxus and plant food question
On 18/06/2013 15:58, stuart noble wrote:
On 18/06/2013 15:40, Bat 'n' Ball wrote: On 20/05/2013 16:52, Bat 'n' Ball wrote: Hello all, I live in a flat and tend to go for easy-to-look-after plants but have never had a box plant before. I purchased my first box plant just over a week ago, re-potted into a 10-inch terracotta pot with compost, a few stones at the bottom of the pot and have fed it once with phostrogen. Couple of pics he http://tinyurl.com/box-plant http://tinyurl.com/box-plant-2 Picture taken after I gave it its first trim this morning. I will let it fill out now before I shape it again. Although I think it looks fine as it is, a bigger ball and less soil on view would probably make it look better. While mixing up a bit of phostrogen isn't particularly difficult, I would rather use a slow release plant food and so I have bought some Miracle-Gro Slow Release All Purpose Plant Food (the little bead things). This website: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=88 mentions, "Apply a liquid feed during summer. Topdress established container-grown plants in spring with fresh compost and a little slow-release fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4 or blood, fish and bone." I will topdress the soil next spring but my question is regarding the Miracle-Gro beads as I have never used these before. I'm assuming these slowly disintegrate and vanish altogether after time. Should I just sprinkle a few more on when they have gone or wait a while before I feed it again? Also, the RHS website mentions feeding during the summer months but I have read elsewhere to feed in Spring, Summer and also Autumn. So, should I feed it during summer only or during 3 seasons? I know I should not let this plant dry out and also not have it standing in saturated soil but any additional tips would be greatly received. Sorry for the simple questions but I'm a bit of a novice. Paul. Thanks all! Paul. I have a few of those kicking around. Some in pots, some in the beds. I trim them once a year (gently with scissors), about now, and chuck some chicken manure pellets on them if I think of it. They put up with almost anything, and always look presentable Thanks for that Stuart. Paul. |
#5
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Potted Buxus and plant food question
On 18/06/2013 15:40, Bat 'n' Ball wrote:
On 20/05/2013 16:52, Bat 'n' Ball wrote: Hello all, I live in a flat and tend to go for easy-to-look-after plants but have never had a box plant before. I purchased my first box plant just over a week ago, re-potted into a 10-inch terracotta pot with compost, a few stones at the bottom of the pot and have fed it once with phostrogen. Couple of pics he http://tinyurl.com/box-plant http://tinyurl.com/box-plant-2 Picture taken after I gave it its first trim this morning. I will let it fill out now before I shape it again. Although I think it looks fine as it is, a bigger ball and less soil on view would probably make it look better. While mixing up a bit of phostrogen isn't particularly difficult, I would rather use a slow release plant food and so I have bought some Miracle-Gro Slow Release All Purpose Plant Food (the little bead things). This website: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=88 mentions, "Apply a liquid feed during summer. Topdress established container-grown plants in spring with fresh compost and a little slow-release fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4 or blood, fish and bone." I will topdress the soil next spring but my question is regarding the Miracle-Gro beads as I have never used these before. I'm assuming these slowly disintegrate and vanish altogether after time. Should I just sprinkle a few more on when they have gone or wait a while before I feed it again? Also, the RHS website mentions feeding during the summer months but I have read elsewhere to feed in Spring, Summer and also Autumn. So, should I feed it during summer only or during 3 seasons? I know I should not let this plant dry out and also not have it standing in saturated soil but any additional tips would be greatly received. Sorry for the simple questions but I'm a bit of a novice. Paul. Thanks all! Paul. Your box ball looks very healthy. A credit to you. Your slow release fertiliser packaging should tell you how long the beads will feed your plant. You may only need one feed during the growing season, and I would tend to feed after the worst frosts are over so that new growth isn't damaged by frost. If you feel your box needs a feed as autumn approaches, do not use a nitrogenous feed (indicated by N on packaging) which will promote soft leafy growth as, again, this will be damaged by frost and icy conditions over winter. A high potash feed (such as Tomorite) would be fine as this helps harden the growth, but don't be too generous with it. A dose at half dilution is probably sufficient. A general tip for all topiary is not to trim in the full heat of the sun, as this causes the cut ends of the trimmed leaves to go brown and look unattractive. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
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