Yellowing Buxus....

I'm a bit worried about my buxus as it seems to be 'yellowing' by the day...I checked that it's not too wet or too dry but it must be lacking in something...any ideas folks
Many thanks.....

 

Is it jsut around the edge of each leaf? Mine do that, and grow out of it, but I've no idea why. I've always assumed its a mineral deficiency of some kind - they are needing it at that time, but there isn't enough available

If you only feed with Miracle Grow beware that it has no Magnesium, if so Epson Salts might be all that they need.

 

Epsom salts.Think you can buy it - best price - from your local Pharmacy.

 

Thanks K and J ....I'll give the ES a go shortly

 

Hi Loli

I say too much water around the roots typical of Buxus with yellowing leaves, what compost is it growing in, I bet you its multi-purpose and with all the rain we have had roots are just soaking wet, back to my old favourite John innes no 3 added grit maybe a couple of handfuls of multi-purpose just to keep the structure loose , what have you fed it this year as Buxus roots can burn very easily with some fertilisers best to use a slow release if you do have to feed.

• How long have you had them for in the same planter?
• Is the other one ok ?
• What compost are they growing in?

I would move to the shelter of your house wall over winter out of the winds as well plus will help keep it drier and more protected while its feeing under the weather.

Spruce

 

Yes they are in MP Compost:patpat:...they've been in for about a year,the other one doesn't look too bad but i think it's going the same way....i've only ever fed and foliar fed them with seaweed ...so do you think i should repot them in JI .....

 

Loli have you a greenhouse you can keep them in over the winter ?

I just hope you have caught them in time, the damage may be done sorry to say , the roots on buxos are very fine.

Spruce

 

Oh no....

 

The first ones I had got waterlogged. I had used J.I. but the drainage was nothing like sufficient. My current ones have J.I, with extra sand & grit but also some muck and spent multi purpose, so I reckon is free enough draining (and doesn't feel very wet to the touch), but they are only yellowing around the leaf margin, not all over (which is indeed what the previous ones did when they got sodden). For drainage I took the bottom out of the container, put some weld-mesh in for support, and then put woven weed suppressing fabric as a liner. Some soil does wash through :(, as well as the excess water, but I do at least think it is free draining

 

I think its a tough old plant, Buxus.

OK not a good time of year to try to turn things around but in multipurpose the biggest problem is starvation/waterlogging.
Keep them well drained, I'd not repot now.
And hope to sort out the problem in the spring.

 

Thanks Pete.Thought i might tip the containers up and have a poke around at the drainage holes to check they aren't blocked

 

You could perhaps put some plastic around the plant / container so that the rain runs off,rather than into, the container? That would prevent it getting any more wet in the winter. Or move them into garage / under carport / overhang (they'd need light periodically if in garage though, so that's more of a "move them into garage when rain forecast" type thing.