[goosepimple]

Bought some box plants in sphere shapes of various sizes earlier in the year.  All of them were on offer and half price but nothing wrong with them and they have all done beautifully up to now.  They are all in their separate pots - was wondering if I should have planted them in the ground. 


They are beginning to dry up in patches and look a bit scabby.  I've been watering the soil in the pot but not overwatering due to all the rain.  They are outside in a sunny place within a protective walled garden so not getting wind. 


Is there anything I can do?  I didn't get around to planting them this year - its my intention to make a box and herb garden but think it may all look dry and half dead by the time I do it next year.
Should I get them indoors now?  I have a glass house I can put them in.

[jaykay]

Have they got infested by box psyllids?
They can cause stunting of growth certainly.

[Fleecewife]

You can have my one    I've no room for it now  .
 
If their foliage shades the whole surface of their pots then they will not have been getting enough water from the rain so if you haven't been soaking them thoroughly then it could be simple drought.

[goosepimple]

No psyllids I can see, the sphere does cover the diameter of the pot though, but I do water them conciensiously (I know that's wrong spelling!! ) but may have been caught out without knowing I suppose, they are 'burn' or 'scorched' - maybe its just the lovely scottish weather (again)...

[Laurieston]

We transplanted a number of box bushes, and although all looked good for several months, some then slowly went dry, brown/yellow and died.  Probably did not water enough (we're plant and forget types sadly) but my point is that it took ages and although they seemed to have taken they clearly had not.

Maybe you could quickly take some cuttings so if they do turn up their toes all is not lost.

On a slightly different point has anyone taken successfully taken cuttings from Box bushes?  We have read up all we can find, but they only say "overwinter" in pots.  But does that mean in the house, outside or what? ie how sensitive are they? 

We have, however,  learnt that they don't like being water logged in winter, but that is only a problem if they survive until the winter...

[Mammyshaz]

My box in a tub looked withered the first year but by the second had picked up really well. We left it in the pot for several years then on a sort out, placed it in the border.
Again it withered and I thought I'd lost it but the following year it had new growth, it is now huge and needs regular cutting back.

I don't know if it just takes a year or so to adapt to the environment change 

[darkbrowneggs]

I cut the bottoms out of the pots and the roots grew down into the ground so they need less watering.  Fine till a delivery van driver decided to move one of the four by wrenching it up     Took ages till it began to look like the other three again 

[goosepimple]

Oh that's a good idea Dark, it's probably too late to do that now though do you think?  Sounds like I should be overwintering them in the pots anyway Lauriston - presumably out of snow's way?

[Glebegrower]

Hi
you most probably have box blight .
i run a large landscaping business and this is a major problem in the uk these days .
i could go into it but haven't got all day .essentially there is nothing available to domestic gardeners to tackle this .
we have a box blight control programme in place now which consists of ;
no clipping between july and december .compost teas applied monthly
Avoid overwatering\damp conditions .the blight is most prevelant at 18 degrees and damp .
we spray 3 times a year using chloronthirol based products .
the only hope is contrary to some misguided information this is not a vascular disease and the plants can and do recover if treated or conditions change .

[goosepimple]

Thank you Glebe.  Hopefully they will recover.  Think I'll bring them under cover in a couple of weeks.  Many thanks.