Care Tips for Buxus Sempervirens And Mountain Bamboo

Also known as Box Plants, Buxus Sempervirens look great as a pair or even as a specimen plant. This plant is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with several medicinal properties in it. It can grow up to 1 to 9 m (3 to 30 ft) tall. Usually, the species grows on chalky and limestone soils and generally grows understorey in forests of larger trees. 

On the other hand, Mountain Bamboos are a group of evergreen flowering plants in the Bambusoideae subfamily. Bamboos include some fastest-growing plants, mainly due to the rhizome-dependent system. Bamboo can grow up to 910 mm within a period of 24 hours. 

Both species absolutely need a lot of care. So, here we have come with the care tips for both plant species. 

Buxus Sempervirens

Buxus is a species of flowering plant, and these are native to western and southern Europe, southwest Asia, and many other parts of the world. It belongs to Kingdom Plantae, which typically grows on soils derived from limestone and chalk. These evergreen shrubs grow up to three to thirty feet depending upon the various factors. It has a trunk up to eight inches in diameter. 

Along with the stems, they form opposing pairs. The leaves of this plant species are green to yellow-green and have an oval shape. Depending on the variety, leaves can range from 1.5 cm to 3 cm in length, and their widths can range from 0.5 cm to 1.3 cm. The flowers of this plant are discreet but highly scented. They do not have petals and have a greenish-yellow color. 

The flowers of this plant species are insect-pollinated, and the fruit is a three-lobed capsule. It contains three to six seeds, and the scent attracts the most wildlife. These prefer sandy, heavy, and loamy soils and need moderate watering. Well-drained soil is preferable for these plants, and they can grow in heavy soil also. No shade or semi-shade is preferable for the growth of the plants. Above all, it prefers moist or dry soil. This box plant needs a lot of care for its development, and here are the care tips. 

Care Tips for Buxus 

Here is a brief guide that will tell you how to take care of your Buxus Sempervirens at your home or garden. Please read it and learn what all they need for their fast growth. 

The position or placement of the plant can be either of the following: Shade, partial shade, or sun. If you are placing the plant in full sun, you should take care that the soil is not dry. Leaving the soil dry in full sun can result in leaf scorching and damage to the plant. 

As we know, water plays an essential part in their growth and development. The growing period is a very important phase in the life cycle of these plant species. So, watering them in their growing season is very crucial for their development and growth. Water them and always keep them hydrated for their proper growth and function. But also, keep in mind that you have not over-watered plants. So, accuracy is also very important for the adequate development of the plant. These were the things you were required to do in the seasons, like summer. But, In the winter season, you have to water the plants less as they will require less water in the winters. Assure that their hairballs are not dry and hydrated enough to do all their regular functions. 

Pruning is another important aspect of these plant species. It prunes into shape in late summer and spring. These are well suited to be clipped into topiary shapes, for instance, Buxus balls. Ensure the cleaning around the plants as well. Cleaning is very important as it can prevent disease. The soil should be well-drained and, of course, fertile. Re-pot the soil once every two or three years. 

Feeding is another important aspect of growth. You need to feed the plant with organic fertilizer regularly. Feed your plant with slow-release fertilizer granules. Please do not feed them in winter as they do not require anything in winter. It would be best to avoid a high concentration of fast-acting liquid fertilizer. 

Uses of Buxus 

Buxus as a Medicinal Plant: The leaves of the Buxus work as a fever reducer, and it was previously used for quinine. At the beginning of the 1600s, people got to know about medical use. People use this as a cure for many diseases. It has alkaloids such as cyclohexane and flavonoids. This plant is useful in treating leprosy, HIV, Malaria, urinary tract infections, and many more. 

Timber: As we have discussed, the plant grows at a slower rate, making the wood heavy and hard. And this heavy, hard structure is useful in cabinet making, engraving, woodturning, etc. 

Mountain Bamboos: The Mountain Bamboo is a species from the higher elevations of Central America, the Andes, China, and the Himalayan regions of India. As a result, they have not trailed in all areas of the USA. A few of them are well along the West Coast, and a few of them can do well in the Midwest and Middle Atlantic region. 

Care Tips for Bamboo

Water is important for Bamboo as well as others. It facilitates smooth functioning. If you talk about the quantity of water in Bamboo, you should water them at least one inch of water a week. It would be best if you watered it deeply as it encourages deep roots. Deep irrigation will help protect the Bamboo from drought. You do not rake bamboo leaves because these leaves help the roots in keeping moist and protected. 

Uses of Bamboo

Medicinal Value: Bamboos have significant medicinal value. People use it for pharmaceutical preparations such as bamboo extracts, bamboo vinegar, and bamboo salt. All these pharmaceutical preparations are used for controlling diabetes, and it also keeps the cholesterol level within normal limits. That is not at all! You can use it for hypertension treatment, paralysis treatment, and sweating.

Used As A Food: Bamboo shoots are used by the people as a food item. Its shoot can be harvested after attaining a height of about 15 cm-16 cm. You will need to eliminate the fibrous sheaths, and then you can cut the inner tender portion into pieces. The bamboo shoot pieces can be eaten as vegetable components in curry or a soup with meat and fish. People also use it as a pickle. 

Way Ahead

Buxus and Bamboo are plant species that have different benefits. In the blog, we briefly discuss the care tips. They both have distinct natures, so they both distinctly need care. One needs to be highly hydrated, while the other can also stay alive with less consumption. Both of them have different uses and also have medicinal values. People use them in various ways. You can also use the above tips for making your plant healthy and grow faster. I hope that the blog was helpful for you in every manner. You can connect with us in the comments sections and let us know your view. If you want to add something to the blog, let us know. We will be happy to hear your suggestions.