Repotting guide

When & how to repot Faulkner box (Buxus microphylla 'Faulkner')

Also called Faulkner box, Faulkner boxwood, small-leaved box Faulkner.

More about faulkner box

About Faulkner box

Buxus microphylla 'Faulkner' · also called Faulkner box, Faulkner boxwood · flowering

Faulkner box is a compact, slow-growing cultivar of Japanese boxwood with dense, glossy, dark bluish-green foliage that holds its colour well in winter. It is notably more resistant to box blight than many common boxwoods, making it a reliable choice for formal topiary, balls, and low hedging.

Mature size: Up to 1.5 m tall and 1.5 m wide untrimmed; typically maintained at 30–80 cm as topiary

Watch for — Root rot in containers: Container-grown specimens are vulnerable to Phytophthora root rot if overwatered or if pots lack adequate drainage holes. Use free-draining compost mixed with 20–30% perlite, and elevate pots to allow free drainage. Reduce watering frequency in winter.

How to tell faulkner box needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For faulkner box, watch for these signs:

Roots spiralling thickly out of the drainage holes or pushing the whole plant up out of the pot.
The pot is so packed that water runs straight through in seconds and barely wets the soil.
It has split a plastic pot, or the rootball is a solid mass with almost no soil left when you slide it out.
Growth and (for faulkner box) flowering have clearly stalled despite good light and feeding — but remember this plant likes being snug, so a little crowding alone is not a reason to repot.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot faulkner box

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Faulkner box is one of the plants that genuinely prefers a snug pot — it grows and flowers better with its roots a little restricted, so resist the urge to repot it on schedule. Dense, compact, rounded evergreen shrub; slow growth of 10–15 cm per year; holds a naturally mounded form with minimal pruning..

What size pot to step faulkner box up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. Faulkner box positively prefers a snug pot: it flowers and grows better when the roots are a little restricted. The single biggest repotting mistake here is over-potting — dropping faulkner box into a pot two or three sizes up. All that surplus soil holds water the small root system cannot use, stays cold and wet, and rots the roots within weeks. When in doubt, choose the smaller pot.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot faulkner box

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for faulkner box. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting faulkner box

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide faulkner box out and check the roots. Only continue if it is genuinely packed — this plant prefers a snug pot, so if there is still soil and room, put it straight back.
Pick a pot only one size up. Choose a pot just 2–3 cm wider with good drainage. Resist anything bigger; over-potting is the main killer here.
Ease it out gently. Water lightly the day before, then tip faulkner box out, supporting the base. Tease the outer roots free only enough to stop them circling.
Repot at the same depth. Add a layer of fresh moist, well-drained loam; tolerates acid, neutral, or alkaline soil, set the plant so the soil line sits exactly where it did before, and backfill around the sides, firming lightly.
Settle it in. Water once to settle the soil, then let it sit. Hold off on more water until the top of the soil dries — fresh soil around a small root system stays wet for a while.

Aftercare

Because the new soil holds more water than the old crammed rootball did, ease right back on watering — let the top of the soil dry before you water faulkner box again, or you will rot the roots in the very pot you just moved it to. Keep it out of harsh direct sun for a fortnight. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for faulkner box

Faulkner box wants moist, well-drained loam; tolerates acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. Adaptable to most soil types including chalk and clay, provided drainage is not impeded. Incorporate organic matter into poor sandy soils to improve moisture retention. Avoid heavy, poorly drained soils that encourage root rot. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting faulkner box — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot faulkner box?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for faulkner box. Only repot faulkner box every 2–4 years, and only when it is genuinely root-bound — it flowers and grows best slightly crowded. Step up just one pot size in spring using moist, well-drained loam; tolerates acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does faulkner box need?

When is the best time of year to repot faulkner box?

Does faulkner box like to be root-bound?

Yes — faulkner box genuinely flowers and grows best when slightly pot-bound, so do not rush to repot it. The mistake to avoid is over-potting into a much larger pot: the excess soil stays wet, the roots cannot use it, and the plant rots. Only repot every few years and only one snug size up.

Should you fertilise faulkner box after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting faulkner box. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.