LOVED this video! I am absolutely amazed at how quickly the willow cuttings rooted, I may try a dappled willow next year. Looking forward to your updates!
I got some cuttings which I put them in water on Feb . 24. Right now all my cuttings have small leaf and the roots are about an inch I'm going to leave them in water until it gets nice outside so I can put them in soil and follow your steps . Thanks for all your info and keep those videos coming cheers J.C
When starting willows in water, try adding soil a couple of weeks or so before you plan to plant it out. Just a little soil at a time. Say, a good handful every three or four days. By the time you want to plant out, roots will have developed the right cells to cope with the different diet. They are babies after all, so we don't take our babies off milk and put them straight on steak, egg 'n chips. We do it gradually. Has worked every time with my willows.
Hello from Lakeland Florida. I know this is an old video but I wonder how these cuttings are doing in 2021. Will be great to see an update if you still has them.
Hi Nigel. Again a thoroughly interesting video. I did not think that willows would be an interesting bonsai, but you certainly changed my mind on this. I think you have the most interesting bonsai videos here on TH-cam. I was wondering if that cutting was going to be unstable in the blue pot, but with the rocks adding weight and stability I can see that this was a great idea. All the best from the West ( wet ) Coast. And more videos please!!! :)
Two days ago I cut a 2” branch each from an Arroyo Willow and Gooddings Willow and now have 2 buckets of shoots from 3/8” to 2”, so glad I found your video . I was wondering as I can’t plant them all into bonsai pots would it work to plant them in garden pots and place a flat stone or plastic or wood about 1-1/2” below the roots after I rake them out to form a flat root ball? I live in Southern California and hope a deeper pot in a tray of water won’t have to be watered more the once a day as they develop. You video was very helpful.
Dear Nigel - loving your videos and appreciative of your generosity in sharing your experience and wisdom. Just planted Willow cuttings, and looking forward to doing something interesting with them if they root. Quick question about how you prevent your pots cracking when leaving them outside in the winter. We live not far from you I think (in fact, both my sons were born in KW!), and have similar winters. I left all my stuff outside this past winter, and did have a lovely ceramic pot crack on me. The plastic pots fared just fine, unsurprisingly. Take care! David
Hello David, I try and grow all my hardy trees in plastic or Mica pots. Unless you buy a very expensive clay bonsai pot that is fired to a really high temperature, the clay pots will all crack eventually. I get my mica pots from Chris Hendry, the bonsai guy.... th-cam.com/video/TWTB98PFpro/w-d-xo.html Check the links in the description to contact him!
@@TheBonsaiZone Thanks Nigel. I checked out Chris' site, and also your trip to his Bonsai nursery. Most impressive! I don't see Mica pots in his online shop, but will contact him. Take care, and thanks again for your inspiring videos! :)
These clear containers that fit perfectly under your training pots, I’ve searched everywhere online and can’t find them to purchase. How can I buy or make them for my willow bonsai plants?
Hey Nigel, fellow bonsai newbie here. A friends on bonsai talk Facebook group suggested your TH-cam channel since we're in the same province. I love your videos very informative! For the roots your trying to get your willow to grow, have you ever tried to air layer it in the area you want roots to grow, that way you could control how they grow and look :)
TheRobinMonster I haven't tried an air layer on a willow, but I'm sure it would work! I am just about to post an update on the Willows, should be up in a couple of days. Good to hear from someone close to home!
All my materials came in to replicate the 2 pot system you have for willows. I’ve been rewatching the willow playlists for preparation and I can’t find at any point in the videos how much 20-20-20 you put in the bottom water reservoir, looks to be more than a pinch as the water is blue. Is it just one cap full? Half a cap? Thanks for all the tips and help!
+Green Marble Hi, cuttings will root from almost any size cutting, here is the first video of this series... th-cam.com/video/-HVP_IH0vJ0/w-d-xo.html check the playlist section of the channel for more willow videos. Good luck!
With those great roots on the cuttings have you ever try instead of cutting them all the way, have you tried making a willow on a rock? You think would it work? Hope you respond thanks and have a great date!,Nigel
Hi Nigel, I watched this video a while ago and was quite interested in your rooting method. I tried with a few Jacaranda samples (from Sydney) and whilst some have produced quite healthy looking shoots, there doesnt seem to be very strong growth of actual roots. I'm wondering if this technique is more specifically suited to willows and if not, how/when should I go about transplanting to soil? How long should I wait until I make the transition if it doesnt appear as though any roots are going to develop? Cheers
Here's a good article on rooting the cuttings in water..... www.mgsforum.org/smf/index.php?topic=1578.0 If you get roots in water, I transfer the cutting to soil and then keep a tray of water underneath the pot to keep the soil wet at all times. After the roots get established, slowly keep the tray less full of water, until you are watering normally. It is a beautiful tree, I hope you have success!
Hi Nigel, fellow TBS member here but a newbie. I've been really wanting to try getting a willow going from some cuttings so these videos have been very helpful but I was wondering when you said you brought the rooted cuttings inside once the leaves fell, did you mean inside warm house or inside in a cold room? I have the added challenge of being a balcony bonsai keeper so I'm trying to think it all the way through before going off and snipping some branches lol Thanks for the info!
Hi Nigel. Another great and informative video - thanks! Can all trees be rooted directly in water like this, or is it just certain species? Also, is it generally safe to handle composted manure with bare hands?
+L. A. Nolan Willows are one of the few that can be rooted easily in just water, I've heard Mulberry cuttings will also root in water and there may be more. I read up on handling soil and from what I see, any soil should be handled with a dust mask and gloves. After handling the soil with gloves, you should also wash your hands. To be on the safe side, I'm going to start wearing gloves and a mask!
Hello, Nigel! This video is already pretty old, but I want to ask you, didn't the tree have any problems with roots rotting? I've read, that between the drain holes and saucer there's need to be the space so tree can get the oxygen from underneath the pot. In this video the pot is fully closed with the water
Most trees do need an airy mix for the soil and this much water would kill them. Willow trees like having the roots in the water and they usually grow near wet areas for this reason. Bald Cypress trees also water loving trees.
With leaving the willows in water all the time, are you worried about the roots rotting, or do you think it will be alright like that? I'm a beginner and am planning to start a bonsai from a trimming off of my laurel leaf willow, but have been looking up tips and whatnot, and one of the concerns i hear often is "root rot" leading to tree mortality. Great videos by the way. looking forward to seeing your trees' progress in the future!
Willows are one of the few trees that can have the roots sitting in water. They naturally grow beside river banks and in wet areas for this very reason. The trees go through a lot of water on a hot day, the water level in the reservoir will drop several inches in an afternoon. I wouldn't recommend this for other trees, unless you will be away for a few days and you have no one to water them.
Hello Nigel, I just came across your videos and they're really interesting, makes me want to try it right now! :D I have a few questions: - Tomorrow I'm going to cut off a branche from a weeping willow tree, it doesn't really matter if you start in the end of August instead of July right? - Can I keep the brance (in the bottle of water with the styrofoam) in my room or do they need to be outside? - Why did you cut off all the leaves when you started? (in the previous video) - I didn't completely hear what you were saying at 25:44. You are using 50% turface and 50% composted ...? Thank you very much in future and I hope to hear from you soon. Jesse
PunkRockCovers Hi Jesse, the cuttings should root fine in August. The cuttings should be kept outside in full sun for best results. You don't need to cut off the leaves, I just did it to get rid of the long branches. The leaves will usually fall off as the new growth begins to happen. Check out my video on soil making, to get the gritty details! Your trees can stay in water over the winter, but I would get them in some soil, when you get enough roots. Keep the soil moist at all times with a tray of water underneath. Good luck, Nigel
PunkRockCovers The cuttings should dormant in the winter. The ideal temp. is just above freezing. I keep mine in an unheated part of the basement. You can keep them in a garage or a shed for the winter. They don't need any light and can take freezing.
Hi Nigel, I watched some of your videos and it seems you rarely (well, I've never seen you do it) fix the trees into the pot with wire. I've read this should be a good idea in order to let the roots develop undisturbed (from any movement induced by moving the tree). Is there any reason you don't do it?
buugy123 I don't wire my trees in the pot, just because I don't want wire marks on the roots. If you are careful, you can wire the tree in using pads to protect the roots. I place rocks on top of the soil to hold the tree in until the roots get established. This usually happens quite quickly, within a month. Wiring your tree in is a good idea and makes it safer in a wind storm. I've never had a tree come out of the pot, touch wood. If I do, I'll probably start wiring them into the pots!
Some people say cut paste is bad and others say it is good. Here is one of many articles on the subject..... ofbonsai.org/the-last-page/editorials/debunking-the-myths-of-bonsai
The willows are sleeping for the long winter.We hit a record low of -34 C this winter! I'll be doing more videos in spring. Root over rock is a great idea, I might give that a try! Thanks for watching.
Hi Nigel, just wondering how long you should leave willow cuttings in water, and if you should get them potted in soil by the end of the growing season??
I have left my willow cuttings in water for almost 2 years and have had them survive when put in soil. I would try and pot them up by fall, just keep the soil very wet at first, until the roots adjust to more air.
Hi Nigel so you're an Aussie I'm Maltese by birth my questions is what happens if you see roots coming out from the bottom of the pot do you just cut them off..? Regards Fred
Fred Grech Yes, they can be cut off. I'm getting lots of roots in the water also. They will eventually block the drainage holes, so every now and then, you can lift the tree out of the pot and trim them back around the drainage holes. This will not hurt the tree at all. Nice to here from Australia!
in what time of the year is ok to take the branches for rooting in the water? if i'll get now some branches, will i succeed? Is not too late? Because my weeping willows trees are died when i was in vacation (i made a self-watering pipe, but it didn't work and i'm very sad of it.... )
ak50gunit This is a good time of the year to root willow cuttings. I would root them up until the end of August. You can leave them in their water over the winter, I still have some of my Black willow cuttings in water after over a year and they are still doing fine. I just never got around to potting them!
Black willows don't get those weeping branches and the bark is different. Generally the black willow bark is much rougher in texture and is darker in colour.. The black willows seem to have a deeper green colour on the leaves also. The roots of the black willow are a pink colour.
jcmtz0814 I do have an update posted. Check the playlist tab on the channel home page for a playlist for each tree. The video has me repotting and giving the tree a first prune of the year.
PunkRockCovers I just use rain water at first, then as the roots start to grow, I add some fertilizer to the water. Willows can take a lot of fertilizer, more than your average tree. Fertilize enough to keep the leaves a nice dark green.
It is best to start them from cuttings, the seeds blow in the wind late spring and are very small, Cuttings of almost any size will root in plain water. You can start a cutting any time, but it is best in spring, in winter it is best to keep them dormant
I mix half turface and half perlite. To this I add 10 to 20 percent organic material. All ingredients are sifted to remove the fine particles. Frequent watering and fertilizer keeps the moss growing well.
They require full sun and a cold winter to survive. They could be brought into the house for short periods of time, but they need to be outside to do well.
I feed the willow and all my trees every time I water. I put a small pinch of powdered 20-20-20 (with micro nutrients) in my 2 litre watering can, and every time I water I also fertilize.
Willows have a natural rooting hormone in them. They will root in just water. You can make your own rooting hormone by crushing up willow branches and applying it to other types of trees. There are some good videos on TH-cam that show you how to do this. Willow branches will root from any size cuttings. I have seen people root cuttings that are a foot in diameter. I've never tried a large cutting, but if I find a good branch with taper, I'll try one this large.
The wiring of this tree will come at a later date. I have to grow the upright structure first, then all the new young growth will be trained to weep. With a willow tree this can be done with weights at the end of the branches, or they can be wired to shape. I'll show this with a video this summer.
The willow is about 12 years old now. It was started from a small cutting. After all these years, I am still trying to better my techniques with willow trees. They are not an easy tree to style. Some years they can look really and some not so good. Easy to grow, but difficult to maintain to a good shape.
Nigel Saunders This has a great shape, though it is not weeğing yet. However, that minor branch down there has a potential. How lovely! What is amazing though is that you go out there and show us how fully grown willows behave in nature and help us to have an idea. Very inspiring, thanks man!
ali efra Dilbaz And one more question if don't mind....Wouldn't that willow weep itself? Do yoy really have to make it weep? Or is it part of the art of bonsai?
hiya Nigel i have a weeping willow growing in a pot and when the leaves fell off i brought it down into the basement its in a spot that gets very little light but i notice new growth on it today when i went to check to see if it was still moist a branch of leaves are growing. i dont know what to do ? bring it out and back on the deck? i live on vancouver island bc, all the wild weeping willows still have no new growth?
Hi Islander, this will happen when temperatures get warm and the basement heats up in winter. I always get leaves sprouting in late Feb. You have two options, One, protect the new growth from frost until spring arrives. Two, just treat the tree as normal and place outside in early spring. This new growth will die off and new sprouts will emerge. I have tried both methods and it doesn't seem to make much difference to the vigor of the tree. I have also sprouted branches in the warm plant room in winter, and then potted them in spring. They grew well all summer. I would just keep your tree watered in the basement and put it outside in spring. Try to find the coolest spot in the basement also. I sometimes keep a window open a crack near the trees for extra cooling. Good luck, keep me updated!
These clear containers that fit perfectly under your training pots, I’ve searched everywhere online and can’t find them to purchase. How can I buy or make them for my willow bonsai plants?
LOVED this video! I am absolutely amazed at how quickly the willow cuttings rooted, I may try a dappled willow next year. Looking forward to your updates!
I appreciate your thorough explanations Nigel. Thanks for a your videos.
Thank you Val!
I got some cuttings which I put them in water on Feb . 24. Right now all my cuttings have small leaf and the roots are about an inch I'm going to leave them in water until it gets nice outside so I can put them in soil and follow your steps . Thanks for all your info and keep those videos coming cheers J.C
When starting willows in water, try adding soil a couple of weeks or so before you plan to plant it out. Just a little soil at a time. Say, a good handful every three or four days. By the time you want to plant out, roots will have developed the right cells to cope with the different diet. They are babies after all, so we don't take our babies off milk and put them straight on steak, egg 'n chips. We do it gradually. Has worked every time with my willows.
Thanks Lynn, great tips!
Really enjoyed seeing that large Willow in your area!
Thank you, I have another one that I want to show on a video, hopefully I'll get to it this summer! They can be majestic old trees!
Hello from Lakeland Florida. I know this is an old video but I wonder how these cuttings are doing in 2021. Will be great to see an update if you still has them.
thank you very much Nigel I learned a lot about willow tree.
Thanks Nigel. Would love to see a tour of your benches. Sid
Hi Nigel. Again a thoroughly interesting video. I did not think that willows would be an interesting bonsai, but you certainly changed my mind on this.
I think you have the most interesting bonsai videos here on TH-cam. I was wondering if that cutting was going to be unstable in the blue pot, but with the rocks adding weight and stability I can see that this was a great idea.
All the best from the West ( wet ) Coast. And more videos please!!! :)
+Curtis Lee Thanks Curtis, more videos coming soon!
Great to hear!!!:)
Two days ago I cut a 2” branch each from an Arroyo Willow and Gooddings Willow and now have 2 buckets of shoots from 3/8” to 2”, so glad I found your video .
I was wondering as I can’t plant them all into bonsai pots would it work to plant them in garden pots and place a flat stone or plastic or wood about 1-1/2” below the roots after I rake them out to form a flat root ball? I live in Southern California and hope a deeper pot in a tray of water won’t have to be watered more the once a day as they develop.
You video was very helpful.
Thanks jr Trout, yes that will work fine in garden pots with a stone to keep the root base flat!
Another great video, keep them coming!
Thanks mate have a good day
Dear Nigel - loving your videos and appreciative of your generosity in sharing your experience and wisdom. Just planted Willow cuttings, and looking forward to doing something interesting with them if they root. Quick question about how you prevent your pots cracking when leaving them outside in the winter. We live not far from you I think (in fact, both my sons were born in KW!), and have similar winters. I left all my stuff outside this past winter, and did have a lovely ceramic pot crack on me. The plastic pots fared just fine, unsurprisingly. Take care!
David
Hello David, I try and grow all my hardy trees in plastic or Mica pots. Unless you buy a very expensive clay bonsai pot that is fired to a really high temperature, the clay pots will all crack eventually. I get my mica pots from Chris Hendry, the bonsai guy....
th-cam.com/video/TWTB98PFpro/w-d-xo.html
Check the links in the description to contact him!
@@TheBonsaiZone Thanks Nigel. I checked out Chris' site, and also your trip to his Bonsai nursery. Most impressive! I don't see Mica pots in his online shop, but will contact him. Take care, and thanks again for your inspiring videos! :)
These clear containers that fit perfectly under your training pots, I’ve searched everywhere online and can’t find them to purchase. How can I buy or make them for my willow bonsai plants?
Hey Nigel, fellow bonsai newbie here. A friends on bonsai talk Facebook group suggested your TH-cam channel since we're in the same province. I love your videos very informative! For the roots your trying to get your willow to grow, have you ever tried to air layer it in the area you want roots to grow, that way you could control how they grow and look :)
TheRobinMonster I haven't tried an air layer on a willow, but I'm sure it would work! I am just about to post an update on the Willows, should be up in a couple of days. Good to hear from someone close to home!
All my materials came in to replicate the 2 pot system you have for willows. I’ve been rewatching the willow playlists for preparation and I can’t find at any point in the videos how much 20-20-20 you put in the bottom water reservoir, looks to be more than a pinch as the water is blue. Is it just one cap full? Half a cap? Thanks for all the tips and help!
I'd love to try a weeping willow bonsai. Do you have any tips for them? Does this apply?
+Green Marble Hi, cuttings will root from almost any size cutting, here is the first video of this series...
th-cam.com/video/-HVP_IH0vJ0/w-d-xo.html
check the playlist section of the channel for more willow videos. Good luck!
With those great roots on the cuttings have you ever try instead of cutting them all the way, have you tried making a willow on a rock? You think would it work? Hope you respond thanks and have a great date!,Nigel
Hi Nigel, I watched this video a while ago and was quite interested in your rooting method. I tried with a few Jacaranda samples (from Sydney) and whilst some have produced quite healthy looking shoots, there doesnt seem to be very strong growth of actual roots. I'm wondering if this technique is more specifically suited to willows and if not, how/when should I go about transplanting to soil? How long should I wait until I make the transition if it doesnt appear as though any roots are going to develop?
Cheers
Here's a good article on rooting the cuttings in water.....
www.mgsforum.org/smf/index.php?topic=1578.0
If you get roots in water, I transfer the cutting to soil and then keep a tray of water underneath the pot to keep the soil wet at all times. After the roots get established, slowly keep the tray less full of water, until you are watering normally. It is a beautiful tree, I hope you have success!
Hi Nigel, fellow TBS member here but a newbie. I've been really wanting to try getting a willow going from some cuttings so these videos have been very helpful but I was wondering when you said you brought the rooted cuttings inside once the leaves fell, did you mean inside warm house or inside in a cold room? I have the added challenge of being a balcony bonsai keeper so I'm trying to think it all the way through before going off and snipping some branches lol Thanks for the info!
Hello Mippy, I bring the Willow's into the cold basement, it's around 5 to 10 C down there. Welcome to TBS!!!
Hi Nigel. Another great and informative video - thanks! Can all trees be rooted directly in water like this, or is it just certain species? Also, is it generally safe to handle composted manure with bare hands?
+L. A. Nolan Willows are one of the few that can be rooted easily in just water, I've heard Mulberry cuttings will also root in water and there may be more. I read up on handling soil and from what I see, any soil should be handled with a dust mask and gloves. After handling the soil with gloves, you should also wash your hands. To be on the safe side, I'm going to start wearing gloves and a mask!
+Nigel Saunders Sound good. Thanks for replying!
can you give me an idea on how to give natural fertilizer on my bonsai . :D
Hello Chad, here is a good video on this...
th-cam.com/video/2Bbbb0TfQuk/w-d-xo.html
What about cuttings in the fall, North FL?
Hello, Nigel! This video is already pretty old, but I want to ask you, didn't the tree have any problems with roots rotting? I've read, that between the drain holes and saucer there's need to be the space so tree can get the oxygen from underneath the pot. In this video the pot is fully closed with the water
Most trees do need an airy mix for the soil and this much water would kill them. Willow trees like having the roots in the water and they usually grow near wet areas for this reason. Bald Cypress trees also water loving trees.
With leaving the willows in water all the time, are you worried about the roots rotting, or do you think it will be alright like that? I'm a beginner and am planning to start a bonsai from a trimming off of my laurel leaf willow, but have been looking up tips and whatnot, and one of the concerns i hear often is "root rot" leading to tree mortality. Great videos by the way. looking forward to seeing your trees' progress in the future!
Willows are one of the few trees that can have the roots sitting in water. They naturally grow beside river banks and in wet areas for this very reason. The trees go through a lot of water on a hot day, the water level in the reservoir will drop several inches in an afternoon. I wouldn't recommend this for other trees, unless you will be away for a few days and you have no one to water them.
Thank you very much for the info. Looking forward to getting started!
Hello Nigel,
I just came across your videos and they're really interesting, makes me want to try it right now! :D
I have a few questions:
- Tomorrow I'm going to cut off a branche from a weeping willow tree, it doesn't really matter if you start in the end of August instead of July right?
- Can I keep the brance (in the bottle of water with the styrofoam) in my room or do they need to be outside?
- Why did you cut off all the leaves when you started? (in the previous video)
- I didn't completely hear what you were saying at 25:44. You are using 50% turface and 50% composted ...?
Thank you very much in future and I hope to hear from you soon.
Jesse
PunkRockCovers Hi Jesse, the cuttings should root fine in August. The cuttings should be kept outside in full sun for best results. You don't need to cut off the leaves, I just did it to get rid of the long branches. The leaves will usually fall off as the new growth begins to happen. Check out my video on soil making, to get the gritty details! Your trees can stay in water over the winter, but I would get them in some soil, when you get enough roots. Keep the soil moist at all times with a tray of water underneath. Good luck, Nigel
Nigel Saunders Thanks for the quick answers! You take the cuttings inside at room temperature when the winter comes?
PunkRockCovers The cuttings should dormant in the winter. The ideal temp. is just above freezing. I keep mine in an unheated part of the basement. You can keep them in a garage or a shed for the winter. They don't need any light and can take freezing.
Aweesomely done.. I got clippings to late ⏰ n the season only ended me lived😢😢😢😢😢
Willows are so hard to keep healthy in a pot, I might try growing it in a pot, buried in the ground?
Hi Nigel, I watched some of your videos and it seems you rarely (well, I've never seen you do it) fix the trees into the pot with wire. I've read this should be a good idea in order to let the roots develop undisturbed (from any movement induced by moving the tree). Is there any reason you don't do it?
buugy123 I don't wire my trees in the pot, just because I don't want wire marks on the roots. If you are careful, you can wire the tree in using pads to protect the roots. I place rocks on top of the soil to hold the tree in until the roots get established. This usually happens quite quickly, within a month. Wiring your tree in is a good idea and makes it safer in a wind storm. I've never had a tree come out of the pot, touch wood. If I do, I'll probably start wiring them into the pots!
Where can I get the bonsai soil that you are using to put your willow in?
Hi. Nigel! I'd like Your's vidos very much. I have question: I don't saw how You use Cut Healing Paste after cutting. Why?
Some people say cut paste is bad and others say it is good. Here is one of many articles on the subject.....
ofbonsai.org/the-last-page/editorials/debunking-the-myths-of-bonsai
Thanks!
Any updates on this wonderful willow?
The willows are sleeping for the long winter.We hit a record low of -34 C this winter! I'll be doing more videos in spring.
Root over rock is a great idea, I might give that a try! Thanks for watching.
Hi Nigel, just wondering how long you should leave willow cuttings in water, and if you should get them potted in soil by the end of the growing season??
I have left my willow cuttings in water for almost 2 years and have had them survive when put in soil. I would try and pot them up by fall, just keep the soil very wet at first, until the roots adjust to more air.
Hi Nigel so you're an Aussie I'm Maltese by birth my questions is what happens if you see roots coming out from the bottom of the pot do you just cut them off..? Regards Fred
Fred Grech Yes, they can be cut off. I'm getting lots of roots in the water also. They will eventually block the drainage holes, so every now and then, you can lift the tree out of the pot and trim them back around the drainage holes. This will not hurt the tree at all. Nice to here from Australia!
in what time of the year is ok to take the branches for rooting in the water? if i'll get now some branches, will i succeed? Is not too late? Because my weeping willows trees are died when i was in vacation (i made a self-watering pipe, but it didn't work and i'm very sad of it.... )
ak50gunit This is a good time of the year to root willow cuttings. I would root them up until the end of August. You can leave them in their water over the winter, I still have some of my Black willow cuttings in water after over a year and they are still doing fine. I just never got around to potting them!
hello Nigel, say how do you tell the two apart, black willow from the other?
Black willows don't get those weeping branches and the bark is different. Generally the black willow bark is much rougher in texture and is darker in colour.. The black willows seem to have a deeper green colour on the leaves also. The roots of the black willow are a pink colour.
What type of soil do you use??
Are your willows still sleeping? Any updates?
jcmtz0814 I do have an update posted. Check the playlist tab on the channel home page for a playlist for each tree. The video has me repotting and giving the tree a first prune of the year.
Did you put nutrients or fertilizer in the water of the cuttings?
PunkRockCovers I just use rain water at first, then as the roots start to grow, I add some fertilizer to the water. Willows can take a lot of fertilizer, more than your average tree. Fertilize enough to keep the leaves a nice dark green.
when is the best time for harvesting willow seeds?
It is best to start them from cuttings, the seeds blow in the wind late spring and are very small, Cuttings of almost any size will root in plain water. You can start a cutting any time, but it is best in spring, in winter it is best to keep them dormant
thanks.
hey there what type of soil mix do you use to get your moss to grow
I mix half turface and half perlite. To this I add 10 to 20 percent organic material. All ingredients are sifted to remove the fine particles. Frequent watering and fertilizer keeps the moss growing well.
thanks for your reply ayy lol keep up the good work with your videos
Could this be grown as a house plant?
They require full sun and a cold winter to survive. They could be brought into the house for short periods of time, but they need to be outside to do well.
How often do you feed the willow, is it seasonal ?
I feed the willow and all my trees every time I water. I put a small pinch of powdered 20-20-20 (with micro nutrients) in my 2 litre watering can, and every time I water I also fertilize.
Thank you
i did the same thing whit my cutting but it rotted, any tips?
Your Willow cuttings should root if left in full sun, I would just keep trying until you have some that make it!
Did you use any rooting hormones?
Willows have a natural rooting hormone in them. They will root in just water. You can make your own rooting hormone by crushing up willow branches and applying it to other types of trees. There are some good videos on TH-cam that show you how to do this. Willow branches will root from any size cuttings. I have seen people root cuttings that are a foot in diameter. I've never tried a large cutting, but if I find a good branch with taper, I'll try one this large.
Yeah, I investigated a little further and found some stuff about preparing a solution from willow. Pretty interesting stuff.
Did I see fish in that water?
No fish, must have been stuff in the water!
How about if you show us some wiring?
The wiring of this tree will come at a later date. I have to grow the upright structure first, then all the new young growth will be trained to weep. With a willow tree this can be done with weights at the end of the branches, or they can be wired to shape.
I'll show this with a video this summer.
How old is that tree Nigel?
The willow is about 12 years old now. It was started from a small cutting. After all these years, I am still trying to better my techniques with willow trees. They are not an easy tree to style. Some years they can look really and some not so good. Easy to grow, but difficult to maintain to a good shape.
Nigel Saunders This has a great shape, though it is not weeğing yet. However, that minor branch down there has a potential. How lovely! What is amazing though is that you go out there and show us how fully grown willows behave in nature and help us to have an idea. Very inspiring, thanks man!
ali efra Dilbaz And one more question if don't mind....Wouldn't that willow weep itself? Do yoy really have to make it weep? Or is it part of the art of bonsai?
Will the leaves eventually 🍃 grow longer like big weeping willow tree 🌳?
Only one clipping survived
hiya Nigel i have a weeping willow growing in a pot and when the leaves fell off i brought it down into the basement its in a spot that gets very little light but i notice new growth on it today when i went to check to see if it was still moist a branch of leaves are growing. i dont know what to do ? bring it out and back on the deck? i live on vancouver island bc, all the wild weeping willows still have no new growth?
Hi Islander, this will happen when temperatures get warm and the basement heats up in winter. I always get leaves sprouting in late Feb. You have two options, One, protect the new growth from frost until spring arrives. Two, just treat the tree as normal and place outside in early spring. This new growth will die off and new sprouts will emerge. I have tried both methods and it doesn't seem to make much difference to the vigor of the tree. I have also sprouted branches in the warm plant room in winter, and then potted them in spring. They grew well all summer. I would just keep your tree watered in the basement and put it outside in spring. Try to find the coolest spot in the basement also. I sometimes keep a window open a crack near the trees for extra cooling. Good luck, keep me updated!
Nigel Saunders ok, thank you very much
These clear containers that fit perfectly under your training pots, I’ve searched everywhere online and can’t find them to purchase. How can I buy or make them for my willow bonsai plants?