[Wanted]: a lead on Weeping Willow to bonsai

[Shane]

Folks, in about a month's time I want to get a weeping willow (Salix Babylonica) to begin as a bonsai for my new daughter.

If anyone in Melbourne has any leads on either:
a) nurseries that have them as stock
b) bonsai owners wishing to sell stock

Could you please get in touch via PM? I'm not particularly looking for an existing bonsai, just raw stock.

cheers,

Spooky.

[anttal63]

hey spooky, you will be able to do fairly large cuttings if you find a branch somewhere. they strikevery easily up to 2" thick i would think even larger.

[Asus101]

I have one as thick as my arm I took as a cutting last year, needs repotting already.

[Jarrod]

Yeah, cuttings are easy.

You wont find them for sale as it is an offence to sell them in Australia (i believe all of australia, definiately in victoria) because they are a noxious weed.

Good luck and congratulations.

Jarrod

[marleeney]

Has anyone a pic of a Weeping WIllow bonsai? I would imagine one to be most beautiful

[Bretts]

Weeping willow where my entry into Bonsai when a mate told me cuttings root by just sticking in a bucket of water. Root they do and I have done almost 200mm thick with no problem. I reckon you could cut down a whole tree stick it in water and it would regrow. I think the bucket of water is the best way, the willow puts out a substance that encourages rooting. So when it is left in a bucket of water that substance is not lost. I am sure any way will work though if you prefer. They make an amazing display inside the house in a vase with lush green shoots popping out of hard grey Craggy bark.
The problems start later. Willow can be a lot of trouble to bonsai. They have been known to loose branches and although they grow so fast that they often need re potting twice a year progress can be slow.
I chucked the ones I started 4 years ago out but since reading an article from Bonsai Focus about some new developments in adapting them to bonsai culture I have a couple of new ones on the go.
The new developments are mainly concerned with a gravity fed drip watering system that continually has water flowing through the soil instead of sitting the pot in water. Also feed feed feed. Apparently the willows in bonsai culture where running out of steam through winter and this is meant to solve it. The progression pictures in the magazine are impressive.
IBC had a regular Willow poster that was close to a literati style. I have seen one other good willow bonsai that was posted online but I think that would be near impossible to find.
I will get a pic of the one from the article soon.

[John Henry]

Hi All I have attached some pics of my Weeping Willow approx 35 years old needs lots of water.
Thanks John

[John Henry]

Sorry hope the pics go this time

[Bretts]

Thats great work John definitely added to the list of the few good ones I have ever seen.
I hope you can give some information on the care of the willow.
Maybe I never got that far but I found the branches of the ones I have mucked around with didn't need any weights as they weeped enough on their own.

[marleeney]

This is a fantastic tree. I will have to put it into my must have collection! Many thanks for showing it to us. . Very informative Soltan much appreciated. Will have a go striking one of these
Marleeney

[John Henry]

Hi All, There is a great six page write up on Willows in Bonsai Focus No113 Jan \feb 2008

[stymie]

A more modest S. babylonica here. At least for size.

[anttal63]

john thats a rippa tree!

[marleeney]

Sure is Stymie. Must like the cold over there in Yorkshire. My family came from Hull.

[Nereus]

found a nice one by google'ing
heres the link
http://www.bonsaiblog.ca/wp-content/upl ... willow.jpg