[Wanted]: a lead on Weeping Willow to bonsai

[Shane]

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

Hi Jarrod, Sorry to correct, but Weeping Willow (Salix Babylonica) is not a declared noxious weed. It is one of the few salixes that are excluded from the list. http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosi ... ees_willow

I even checked with a friend who is an ecologist.

cheers,

S.

[Jarrod]

I am glad to be corrected. I personally haven't seen one for sale at any nursery I have been to. Have you found any yet? I am going to have a look at the local tree i know of soon to start to get a branch to develop the taper while its still attached to the tree. I reckon you could heal any owund far easier while its still attached?

Good luck with the search!

[jarryd]

me and my mate who is only new to bonsai collected some very large very old willow branches with alot of dead wood

my only concern is that they may not root due to the time of yr??

my friend has some of the best starter stock ive seen a beginer start with. i like to encourage his new interest and he is fast becoming very good at selecting good yamadori and stock.

i think we have a new adict

[Bretts]

I am pretty sure it will have no trouble rooting out Jarryd Just keep it out of the frost. Oh thats right you don't have any frost
Mine have not even looked like going dormant yet. They are slightly under the verandah so have some protection but not much

[Shane]

Have you found any yet? ... I reckon you could heal any owund far easier while its still attached?

No, haven't really had time to get out of the house, what with nappies to change and baby and wife to look after. Will hopefully get out in the next few days to have a look.

[anttal63]

oh wow i missed this along the way. well done on those cuttings,monsters!

[Shane]

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.

Having now found the Willow tree I wish to collect a branch from, I'm taking more notice of this post. Brett, at what time of the year did you take your cutting? I will have to find that Bonsai Focus issue.

[Bretts]

I have taken mine at various times of the growing season. I think early spring would be best so as to get the longest growing season out of them. As long as the frost does not kill the new growth. I believe they will root anytime of year though.

[Petra]

I wish i had known this when we disposed of what was left of our 10 year old after lightning, cows and horses had attacked it. Always the way after you get rid of something, there is a use for it after all. Have to go next door & see if i can get a chunk from there. I just have got to give this a go. Nice info guys, keep you posted.

[Bretts]

Repotted one of the willow today not a great pic. Just before I trimed and wired. Not bad for less that a year old cutting
I will post another pic when it takes shape

willow.jpg

Now I just have to keep it healthy wich is the hard part with willow in a pot

[Petra]

Nice tree bretts,
Wow what an inspiration, i too now will have to go next door and ask for a piece to try.
I also have 3 large tortured willows growing , i ll have to give it a go at the same time.
Will the process be the same for that kind of tree.
This is great cant wait to see the results. Spookey,If you like to try a tortured willo instead ,your welcomed. Petra!

[Bajiru]

Awesome thread! I hope the OP got what he was after as I too have plans for making bonsai for each of my children when they are born.

Which kinda leads me to a question: Does anyone know of any weeping willow around Sydney where it would not be naughty / unlawful / etc to take a cutting, or if anyone has one on their land I could do same to? I'm in the lower north, so around here would be good but anywhere is fine.

Cheers - Bajiru.

[bodhidharma]

Hey Spookybonsai if you are ever out my way drop in and i will give you one

[Luke308]

willow000001.jpg

I know this is an old post, but I have this photo I thought I should share. This was taken in August this year when Peter Adams visited our club.
Thanks to Mathew for giving me advice on Willows, I hope to have a tree like this one day

[Sahara]

mmi would love to have a weeping willow.. she is beutiful