AusBonsai

When is it best to take cuttings from a willow that would be worthy of planting? and does it matter when I take cuttings from a willow to make the willow tea fertiliser i keep hearing so much about?

also, is it only okay to use the willow tea fertiliser on a willow tree? or can i use it on any tree? --how long does it take to brew the willow tea fertiliser?

sorry for all the questions! I recently located a local willow tree that i'm allowed to take cuttings from. i'm looking forward to taking cuttings from it, i just have no idea when. any replies will be helpful!! thanks so much!!


<3 Kree

Spring is obviously best but any time of yaer will be fine to take cuttings.
The willow water can be used on anything as far as I know. I think a couple of weeks should be ok to get the good stuff in the water from the cuttings.
I don't think willow water could be classed as a fertiliser but as a root growth stimulant.

Bretts wrote:Spring is obviously best but any time of yaer will be fine to take cuttings.
The willow water can be used on anything as far as I know. I think a couple of weeks should be ok to get the good stuff in the water from the cuttings.
I don't think willow water could be classed as a fertiliser but as a root growth stimulant.

Wow thanks for that, that was brilliant information. Root growth stimulant? Hmmm. I suppose this could be handy... I heard it was a fertiliser. but that's okay. thanks for that mate! I appreciate it!

No worries it got me looking into it a bit more as I did wonder if the root stimulant was an Auxin. It seems it is
See here
http://www.bluestem.ca/willow-article1.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_2338055_make-wi ... -root.html
I have never specifically set out to make willow water but the above give quick ways of doing it in 24-48 hours by boiling with small shoots.

Thanks for that Brett I will read into those articles you suggested shortly!

Hi ViolentT7 ,i have used willow water for striking cutting ,Crab apple and Chinese elm up to 40mm in size. I did use 2 solutions 1 with cold water and the other with hot water {not boiling}both worked extremely well .The willow should be new tip "growth" from early spring as this contains the hormone.Remove all leaves and chop the willow into 50mm lengths and soak for 48 hours . Drain and discard the willow , the water can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 months .I did trial the water on an Elm and a Pine as a fertilizer, the pine died and the Elm lost all its leaves and has stuggled unlike the other Elms i have .Cheers

that could be due to to much of the hormone alpine, i dont know exactly but i have heard that to much rooting hormone can be fatal for the cutting, so i presume it is the auxin that could be the cause of it?

Jamie wrote:that could be due to to much of the hormone alpine, i dont know exactly but i have heard that to much rooting hormone can be fatal for the cutting, so i presume it is the auxin that could be the cause of it?

Hi Jamie the plants in question were already 2 years old , and yes the hormone in willow water definately done the damage . I was testing the water to see if it was beneficial to growing plants , and the result was No in the tests i did .The cuttings struck with willow water were stood in the brew for 48 hours then planted and place into a cold frame .All the cutting without willow water failed.Cheers

wow thank all you so so much you're all extremely helpful. have any of you grown willow trees from cuttings? if so, how did it turn out?

Hi Violentt7 willow cutting strike in the river here without and care ,i did try a contorta/tortured willow however it suffered continual die/back on the ends of the old wood .Ididn't look after it over a period of time ,no water , no care in fact the pot spent several months on its side and when sat upright and watered it reshot.Definately a Noxious weed down here.Cheers

I thought the 'magic' in willow water was in the anticoagulative properties,
helping with cuttings... didnt think it was great fertiliser... ?
.. stick with worm juice for fertiliser - best eva

We have had the discussion on worm juice. The conclusion was that it is more of a soil tonic than a nutrient/fertiliser. Nothing wrong with that either but you can't rely on it to supply the nutrients needed.
The willow water may have that ability as well but auxin is the mian activity usually quoted.

Alpine may very well be right that the auxin killed your trees. But if it was that simple then so would seasol. It is only when too higher concentration is used that it can kill. Try again with a concentration weak enough and it will not kill. In the right circumstance it will improve growth. That is a very open comment but to much to explain simply

Hey Mr Violent,

Glad you sought my approval for the cuttings, they look like they will make for an interesting tree, keep the willow tea for the Chinese Elms i told you about

If it don't succeed let the missus use them for a flower arrangement they will do just fine, he he. ps if you need more get a bigger car.....

Violent T7 wrote:wow thank all you so so much you're all extremely helpful. have any of you grown willow trees from cuttings? if so, how did it turn out?

Yes i have and, unfortunately they are very hard work to grow and care for. Firstly they have to be quite large to carry their foliage and they quickly outgrow their trunk. I.E the top grows to quickly for the trunk to catch up. I have an unrefined one that is still being developed and, probably like you, you see them in nature and picture them as Bonsai and think they would look stunning. It is nearly a betrayal when you find out that is not going to happen. I will be trying more defoliation on this one next growing season but as i get to know the tree better i am coming more to the decision that you must grow them for their Winter silhouette. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thats not bad Bodi It has an elegant trunk at the bottom.
I have one here V
viewtopic.php?f=129&t=3453&p=37585&hilit=willow#p37585

I have seen a couple of very nice willows. Even in foliage. Might have even been on this forum?