54. Rooting Willow

Should be easy — was it?

I was excited to try rooting hardwood cuttings this year. I was also excited to replace the weeping willow that had died last year. When my on-line order for a “live plant” weeping willow showed up as a stick instead of a potted plant, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: try hardwood cutting a weeping willow.

Golden Weeping Willow (Salix alba 'Tristis')

2-pack for $13

I found these on Amazon from a seller called CZ Grain. Instead of the two 2 plants advertised, I received 5 cuttings. No problem! Time to experiment.

Instructions

The weeping willow package came with one page instructions, including putting the cuttings into a cup of water for about a week and a half to two weeks. Interesting note, in bold, was to not use Miracle Grow and to not sue fertilizer for the 1st year.

Watering the Willow

Per the weeping willow instructions, I stuck the cuttings into a cup of water and placed it in my greenhouse. Looking at the stems, it looks like there may have been some small root buds already emerging, promising!

Photo timestamp January 27, 2024, day one:

Photo timestamp January 30, 2024, day four:

Photo timestamp February 2, 2024, day seven:

Photo timestamp February 5, 2024, day ten:

Photo timestamp February 8, 2024, day thirteen (it was late in the day, so the color is blue):

Potting Up

Now, fourteen days later, I am ready to take the willow twigs out of water and put them in dirt. I mixed native soil with a handful of sand and half miracle grow potting soil. I used a bamboo stick to make five holes in the soil. I then dipped the ends into Dip’N Grow and stuck them in dirt.

My next step is to see if these willows take root. So far, this has been very easy, but has it been successful? Jury is still out.