Thinking of growing a bonsai weeping willow, get ready for a daunting task. Growing and taking care of a weeping willow needs a lot of attention and care. Also, they are comparatively fast at increasing.
So, if you don’t know where to begin, I am here to help you out with it. I will go through all the processes of growing and caring for a weeping willow as a bonsai. Without wasting any more time, let’s get going with it.
Growing and caring for a weeping willow
Before I begin, I want to tell you that growing this tree is hard work and patience. But, it’s also worth the hard work because the result you get after growing it is pure beauty. So, let’s get started with the basic things you will need to follow for increasing weeping willow.
Positioning of the tree
The first thing to think of is where you are going to grow the tree. The weeping willow is the kind of bonsai tree that likes warm and humid temperatures. So, this makes the tree an outdoor option for you.
You shouldn’t keep the tree in a very Among various bonsai trees out there, the weeping willow is quite a popular one. The reason is its beauty and grace are something that you can’t ever stop admiring.
If you are windy area either. The tree branches are pretty delicate and can easily be damaged because of a hard rush of wind.
For the sunlight, you would want a spot where you can get direct sunlight. However, you have to be careful that the sunlight isn’t too strong because that can burn the tree’s leaves. The perfect place for a weeping willow is in a spot where you get direct sunlight but not too much to burn it up.
So, you have to be careful, especially on the hot summer days, when the sun can heat up a lot. In those times, you may need to move around the tree when the sunlight is bearable, for example, in the morning and the afternoon.
Watering the trees
Weeping willow as a tree needs a lot of water. You can call it a thirsty bonsai in that regard. Although, you always have to maintain the watering at control. Just make sure not to overwater the tree either. It would help if you watered it as much as it needs to keep the soil moist.
Typically, you can water your weeping willow once a day. But in the hot months, you will have to water your tree twice a day. Because in hot months, the soil dries out very quickly.
To keep it moist throughout the day, you have to water it more than once. Also, a good practice during summer is to keep the tree under some shade so that the soil doesn’t dry out that often.
A clear sign that your tree needs water is when you see the branches of the tree sagging. Usually, the leaves of the tree should look crisp and have healthy foliage.
Feeding the tree
To get the best growth in your weeping willow, you can opt for feeding liquid fertilizers. They tend to work better on weeping willow. Use a fertilizer that maintains the proper balance of potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Try avoiding any fertilizer with high amounts of nitrogen in them. While it may not damage the tree, it will surely disrupt the process of natural growth. This, in turn, affects the appearance of the tree.
The best time to feet your weeping willow is spring and summer. These are the times when it will absorb the most nutrients from anything you feed them. With phosphorus, you can ensure better growth of the roots, flowers, and stems. While potassium keeps the tree healthy, nitrogen gives it support on the branch foliage growth.
Maintenance of Weeping willow
The real value of growing a bonsai is in its maintenance. The maintenance process of any bonsai makes it different from growing a regular tree. Here, I will go through the maintenance procedures you need to follow for a weeping willow bonsai. Let’s get going.
- Pruning
Pruning is cutting off unnecessary branches to maintain the shape of the tree. This is the crucial part that keeps the miniature aspect alive on bonsai trees.
For a weeping willow, you will have to do a lot more pruning than usual because weeping willow tends to increase.
Sometimes you will need to cut the growth right back on the main branch of your tree. You can do this after the growing season passes.
To keep your weeping willow in perfect shape, you will have to opt for wiring every branch. When you are wiring, make sure to keep it a bit loose since the wood on the tree is soft. You don’t want to scar the wood whatsoever.
Something you always have to be aware of is that the tree grows fast. So, you will also need to be a bit flexible with the design you want on your tree. It’s also important to adjust the wires once in a while to retain the shape of the tree that makes it look good.
- Repotting
Just like pruning, you will also need to opt for repotting your weeping willow quite often. And the reason is the same; it grows much faster than any other bonsai tree out there. If you are not cutting it or repotting it, a weeping willow can grow up to a foot every month.
To stop that from happening, you will need to report your weeping willow. The best time to do this is during warmer seasons. Just make sure it’s not too hot out there because that can cause stress to the tree.
Every time you report your weeping willow, make sure you are cutting off the tree’s root ball. The root ball tends to grow at an alarming speed, so you will need to prevent that from happening by cutting it down. And, you don’t need to worry about root pruning on this tree because it has the excellent capability of bearing that.
It’s best if you report your weeping willow every six months or one year. Without repotting, the roots of the tree can get cramped up in the pot. This hampers the well-being of the tree. So, you must report when you think the time is right.
- Pest control
Just like any other plant, weeping willows can also be in danger of pests. To prevent that from happening, your best bet is to use an organic pesticide.
The insects and pests that usually attack weeping willows are willow borer, gall mites, scale, canker, aphids, gall makers, and rust. You can also call a professional to help you out with these problems as they will have a better solution to these issues.
With these maintenance processes, you should be good with the weeping willow. You will have to do these things more frequently than other bonsai trees. So, you can say weeping willow is a high-maintenance bonsai tree.
FAQ
Here are some common questions people ask regarding weeping willow bonsai –
What type of soil works best for weeping willow?
Weeping willow grows the best around ponds, rivers, or lakes. So, you will want soil that stays moist for the most part. Also, you don’t want water to be stuck on the soil, so the soil must have good drainage.
Can I grow weeping willow indoors?
Well, you can’t grow weeping willow indoors. The reason is, weeping willow requires a lot of direct sunlight, which you can’t get inside the house. In rough weather conditions, you can keep it inside the house for a while. But growing a weeping willow indoors isn’t possible.
Is weeping willow harmful to pets?
No, weeping willow doesn’t harm any pets whatsoever. It doesn’t have any poisonous parts in the tree, so you can rest assured with your pet. However, it would help if you instead worried about your pets damaging the trees.
Is it hard to grow a weeping willow?
In truth, it’s not hard to grow a weeping willow. But maintaining the tree as a bonsai is quite tricky. Weeping willow tends to grow at a rapid speed in every part. So, you have to constantly prune it and report it to retain the shape and keep it as a bonsai. Also, the tree is quite delicate, so you have to be wary of that.
Summary
All in all, no matter how hard it is, growing a weeping willow is worth it for sure. It’s one of the most beautiful bonsai trees you can ever find and has a unique appeal to it.
The downward leaves make it an attractive choice to have in your home. Also, it proliferates, so you don’t have to wait for ages to see the complete form of a weeping willow bonsai. Altogether it’s a great bonsai tree to grow if you are from a warm and humid place.