Willow tree bonsai - From cutting to bonsai. (A full walk through)

[@lelawarren2356]

A handsome dude talking about plants gets my engine going 😍

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks!

[@delldirks3726]

The city was cutting down my aunts Willow tree. I went over early morning and loaded my car up with big trunks as they were cutting it down. everyone thought I was crazy and thought no way the huge trunks would root. they are all doing good. I enjoy your videos. Thank you.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks man, and that's a cool story! People think I'm nuts for the stuff I do too.

[@delldirks3726]

@@BonsaiBoise Have you done any wisteria as bonsai? I have a huge one in my back yard that I am going to take a bunch of cuttings off. I want to train them as mini trees. Yard has been overgrown for a long time. dude I could hook you up with so many cuttings lol

[@BonsaiBoise]

@@delldirks3726 Where do you live? And I do have a wisteria but it's still just a pre bonsai at the moment. I have it in a gigantic pot just trying to thicken it up some.

[@delldirks3726]

@@BonsaiBoise Mill Creek just north of Seattle. I make trips to Spokane all the time. Always traveling. I have a ton of coral bark Japanese maples in my yard. along with a couple dwarf maples. Taking me a couple years but I am learning about all the plants. Just got 50 1/2 gallon pots and I don't even think that will put a dent in what I want to do.

[@BonsaiBoise]

I love coral bark maples! I had one that was developing fairly nicely but I made the mistake of doing some pruning in early fall. It ended up getting some type of bacteria or fungus and dying. I posted the video on it two or three years back, I had no idea what it was at the time until someone pointed it out to me.

[@kelsiesikes1582]

This was educational and encouraging. Thank you.

[@mothiiee]

Thank you so much for the video, we planted a willow for a passed relative years ago and unfortunately had to move away from it. I took a cutting before I left in hopes I could keep part of it with me.

[@Garnet_GG]

Hey! Super helpful video! Thank you! Going to try to pot up one of my rooting willow sticks and turn it into a bonsai! Btw, my willow also came from Boise 😂. I had never heard of you until I was trying to find how to make a willow Bonsai! You're doing a great job.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you! Dont you just love willows? I must have like 20 of them now lol. Most are pretty small but still. They just root so easy I can't help it. I'm doing a bunch of experiments with them like wiring, fusing, etc. I'll be posting another video showing them all in the spring. Thanks again!

[@liukahdragas5799]

Bonai is so much fun I love willow.

[@poppykok5]

I really enjoyed this timely video...One week ago I rec'd. 3 fairly large bald willow (thick trunks)...They looked utterly dead & useless...Like something our dogs would love playing with in the backyard...Today, I was SO happy to see all the pretty green growth sprouting from these "sticks"...I imagine it will take some time for them to develop roots for planting, so I'm just keeping them in two inches of clean water...I LOVE to take care of plants & watch them grow & thrive...Thank you for this information...

[@BonsaiBoise]

I'm glad you liked it! And that's great about the bald willows. I've seen where others have sawed huge branches off and had them take root in water. I've been meaning to try it myself on something big like that. Good luck on your new willows!

[@poppykok5]

@@BonsaiBoise Hi...Now I'm trying to learn about the size of bonsai pot to initially plant them in...I always think they're too shallow...Anyway, I'm having so much fun learning...

[@angelang1252]

Very instructional and bold cuts, I can’t wait to see how it turns out in six months. Hopefully you can make another video updating the growth of this willow👍

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you! And I sure will.

[@maryperrysmith5815]

Wow you totally changed its shape. And it looks so much better ❤

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you!

[@BrutalToucan]

This video was amazing man, my mom loves and has grown up with willow trees so i bought some cuttings so i can grow her a bonsai that she can take with her wherever she goes. I learned a lot and look forward to watching more of your videos, much love man.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Hey thanks bud! I appreciate that. I've done a couple trims on it since making this and it's doing great so far!

[@MS-uj5ui]

The final structure was super great and I can’t wait to see this tree’s progession

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

Thank you so much! Just found a willow growing in my yard... Pretty sure, unless it's wisteria, but I'm pretty sure lol... Just took some cuttings and I now feel confident to try this! Great video! Thank you!! 🌿😃👍🌿🌱🌳🌼❤️

[@robertdreilinger5162]

Very well presented. Thanks

[@crystalm4324]

Thank you, exactly what I was looking for. Neighbours were pruning their curly willow so I asked for a couple pieces. Something else to note, I got some decretive curly willow pieces for a few arrangements and happened to leave them outside over winter …. In the spring they were budding 😮😂

[@BonsaiBoise]

Oh that's cool! Stick them in a pot and bam! New trees.

[@carolwagner8826]

Excited to start growing.

[@ladyphenix6407]

Wow very cool amazing job

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you!

[@ChristyBrinke]

Thanks! I just bought 6 clipping and just getting started.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Good luck on them! They root very easily.

[@b.j.swaney2158]

Thank you so much. You gave great instructions!

[@kelsiesikes1582]

Hhahaha the part when you said it’s ugly and you’d be right I was like…… lol you’re funny.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Some trees are the kind only a mother could love. Lol

[@kelsiesikes1582]

@@BonsaiBoise 😂

[@Amanda-fo2bc]

Really good informative video thank you

[@belindaferrellkornegay6345]

Gorgeous

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks!

[@yebo12bill]

Love that video. So instructional. Like Angela Ng, I'd love to see it a few months on, please.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Will do, thanks!

[@terrencegibbons3351]

Great video.

[@pienoaji]

Willows are the most determined zombie ass trees I've ever seen. If you find a willow cutting that DOESN'T turn into a tree then you must live on fucking mars

[@IzonHow]

Very nice!

[@monicastevenson8830]

Thank you for your help 😊

[@monicastevenson8830]

😊❤️

[@victoriariggles6498]

Based on the yellow branches it’s a safe bet to say it’s a Pacific Willow :)

[@BonsaiBoise]

I was thinking it was a black willow, but it actually does look a lot like a Pacific willow!

[@Ministeroftwang]

I have tons of these that are growing at different levels. I am also brand new to bonsai. Do I keep trimming the top growth to get thick trunks? Some of them are already 4 feet tall. I also have a few that I have trimmed to about12-14 inches and they have a lot of top growth as well?

[@BonsaiBoise]

The best way to thicken the trunk is to let them grow. Trimming back growth has other benefits even though it does slow the growth/trunk thickening. When you trim a branch, 2 mew branches will typically grow from there. That's how you get them to branch out and start to look like little trees instead of long sticks. So it's kind of a balance between the two.

[@jballenger9240]

Re: moss Have you ever tried soaking the moss first? If still too thick and fluffy, the moss could be trimmed on the top or bottom, before placing it over the soil. Appreciate your presentation and your easy, just-sitting-around, style. Thanks.

[@BonsaiBoise]

I haven't tried soaking it first. That's worth a shot, I'll do that next time. Thanks!

[@emilypoole5686]

Great learning video. So happy to not only have found your Etsy Store but your channel of learning. Am have so many questions, but let me try two. As you do sell wisteria bonsai on your site, our home in on a very old nursery and some great old plants are still here. But one is the dreaded wisteria which I see you can tame. We have just removed dozens of trees choking for the vines and now after sewing grass hundreds of tiny vines are coming back. All bloom a beautiful blue. Would you want a hundred starters? Second, we have beautiful bamboo nandina, all with perfect red berries and of course, green leafs all year. Can small starter of these be turned into bonsai also? I know I am able to shape my large ones into similar shapes as they also are fast growers. Thank you in advance for any opinion.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Well, I'm not sure which site you saw but I actually don't have an Etsy store or a site where I sell trees. Maybe a similar name? But yes I do believe you can turn those into bonsai! Both the large and the smaller ones. I would love some of the little starters if you're up for it. Where are you located?

[@Lasheba1]

Where is it now? That was alot of of serious cuttings.

[@BonsaiBoise]

It's doing well! I just posted a new video on this one a couple weeks ago. Repotted and trimmed it up.

[@robertdreilinger5162]

I have a 8" long, ~1.25" think willow cutting that is starting to root in water. Can I create a taper on the trunk by cutting and treating the cut part with tree bleach? How long should I allow the roots to grow in the water before planting?

[@robertdreilinger5162]

That's thick...

[@BonsaiBoise]

I've never tried doing that, but it will definitely root if you put it in water. I've seen some videos from Peter Chan when he throws big logs about 12" wide, 2 feet long into his pond for awhile. He pulls them out awhile later and sure enough, roots everywhere.

[@uunz4435]

Nice video! Would coconut coir and compost work well with growing a willow tree propogation? Is adding pebbles or clay essential for it to grow in a bonsai pot ?

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks! And personally, I don't use that for cuttings. I've had some success with it for air layered though. Cuttings something that is more free draining. I use perlite, safety absorb, and pine bark.

[@TheObannon]

What size of the pot should the plant go into?

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

🤣I usually am not this aggressive... Well OK ya I do all kinds of crazy stuff... 😂🤣🌿🌱🌳🌼

[@a.l.alexander3668]

Mr. Bonsai Boise, Why do you not wire your tree to the pot and avoid the rocks?

[@BonsaiBoise]

Fair question, and one that I get asked a lot. Truth is, I don't need to. Ive almost never had one fall out or get knocked out. Once but it fell off a 3 story balcony. Maybe if I had a cat or something, but I don't. And rocks can come off after a couple months. Wires are stuck in there until you repot again, and can potentially scar or damage the roots. So that's my reasoning, but other might have valid reasons for doing it.

[@user-ls3jw9ni6k]

You have to learning more about bonsai

[@amandaalexander174]

This breaks my heart

[@BonsaiBoise]

Why does it break your heart?

[@christiansworldofwonder9059]

Why?

[@lisamurphy5770]

Looks like a cherry willow

[@fedeliaspector8262]

This was SO helpful. Thank you for clarifying in detail the process. Much appreciated. Do you have any advice about planting one incorporating a Thai volcanic rock? I received it as a gift (roughly 5” x 4”) and as soon as I saw it I thought it would be perfect for growing a bonsai. I have my cuttings and soil. Just need ideas how to work it in with that rock.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you! Not sure if I would be the right one to ask on that. I've only attempted a "root over rock" twice and failed both times. Never tried with a willow tree though. It was a tiger bark ficus both times. There are some great videos out there on how to do it though!

[@fedeliaspector8262]

@@BonsaiBoise Great! Will do. Thanks again!

[@AdamG319]

Sorry if you answered this question, but what season did you do this in?

[@BonsaiBoise]

I broke all the rules and did this one in September. So late summer.

[@chandnigupta6392]

Can you help me figure out if my willow is dead? It was doing really well in the pot but recently the leaves dried up and branches off the cutting are a little brown. I’m worried.

[@SamHepworth]

How is this tree looking now?

[@BonsaiBoise]

Not good. It died. Had it in too shady of a spot and by the time I realized it, it was too late.

[@loucurtis8074]

Do you keep the cuttings and start more trees from them.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Sometimes. This tree was itself a cutting from a larger one I call "Loki".

[@melaninstarr9113]

I want to buy one just would not know how to shape it

[@BonsaiBoise]

You could buy one. Or, go to a river or a park and take a small cutting off a willow tree. Put it in a bottle of water and let it sit by a window for 2 or 3 weeks till it sprouts roots, then plant it.

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

Could you have let the large root that's to high so you cut it... Stay and train it to loop up like a curved bench beside the tree?

[@SamHepworth]

Do you grow this inside?

[@BonsaiBoise]

Nope this was outdoors 24/7/365

[@vipmag]

try to reduce water in the winter, it can help with branch dieback

[@patriciakelly2798]

wow you sure did cut this one back.

[@BonsaiBoise]

I did. It's doing great so far!

[@Rebelijah]

@@BonsaiBoise progress pic?

[@BonsaiBoise]

@@Rebelijah kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6W7loONrLCKgK8. Skip to 11:11

[@kelsiesikes1582]

Do you have an update?

[@BonsaiBoise]

I do! But not a good one. All my trees spent a summer on my north facing patio that year and I lost a lot of them due to lack of sun. This was one of them unfortunately. But I have like 10 or 12 new willow cuttings I'm working on now!

[@kelsiesikes1582]

Oh okay, that’s devastating! I got a willow tree cutting in the mail today. Wish me luck!

[@BonsaiBoise]

@@kelsiesikes1582 good luck! They're pretty easy once you get the hang of them. Water and sunshine are their two best friends.

[@HenryInglesby-hs4jd]

Weeping willow

[@BonsaiBoise]

I think got it narrowed down to a Black Willow

[@robertbeliveau1692]

Why didn’t you take that largest cut you made and put it in water ??? It already had a perfect shape. What use to be called “ topping “ , which was basically cutting back , rounding over and leaving stubs, is no longer recommended by the National arborist association. Since they’ve found that stubs cause die back , they’ve adopted making all cuts back to “ laterals ‘ which is making a “ collar cut “ at a live branch . That prevents die back which dies sometimes quite a way into and down inside the bark layer. You can tell when it’s severe if that side of the tree starts to die, it’s an indicator of severe die back. I’ve noticed you use quite a bit of arboriculture terminology ........ what is your extent of education in trees/ bushes ?