Weeping Willow Bonsai, From Cutting, 3

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Love the way the Y-problem sorted itself out! And weeping willow is another species that I have to add to my wanted list now... although not sure how successful it will be in the ultra dry air here, you don't see them at all in the Madrid area. Maybe I should leave this for someday if I ever decide to move up north ...

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Cheers Dave. yeah you need to get a willow, but you'd have to keep it in a bucket of water or something. mine is in a tray of water at all times, (maybe 3 inches deep) and it rains non stop here, so it might need some extra water in madrid

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

I fully agree with the tree’s decision to “DE-Y” itself. Looking way more like a miniature tree with the one main trunk line. On a side note, all you hear about with willows is the random dieback. Bummer, but if anyone can control it, it would be you. Cheers bro.

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Cheers, i think it picked well haha. but yes the dieback is real and its annoying. but i dont think any one can control it. i just dont really care if it happens anymore hahah

[@mattbrennan647]

Looking good. I’ve had unexplained issues with die back which constantly change my design ideas. Yours looks great. Keep growing. Thanks

[@BackGardenBonsai]

cheers, Its just in their nature. i dont think any one can explain why they do it hahah. As long as you know about it and can accept its gonna happen, then its all cool.

[@hyperionhelios190]

Hi Ian, I'd love to see a set up video where you cover what trees you keep where in consolidated format. Catching up on your archive I have sort of an idea but not definitive info. I know you have your two grow tents and that you keep some trees outside but I'm not always sure which tree is being kept where. I'm considering a MarsHydro to replace my single GE grow bulb in my office windowsill and I'd love to see which trees have been thriving under yours. Your shed dormancy for some trees is interesting to me but I'm not sure I have an equivalent place where I could do the same and still give them light in my Canadian winters. Cheers mate and all the best! Loving your videos so far!

[@BackGardenBonsai]

cheers. you will probably notice most videos are shot in the same two locations. one outside... for the outside tree and the other is of course the inside. my plan isnt to keep them under lights/inside forever. especially the ones that need to go out side for winter. its more of a lack of space issue, and the lights solve that for now... it just happens they can also also push their development along at the same time, so an excellent bonus during a bit of an shitty interval while i get sorted again.

[@definetlynotacomment1184]

Weeping Willows are amazing trees. There was one growing across the street. It was 22 meters tall. It got cut down but the stump formed new shoots which grew on to be 14 meters high in just 10 years. That tree you got looks promising . With a change in potting angle, this deadwood could make for an interesting feature. Especially with that hard pruning you gave it.Man Im seriously thinking about just making a cutting from that tree right now! Great video. Have a nice day.

[@Hopeful_HiFi]

Get a cutting! That sounds awesome

[@BackGardenBonsai]

cheers! and totally go and take a cutting!! it sounds like a great tree across the street. so why not start your own!

[@jarheadbonsai]

This is a long video for you broski!!! Lol...i loved it. I have failed at rooting willows and even killed the ones Winnard sent me. Yours looks amazing. This tree is going to be epic. 😎🍺🍺

[@BackGardenBonsai]

hhah yes cheers, a feature length one for me! ive also no idea how you have killed these haha

[@shelbybennion1677]

Thank you for the video 😊

[@sueb1317]

'Cheeky Shoot' lol!! I find myself pruning back the same way you do - the only difference is that you know what you're doing, and I just don't know when to stop 😆😆😆

[@BackGardenBonsai]

just because i video it, doesnt mean i know always what im doing hahah. As long a you stop before you kill it, its all okay :)

[@sueb1317]

@@BackGardenBonsai Oohohhh - so that's the trick!! 😆😆 Thankfully the deer are just slightly less unskilled than I am - they make decent pruning decisions, just at the wrong time lol

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Hahah yea the deers know how to build character in young trees. 🤣

[@OddBonsai]

That dieback may not be a big problem when the tree is in the early stages of development but when it gets more detailed it would be a bummer to have a nicely developed part die on you. I remember seeing the problem in other videos but don't remember seeing it on full sized trees. It would be interesting to find out what's causing it and how it could be reduced. Hope your willow does well and you get no more dieback.

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Cheers. yes now i dont care. but it will defiantly cause a problem in 10-20 years time. The tree i took this from in the park actually had a huge central branch die. if you go to the first video in this playlist. right at the start. you will see the ble sky and the top of a tree at the bottom.. thats the mother tree in the park. you can kind of see a big are in the middle is brown where it has all died

[@OddBonsai]

@@BackGardenBonsai Thanks for the info and reference. So it seems that it's a general thing with willows...

[@BackGardenBonsai]

yeah an unavoidable thing

[@BonsaiJCan]

Looks good !👍 Looks like you have to count on some die back with this tree.

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Cheers J. yes it seems to the way they go

[@MaybeBonsai]

I find it that once I start pruning, it's hard to stop and before you know it, the tree is back to a stump lol I guess that's the way it is and taper is created in the new growth

[@BackGardenBonsai]

well, if its a young tree in development and it can take a beating, its not an issue. It will all add character as it ages.

[@strangesocks]

Have you got a video of your eldest tree?

[@notbonsai671]

👍👍👍

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Cheers :)

[@jaychet]

I am 2 years into a weeping willow and was wondering when they should be allowed to start weeping. it's growing well in a pond tub. but needs to be taller. maybe I could place it on a stand and allow the branches to fall lower than the pot?? what is the final height you're aiming for with yours?

[@BackGardenBonsai]

I wouldnt worry about the age, id focus more on letting it grow to what you want, then work on the weep. Ive had mine 4/5 years and im still just trying to get it thicken up (as i cant use a bigger pot, so its slow going) once ive got the trunk, i will focus on the upward growth, then when im happy with the basic structure i will start building ramification and start trying to get that to weep down some how. as for height. im not really worried. it will just be what ever it becomes.

[@Ficusforev]

Will it ever start to weep down naturally?

[@BackGardenBonsai]

maybe. it is "weeping" now, but the branches are over a metre long, so that helps. will it do the same when all the branches are a lot shorter ...i dont know, but i hope so. and if it doesnt, i will just wire them downward and what that does

[@realchuckp]

i want to enjoy your videos but you are so hard on your trees it actually pains me to see it each time. they are living organisms after all... i prefer less a aggressive approach to bonsai. i'll not be subscribed anymore but this obviously just my personal take on it - all the best of luck with your bonsai.

[@BackGardenBonsai]

i think that is fair enough. that is the joy of this, there is no right or wrong way. youre welcome back anytime