Pruning My Willow Bonsai, The Bonsai Zone, July 2023 

Big cut coming up

I really appreciate your insight on willows, I have one left alive and I'm trying to keep it that way. I love your channel Nigel.

Didn't realize that willows were "tricky" to make into bonsai. I'll bet yours will look AWESOME someday.

Absolutely gutted I was in a meeting - just noticed this one - I will watching later - thanks as always nigel

Sat in the dentist office so long I got to watch nearly this whole thing! You calmed my nerves for sure

Willow and Alder canbe difficult. I've found with mine I put them in mid depth tubs or pots and submerge them 2 inches up the trunk of water in large sinks or water container. Liquid feed in the water occasionally. Roots form up the stem which is in the water and allow a great development of a flat root plate for later so long as kept wet or damp. Prune regularly in the later spring through summer to control the growth and direction. Took me five attempts with willow to work this method out. I already did it with my Taxodium trees. Works for bog and river trees in bonsai. Love the video and always look forward to seeing the next development video on the willows.

Really enjoyed the video Nigel, your experience and advice on growing these willows is greatly appreciated.

Just pruned up my 'Hakuro Nishiki' Dappled Willow main tree and cuttings ( future forest) yesterday... great minds think alike!

Great video! I will definitely use all this information for my willows! There is a weeping willow where I take my dog to swim. There was talk of cutting it down. If they do, I will grab some cuttings. Not that I really need more trees.... Goodness... sigh... HAhah!

I am fond of using corkscrew willow in a forest planting. Since they root from cuttings so easily I started with one or two then just stick the cuttings into the perimeter. they grow, get trimmed back and the cycle repeats. It gives it a succession forest look with the largest parent trees in the center and the generation’s of offspring fanning outward. I use a large round bowl without any drainage holes. And heavily water of course during the hot North Carolina days. They have a upright growth pattern but not arrow straight because they corkscrew. They will need a profile pruning periodically and branch selection in the spring.

The best thing about willows is that everything you prunned can be easly rooted. The worst thing is everything else.

Love your willows.. awesomely done

Nice video. I love deciduous bonsai

I'm hoping the willows stay healthy because those looke like they have lots of potential! The growing patterns of the Norway Maple surely seem strange, but hopefully the branches and leaves will come in at the right spots.

In the netherlands we have alot of 'knotwilg' also a willow. Theyre cut back every few years creating a big head and stay short. Sometimes they have very hollow trunks of more than a meter wide. Also only 2 meters tall

Thx you

Thank you

👍👌👌

Very interesting ! I have willows too, they grow insanely. And I didn’t have a clue on how to get started on them. So I learned a lot from your video. It gave me lots to think about. 🙏

So many people forget to hit the like 👍 👌 😕 😪 😴 🙄 👍 👌 😕 😊

I'd paint the bare rims of those thrift store pots to match the blue in the pattern

Since you have willows i was wondering if you also have populars like popular alba for example and aldar trees like alnus glutinosa.

Hi, for someone who just saw your channel, can you point me to any of your must-watch videos on willow bonsais? This is my first one and I have not pruned it since a 6 inch cutting last summer. Love this video! Btw what fertilizer should be used? Sorry if you have already described this in another video. Thanks!

I love it I’m starting to grow an Australian weeping willow it says not even planted yet. Any advise?

Regarding the cooler temperatures in summer nights, I found my subtropical trees to not care that much. It may delay their growth in a week with colder nights, but as soon as it warms up they seem to bolt right up with new growth. Only the ones sat right on the ground in half shade seem to be stunted severely and that of course also makes sense. Cheers

Hi Nigel, I love your videos and I'm a complete beginner. Willow is my first bonsai that I started this year in Feb., so I watch to learn tips and tricks. I'm wondering how the plant will survive if all the leaves and branches are cut off? And no, I'm not planning any pruning anything until I learn more.

Thank you!

Being a beginner myself, I, of course, have been collecting native growth for the last year, black willow among them. I have three cuttings that have struck so far, and I keep them well watered. The amount that your willows have been consuming is pretty astounding! I wonder ... may be a dumb question... will that decrease with all the pruning. Great information, as always sir! Oh! And those pots are nice!

You should make a floriglory bonsai!

If the willow appreciates a bit more root space, might you use them as a specimen in a larger Penjing landscape? I'm thinking of your 3D printed buildings so the tree doesn't have competition for water xxx

do you root the clipped branches?

Why the silver foil underneath the pots Nigel. Being summer and all.

Missed the start, so here I go... 😉

they weep water!

Namaste Nigel Sir, You apply a Rubber Cement solution on pruned areas of plant, which you had said to be more effective and cheap option. Which brand paste is it ??? Here we wont find it locally, So what are the other names Or alternatives of this product, so that in can search here in India ??

How are the willows.

Is this salix alba or salix purpurea?

I call my loppers Cyndi

Is that a Disston tenon saw, Nigel? How does a former luthier let that happen? 😢

Is anyone else having trouble with selecting "All Notifications on??"