Weeping Willow Bonsai – Species Guide

Introduction to the Weeping Willow Bonsai

The Weeping Willow Bonsai is a dramatic tree that is both graceful and beautiful. Its delicate branches form pleasing lines and arches that look great as Bonsai and make it a very popular tree.

Maintenance of the Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) Bonsai is not for the faint of heart. As they are fast growers and require a high level of attention. These trees will need a lot of pruning and water, which can be excellent practice for a beginner.

Although a weeping willow can be a lot of work, they are among the most beautiful Bonsai and worth the effort. In the wild, these trees grow up to 20 meters high, and have branches that hang down and touch the ground. You can see why they are very attractive to the Bonsai enthusiast.

A tree that is native to China, the Weeping Willow can now be found growing all around the world. You will most commonly find them growing near a river and stream, they love a lot of water and will grow very fast.

Weeping Willow Bonsai Care

Positioning

The weeping willow prefers warm temperatures and humidity, and should not be exposed to frost or freezing temperatures. The branches of the weeping willow can be brittle and delicate, therefore, they should not be placed in a windy area.

The willow Bonsai should be placed in an outdoor area that receives abundant sunlight, but not too much direct sunlight in the hottest months. The leaves of the willow Bonsai can be susceptible to burning if let in too much direct sunlight. On hot days, or periods of extended heat, it is best to place the tree somewhere where it will be sunlight in either the morning or afternoon.

Weeping willows do not cope well in freezing or frosty conditions, so in Winter they are best placed in a greenhouse to protect against the frost.

As the branches of the weeping willow tree flowing downwards these Bonsai trees should be displayed on a stand so the branches are free to flow down for full effect.

Watering

Being that you usually fine the weeping willow in the wild next to a body of water, it’s no surprise that as a Bonsai it is a thirsty little tree. Although it can withstand some drought periods, it should be watered frequently, as soon as the soil feels dry.

Remember that in hot months it may be required to water your willow tree twice a day to ensure it does not dry out, if possible also move your Bonsai to a position with more shade during this time to stop it drying out so quickly.

As a general rule you should not go more than two weeks without watering the weeping willow Bonsai, but it is also critical not to over water, there should be adequate drainage in the soil to keep it moist but not water logged. You should also keep it in a humidity tray all year.

Although you usually see the weeping willow next to a river out in nature, don’t think that this means the roots can constantly be soaked in water. As with most Bonsai trees the weeping willow needs a lot of drainage to make sure you don’t get “root rot” – make sure the soil is damp, but not soaking.

It is pretty easy to tell if your weeping willow needs to be watered, as the branches will visibly sag if the tree is lacking moisture. This will differ to the usual crisp, healthy looking foliage, it will make the tree look almost “sad.” Keep an eye one your weeping willow tree during the hot summer days to make sure it is in the shade and has enough water.

Feeding

As with most Bonsai, Spring and Summer are the optimal time for feeding your Willow Bonsai. They will respond well to a liquid fertiliser applied about every 4-6 weeks.

Do not use a fertiliser that is high in nitrogen for this type of Bonsai, as it will being to go too fast and cause the foliage to become too large (thus losing the delicate look of the foliage that makes this a great Bonsai species). The best type of fertiliser to use is a “balanced” combination (such as a 20-20-20 fertiliser) of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Phosphorus to promote the growth of roots, stems, and flowers. Potassium encourages overall health. Nitrogen supports foliage growth on your Bonsai’s weeping branches.

Maintaining and Weeping Willow Bonsai

Pruning and Shaping

Pruning is one of the most important steps for keeping your weeping willow Bonsai beautiful. Weeping willows grow very quickly and require constant pruning to not “over grow”. You will also need to cut growth back to the main branch every fall once the growing season is over.

Wiring every branch of your weeping willow will keep it in shape. The wood on a weeping willow is pretty soft, so you should wire the willow loosely to avoid scarring. To get the weeping effect, some branches may require a guy wire to train them down.

The branches are flexible and will bend well without snapping, but because the willow is such a fast grower, you may need to move and adjust the wires frequently. It is best to be flexible with your design, since willows need to be cut back regularly.

Re-potting

Potting can be tricky with the weeping willow. A typical Bonsai tree grows about two inches a year; a willow Bonsai can grow up to a foot a month! Thus, they will need to be re-potted frequently and it is best to do so during warm weather seasons, but like most other trees not on a day that is too hot, as this will stress the tree.

The root ball of a weeping willow Bonsai will grow rapidly and quickly fill the pot you plant it in. This means it is important to trim the root ball every time you re-pot. The willow tree is able to withstand a large amount of root pruning.

You can re-pot a weeping willow tree yearly or even half-yearly in times of rapid growth. As the root system of a weeping willow grows just a rapidly as the branches, so can quickly get cramped in a pot if not re-potted frequently.

Remember that the weeping willow like a moist soil, but not water logged. When re-potting it is important to use a soil that have good drainage.

Propagation

The best way to propagate a new willow is to take a cutting. With the rapid growing nature of a weeping willow, it shouldn’t be too hard to take a successful cutting yourself. These trees just love to grow so with a few simple steps you can take a cutting and start your own tree.

It is best to take a cutting from a weeping willow in the spring; these cuttings will root the quickest as it is within the growing period. Clippings can be rooted in water or in moist soil. You can add a little bit of fertiliser (it should consist of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) to help your cutting take, but remember that they are rapid growers so you don’t need to overdo it with the fertiliser.

Frequent Questions

I’ve heard that a Willow Bonsai needs a humidity tray, is this true?

Although the weeping willow bonsai does not require a humidity tray, it is a great idea to have one for your tree. Remember that these trees are usually found around bodies of water and do really well when given lots of moisture.

By using a humidity trap with your willow bonsai you will make sure that not only the soil is moist but moisture is also provided to the foliage by the humidity in the air. This will result is lush, beautiful foliage.

Is the Weeping Willow the only type of Willow tree that takes well to being made into a Bonsai?

Definitely NOT! The are many other types of willow that can make a beautiful Bonsai tree.

Types of willow such as the dragon willow and Australian willow all make great Bonsai trees. Much of the care instructions are the same as the weeping willow, the only limit to the type of willow you use is your imagination (and, of course, what types you can get in your local area).