Weeping Willow

weeijk

Hi,

Just potted this Salix Sepulcralis Crysocoma (yellow weeping willow) today.
It;s about 5 years old and stands 36 cm from the pot rim. Its in a handmade pot from Guatamala in 100% Akadama. I've styled it in Nejikan style.
There aren't much Willow bonsai trees on the forum, so:

How do you like it?
What are its strengths/weeknesses?
What should definately be done in the future?

Kind regards, Wessel

Attached Images

3724salix_sepulcralis_chrysocoma001_18-8-2005-med.jpg (40.4 KB, 138 views)

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pootsie

Um, pictures, Wessel

pootsie

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weeijk

sorry Poots, edited the original, so picture is there.

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weeijk

Nobody any thoughts?


I will not be offended if someone has some direct critiques.

Wessel

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Will_Heath

Nice.




Will

rschlafer

I think it looks great! and is coming along nicely...do you prune it back hard every year?

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mike_p

Wessel, I think you're on the right track. I have some minor criticisms. Re. the first bend in the trunk; I think the flow of the trunk would be improved if that bend wasn't quite so drastic. Even when bent, the flow should remain upward. There are 2 branches that start near the top with upsidedown U bends. I would take some of the bend out and have the end of the drop make a wider radius from the pot.

Regards

Mike

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weeijk

I don't know yet, just have this tree one year. Last winter it was in the garden.

Mike: first, it's in the Nejikan style for now (twisted trunk). It's wired just 2 days ago, I don't know what happeness if the wire is cut away in early spring next year. Will the bends stay like this, or go a little back to their normal shape?

Just wait and see whether I get it true winter. It'll probably go to the garage when the leaves have fallen.

Wessel

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jloeschner

Wessel,

I also have a weeping willow in a pot, though not a bonsai pot. My experiences with it lead me to the conclusion that this species is extremely difficult to bonsai. This past year alone, it has lost several old branches, and gained several more new ones. I have no idea why the old branches died, and nothing I did seemed to help them. The tree is healthy, and grows like a weed, even while one branch is dying. It becomes root bound really fast, as well. They like a LOT of water, and if you are not watching it, it will soak every drop out of the soil in a day, leaving the soil looking like it has never been watered the first time.

Good points: they are EASY to grow and hard to kill. They root VERY easily, and do not mind or slow down for a root pruning. They grow really fast, and can back bud like crazy.

Bad points: branches die for no reason and without warning. They grow REALLY fast and need constant pruning. They root REALLY easily, and need repotted often.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

John

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