corkscrew willows from cuttings

I can get the cuttings to root in water. They even get new leaves, but a few weeks after I put them into potting soil the new leaves wither and gradually die. When I remove the plant from the soil, all the roots are gone. Any suggestions?

they root in potting mix just as easily

Easiest thing to root I've ever tried, (Willows love water)

LaVerne,
Sorry, I jumped to conclusion instead of reading all your post. As for rooting in water, I don't care for it but many people on DG love it. I think the roots from water are too fragile to stand the potting trauma. I go with Tropicanna, use potting mix ( or any rooting media- I always use Vermiculite from Lowes).
Paul

My mom (experienced crooked willow propagator) says that spring cuttings are the best (take them when the trees are budding or when new leaves are still tiny). I stuck a bunch in a big container of potting mix, and I'd say at least 3/4 of them rooted. I put multiple cuttings (6 or 8) in one big pot rather than individual pots because I think it's easier to keep the potting mix moist that way. I overwinter them in the big pot in a sheltered location against the house, and in spring I separate the cuttings and repot individually.

This may not be the best approach if you want 50 cuttings, but if you're just trying to get a couple of little trees started, it should work fine.

I agree about water roots -- I haven't had good luck getting willow to make that transition either, although my mom has done it that way. I think she sticks the cuttings when the roots are just barely starting to form (less than an inch), and that might make a difference.

I just cut big branches about an inch thick in late winter early Spring and shove them into friable soil ...water well and then stand back.

Sorry I am in a warmer place than you, so wait until the little new leaves are just breaking through to root the pieces ... and the earth has warmed a little.

I have a corkscrew willow that I rooted in water from a cutting. It did very well. I rooted it then let it stay in the water until I got new buds, then I potted it and it took off like you wouldn't believe. I have mine in a very large pot on my patio. It has grown 6ft this year alone. I have also rooted stems for some of my friends the same way. It works for me this way.

Your "water roots" aren't able to support the plant when moved to soil.

I do what Chrissy does...just take a limb and strip the bark off of the lower portion, shove it into the ground in a moist spot in spring and *pow* there's your tree.

Sure that's *pow* and not *bam*???

ROTFLOL

Does it really sound like that?

I guess - and then the dirt flies up and dogs start barking - WHAM!

The next sound is *snip* *saw* *snip* as you prune the darn thing because it grows so darn fast.

And then me again going...LOL

Holy prune-er-mania, Batman!

(Sorry, LaVerne, things have been waaay too quiet around here, lately!)

This message was edited Nov 20, 2008 10:07 AM

Since you are talking about corkscrew willow cuttings, I hope you don't mind if I ask a question.After your cutting have taken root, and leafed out, do you top(prune) it, so it will branch, or does this just occur naturally?

Mine seems to be branching on its own... I'd give it time before starting to whack at it, unless the shape is really bizarre (and remember, a little bizarre is normal for a crooked willow).

My sister just stuck a twig in the ground and it took off. Turned into a beautiful tree in no time. This was in Tracy, CA.

I have noticed that the actual soil outside works better for some plants than the potting soil you purchase. I don't know why, but it's something you might want to experiment with. Try some in regular soil from outdoors and some in potting soil. I bet ya the ones in the regular soil from outside will do best.

Interesting...

I was listening to a lecture on propagation the other night. The speaker claimed that roots made in water were not really the issue, it was roots made in sunlight.

Yet another mystery to ponder, lol!

I bought this rooted twig a year and a half ago from a garden club sale. It was about 18 " Now as you can see it is a nice- small tree.
I put some cuttings in a moist pot with my elephant ears this past summer. Some sprouted and were planted in the dirt in the fall. I see at least one is still alive.