Floating Willow Tree

[Will.power49]

Took a few cuttings from a dying willow tree fall before last. I started them out in a jug of water. Waited to see new roots then re-homed to my in-laws. I kept one to play with.

Over the summer i grew him in a 5 gallon bucket with a gold fish and other water plants. He hung in a pot off the side. Because of this i had to keep the water at a certain level. But after bringing him back out side I wanted to keep with the water route and though of a floating planter. So it would rise ans fall with my rain barrels water level.

The other plant is some cat tails I split from a larger group. Also kept in a 5 gal bucket pond.

 

[Bnana]

Should keep the willow at enough, but might be low on nutrients. Willows like their food.

 

[Will.power49]

Should keep the willow at enough, but might be low on nutrients. Willows like their food.

I have about a dozen couple inch comets and some water grass. I'll add some water lettuce and hyacinth soon.

I should have it tested. But my guess would be a fairly decent levels. Water plants grow ape crazy in summer

On a second note I have made chicken manure tea for the trees. In the spring id assume the extra Nitrogen would help push new growth.

 

[Underdog]

I'm with you Will. I've been plotting a floating island for my pond. Thinking Bald Cypress but have a corkscrew willow too.
Follow up.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Willows can survive in water but they do much better in a regular pot. Like all other trees, their roots like to breathe, even though they're thirstier than most.

 

[Bnana]

Willows do naturally root in water, water is not anoxic in contrast to water saturated soil so oxygen is no issue in a setup like this.

If with comets you mean goldfish the water is not as nutrient poor as I thought. In a rain barrel willows will grow slow but fish poo is great fertiliser.

 

[Mikecheck123]

so oxygen is no issue in a setup like this

Yes it is. Willow roots do better getting air just as with any other tree. Just because they can survive in water doesn't mean that that is their ideal operating environment.

 

[Bnana]

Roots of willows don't need air, they need oxygen.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Roots of willows don't need air, they need oxygen.

Ok--are you agreeing or disagreeing?

 

[Bnana]

I do not agree that willows grow better when the roots get air. If the roots grow in water that contains enough oxygen that is great for willows.
If the fish have enough oxygen than there is surely enough oxygen for the roots. Oxygen levels in wet soils where willows tend to grow are much lower than in this water.

 

[Mikecheck123]

I do not agree that willows grow better when the roots get air. If the roots grow in water that contains enough oxygen that is great for willows.

Do you have evidence of this? I.e. evidence that a willow submerged in water did better than one that wasn't.

My experience has been exactly the opposite in that willow roots do eventually rot if permanently submerged.

 

[Graft]

Oxygen enters water naturally but you can beef this process up by making sure that the water surface is constantly moving. A sprinkler or air pump would satisfy that requirement. I use my pond water for watering my trees. It does make good natural fertilizer. It's also slightly acidic which is good.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Oxygen enters water naturally but you can beef this process up by making sure that the water surface is constantly moving. A sprinkler or air pump would satisfy that requirement. I use my pond water for watering my trees. It does make good natural fertilizer. It's also slightly acidic which is good.

I think you're.... losing the forest for the trees.

 

[Bnana]

Willows that grow along water frequently have extensive rootsystems in the water, these roots have been submerged for years, so obviously they can thrive there.
The roots of willows will rot if they are submerged and the water becomes anoxic as is often the case in submerged soil, or in a small pot of stagnant water. That is unlikely to happen in this case.

 

[Graft]

I think you're.... losing the forest for the trees.

I wish I had a forest!!

 

[Will.power49]

I'm with you Will. I've been plotting a floating island for my pond. Thinking Bald Cypress but have a corkscrew willow too.
Follow up.

WIll need to use pool noodels for something that size. Fill voids with clay pellet growing medium. I should help keep the weight down. Or bamboo floating slab???

 

[Will.power49]

This is my first willow bonsai. So input s on my end is limited. BUT.

After growing several cuttings this size ( inside plastic pots with basic pea gavel) in both non moving water IE 5gal bucket pond vs the rain barrel. Rain Barrel wins thus far. The 5gal bucket ponds all had 1 comet some duckweed and maybe a water plant. They where getting refilled Via rain barrel over flow.

With seeing A TON of willows in the wild, parks, and landscapes. I think the most healthy are ones along side over flow ponds or similar .As they get all the water they want, wet and dry spells over the whole year. Ponds have a lot of surface area which does helps with oxygen to water enrichment. I do have a solar powered air stone on Amazon Wishlist just haven't bit the bullet. It also gets a bit of turn over from the rain. Ohio summers don't get to to many dry spells. Gotta grow that corn. Also I want to add a stock tank which would help with water storage and increase surface area.

I have found that the trees do respond way better to the rain water then old city water. wanting to get a water test done- but with rain Id assume to much change over? or would it give a general idea? My guess is with 02 levels being good from constant change out, no mineral build up, added nutrients' from fish and plants. Would all lend to a well to normal watering.

 

[LittleDingus]

WIll need to use pool noodels for something that size. Fill voids with clay pellet growing medium. I should help keep the weight down. Or bamboo floating slab???

If you're thing the hydroponic clay pellets, at least the brand I get float! I use then in some of my soil mixes or as a drainage layer and how I recover them is to flood a bucket with water and pick them off the surface as they float up

I love that you're doing this . There are a couple of park ponds around me that have floating gardens in them. The air stone may become required though. The more plants tou add, the less surface area for oxygen exchange