Temperature question..

Typhoon · October 04, 2003, 02:27:53 PM

Ok, I took some weeping willow clippings, about the diameter of my finger, and put them in some 5 gallon buckets of water. Im waiting for some roots to start before I plant them in potting soil. Right now they are sitting outside, but fall is here now and temps are falling into low 40's and upper 30's. Are they ok to be outside in this temp? What should I do? I just put them in water a couple days ago. Thanks!!
-Brad

Minnesota_boy · October 04, 2003, 02:39:44 PM

I'm far from an expert on this, but I think you will have a hard time to get them to root in cooler weather and at a time when the days are getting shorter. I'd think that you would be much more likely to have sucess if you planted them in moist soil in the spring, whenever that starts where you live. If the shoots freeze without having a root established, they may not survive at all. Can you get more cuttings in the spring?

Tom · October 04, 2003, 03:15:16 PM

I'd stick them in a sandy loam planting soil now and keep the pots inside where light from a window could reach them and leave an incondesent light on to help them out once the rooting was done and the leaves broke out. A little rooting hormone wouldn't hurt even thought it probably isn't necessary.

If it were me, I would cut some branches off of a tree next spring and walk around sticking them in the ground where I wanted new trees to grow. If you stick them in a damp area like next to a ditch or pond, they will probably take off on their own.

Jeff · October 04, 2003, 03:53:44 PM

Toms advice sounds right to me. Dad started many a willow tree growing from cuttings but he never started them in water. he stuck them in a bank or area where they would surely stay moist but always directly into the soil.

Ron Scott · October 04, 2003, 05:23:18 PM

Follow Tom's advice for best results. Stick the willow cuttings in moist soil in the spring where you want them into grow trees.

chet · October 04, 2003, 07:11:39 PM

Some advise from a guy that deals with willow trees and power lines . Dump out the water, set the stems out in direct sunlight for a week, then douse them with Roundup, then burn them. :-/
Problem is they will still probably grow. :(