I think you are going to need some heat for those cuttings. I just cut them and stick them, and they root easily. But I am in zone 9, and it is warm here.

You could stick them in a bucket of sand and hide them behind the sofa maybe, close to a source of heat. I am just remembering when I lived close to Marquette. I was young then, and we all know the young can do anything. How do you normally root things in the winter there?

Janie

Thanks Janie,
I'm going to try those small peat pellets and moist sand to see what has better results.

Grancru

Would it help if I send you some cuttings that are not dormant?

I have a huge corkscrew willow tree. It is not dormant, and probably will not be, at least not for long.

Janie

Put cuttings in water vase inside and they will root.

I know this is a dumb question, but I want to make sure I do this right. I would like to start a few willows from cuttings in my large, wet back yard. When I take my cutting, I stick the end opposite the cutting in the ground, correct? For some reason its not clear to me which end to stick! Since I have plenty of water in spring, is using the commercial method not worth the extra effort? thanks for the help!

Kevin

The best way to tell you is to stick the end nearest or toward the root's of the tree in the ground ,or medium .When I take a lot of cutting's to keep from losing my place "that's funny lol"I cut the bottom of my cutting square and the top I cut on a slant ,that way you can keep up.We don't want a upside down tree now do we ,hope this help's . JOHN

The name for this is polarity.
Like the north pole and the south pole. If you put the wrong end into the media , it will not root. But them willows are so easy to root, they jest may make a liar out of me.
Thanx for listening and keep 'em plants growin'
Lois

Take about a 4-6" cutting of 1 year old growth, make a diagonal cut on one end so you remember which end is the bottom and which is the top. ie polarity, like flytrp8e stated. Use a bit of rooting hormone and stick it into a grow pot. I did this method in my plant prop. class, worked brilliantly!

It roots for me in water, any time of year. I've even cut some in December, stuck them in a watering can with holly for Christmas decorations outside and obtained roots. I know the roots in water are not exactly the same as roots in soil, but transplant them into soil when they are just an inch or two long - I've never lost even one.

Hello all... anyone have clippings to possibly share?
Thanks
CJ
clutedad@nc.rr.com

I rooted mine in water. They got great roots and new leaves but a few weeks after putting them in potting soil the leaves began to wither even though I had kept the plant watered. When I took them out of the soil after the leaves dried up there were no roots. Any suggestions.

gardengirl-2

I don't know the science behind it but if you root in water when you go to soil you need to keep the soil very soggy at first (i.e. just watering isn't going to work). Also helps if the cuttings are very well rooted. Found this out by trial and error.

Does anybody have any cuttings that they would be willing to send me? I want one so bad!!!

I buy curly willow from a florist for about $15 for a couple of 4 ft pieces.

Then I cut off the ends and put them in a gallon jug full of water and keep it full

until they root and the leaves come out. I have had a problem with them dying later, so I will try the method mentioned above to put them in soggy soil and see if I can keep them alive. Even when they die, I can strip the leaves and the bare brances make interesting sculptures.

Vazmami I have plenty! Im rooting some now.