Beginning Bonsai Course- Pussy Willow

Beginning Today–Small Bonsai Course

Lesson 1: Pussy Willow

Japanese Edition:

Kyosuke Gun, Text & Illustrations Mayutaro, Coloring

English Edition:

Peter Warren & Satomi Uchida, Translators Wm. N. Valavanis, Editor

Editor’s Note: This article has been reprinted with permission of Hidenori Ebina, Publisher of Seibundo-Shinko Sha Publishing Company. The article first appeared in the August 2008 issue of Bonsai Sekai (Bonsai World) magazine published in Japanese. The article has been translated and edited for our readers.

Pussy Willow

Salix gracilistyla

Height from base before shaping 13"

The trunk is quite monotonous and there are two options to make it more interesting: air layer or split the trunk to bend Weak branches will be pruned

Trunk splitter Wind plastic tape around the trunk after splitting

Splitting Technique

Cut through 2/3 of the trunk Air layer from this location would also be good

Area to split trunk with trunk slitter

Use 3mm aluminum wire to shape trunk

Bonsai Work yearly sche Dule For GrowinG anD TraininG small pussy willow Bonsai Jan. Feb. March April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Winter Winter FloWers Prune transPlant trim- Wire- Water Water Water leaves tie aPPreciation aPPreciation take air layer droP branches cuttings together

Care

Winter Winter remove Fertilize Fertilize sPray Put in shade- remove Fertilize- sPray Winter Protection Protection- From shade- Fertilize From shade sPray Protection sPray Protection Fertilize Fertilize

Watering Weekly every every every 1-2 daily daily 2-3 daily 3-4 daily 2-3 daily 1-2 daily daily Weekly 4-5 days 2-3 days 2-3 days

After bending by hand use a guy wire for further shaping

After wiring the branches should sag down immediately from the base

Weeping branches present an elegant feeling of the wind blowing Height from base after shaping 6"

Keep wire and tape on trunk for at least one year to ensure trunk remains in place

Styling Trunk & Branches

Branches are soft and flexible so they can be easily styled with wire