Re: Re:(iris)CULT:WillowWater (Long)

I interested inthe use of willow water. I've also heard that asprin in water
is beneficial to plants. Given that willow is the original source of asprin
(salicylate is from Salix) has anyone any comparison of which is best for
the plant.

Colleen Modra
Adelaide Hills AUST
zone 8/9


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Char Randall" <charandmike@juno.com>
To: <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 4:32 AM
Subject: Re: [iris] Re:(iris)CULT:WillowWater (Long)


> On Sat, 4 Sep 2004 13:47:54 EDT BillBLR@aol.com writes:
> > Did I miss an item?  I'm still wondering about using willow water on
> > iris.
> > How to make it and how to use it.
> >
> >
> Bill, I was not able to respond for several days so just sent my reply
> directly to Char in WI. It is fairly long and I wasn't sure it would be
> of interest to the general list. I am always glad to share anything I
> have with fellow iris gardeners but do get carried away!! Just don't want
> to be a bore. Copy of my info to her follows:
>
> Hi Char in WI,
> Sorry to not get back with your question about willow water and the topic
> was so long ago I'll reply to you directly. Hope thats ok.
>
> willow water has been explained to me a couple of ways. A county agent
> said she used it to help speed up rooting on tree and vine cuttings. I
> used it on poplar tree cuttings and it really seemed to help, at least
> those rooted faster than the ones the year before without the willow
> water. I have also used it on dried iris rhizomes to rehydrate and any
> others if I can take the time and remember to do it.
>
> Willow water that I use is nothing more than a bucket of fresh water and
> a few chunks of green willow stems thrown in and then left set about 24
> hours or sometimes a little longer.  When doing tree cuttings, I take
> them out of the fridge and put them and the green willow cuttings in the
> bucket at the same time and let them set overnight. the willows are
> usually green and growing about the time to plant the trees. The stems or
> limbs I use are about 1/2 inch (maybe slightly smaller but not real tiny
> twigs). I just chunk them up and put a few in each bucket.
>
> When I use them for iris, I do the water w/willows the day before and
> then just soak them a few hours or up to overnight if they are really
> dry. I do this after a bleach bath on incoming rhizomes (sometimes!)  I
> am not strict about the procedure and sometimes use it and sometimes not
> but I do think it helps. Some people swear by it. Another friend has some
> very complicated recipe for about the same thing but it seems like it was
> quite a process and more of a compost water or tea but used for a soak.
> This other way is easier and simpler and I really think it is just
> something leaching from the green willow bark that is the effective part.
>
> Sorry about being so slow....canning time, high school football started,
> school, and a few iris to move....on and on.
> Regards,
> Char Randall
> Melba, ID
>
> This is from a second follow up reply she sent me:
>
> If you try the willow water you might just try a few and see if you
> notice any difference. As I mentioned, I don't do it all of the time and
> am sporadic at any routine! When I am really concerned about a planting,
> I use a light mix of root stimulant with vitamin B12 at transplant. My
> main point on the iris talk list was that the willow water worked better
> for me than the alfalfa...and I know there are people who swear by that.
> Anytime you have more than one gardener, you have more than one way to do
> it huh!! That's why I enjoy the iris talk and info.
>
> Regards,
> Char in Idaho
>
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