Leonard Ridsdale

Leonard 2

Hello.
I have a Salix 'Flamingo' I bought from a garden centre about 2 months ago and planted it in a container, 2ft by 2ft, using a mixture of General compost and 'Grow organic'.
I have kept it watered, but I have noticed that the leaves are drying up and dying.
This is the 2nd attempt to grow Salix with the same result, can any one please enlighten me as to what, if anything, I am doing wrong?.
Lenny.

Dovefromabove

Hi Lenny

I'm afraid they aren't really suited for container growing ... willows of all kinds need a huge amount of water ... think of willows alongside rivers with their toes in the water.  

Try giving it two buckets of water in the morning and two again in the evening during this hot dry weather and spraying the leaves with water daily to increase the moisture ... and if it's in full sun move it into the shade  ... you cross your fingers and I'll cross mine for you ... but really I think they're sold by garden centres who know that over a few years they'll probably sell two or three to each person, before they give up and realise that willows aren't suitable for small gardens or container growing. 

Leonard 2

Dovefromabove said:

Hi Lenny

I'm afraid they aren't really suited for container growing ... willows of all kinds need a huge amount of water ... think of willows alongside rivers with their toes in the water.  

Try giving it two buckets of water in the morning and two again in the evening during this hot dry weather and spraying the leaves with water daily to increase the moisture ... and if it's in full sun move it into the shade  ... you cross your fingers and I'll cross mine for you ... but really I think they're sold by garden centres who know that over a few years they'll probably sell two or three to each person, before they give up and realise that willows aren't suitable for small gardens or container growing. 

Thanks for that advice, really appreciate it, I will try what you said and maybe transplant it into the Garden itself.

Fairygirl

Hi Leonard - as Dove says, they need huge amounts of water, and it's always harder in a pot to keep them hydrated. In the current conditions, it's even harder, because they simply can't take up enough moisture to support the foliage.
Getting it into the shade will really help, until conditions improve a bit for it, and you can get it into the ground 

Leonard 2

Fairygirl said:

Hi Leonard - as Dove says, they need huge amounts of water, and it's always harder in a pot to keep them hydrated. In the current conditions, it's even harder, because they simply can't take up enough moisture to support the foliage.
Getting it into the shade will really help, until conditions improve a bit for it, and you can get it into the ground 

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it, I will transplant it into the garden and give it a good drink.

Joyce Goldenlily

Hopefully your garden is naturally very damp as in this weather it will be hard work to keep your Flamingo alive. Several buckets of water daily.

Meomye

May I ask, If planted in the ground, am I right in thinking they grow pretty big? or is that a different type of Salix (apologies for bobbing in) thanks