Curly willow branches in aquaria

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Mount_Prion

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2012
2,171
33
81
center of the universe
So I'm doing a bit of an experiment.

Saw some really cool curly branches in a local restaurant, just sitting in a vase, that had started go grow roots and green sprigs and leaves. My immediate thought was that they'd make a great, actually living, manzanita replacement for my paludarium.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and I found them at my LFS (local flower shop) and confirmed that they're actually curly willow branches. The guy at the store told me that they grow this way for a while but eventually dry out. That being said, the ones in my tank have been growing roots like mad and I see new flowers on them every day. I could see how they'd dry out sitting in a flower pot, but being in a sealed paludarium with intense aquatic plant lighting I bet they just keep growing.

Anybody ever done this before? Thoughts? So far it's just an experiment but I'll update if there's anything worth noting. Been in my tank about 2 weeks now.
 
If they really are willow branches, be prepared to move them. My dad took a clipping like that and planted it in our yard. Fast forward two years...we now have a 9 foot corkscrew willow tree in our backyard.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
If they really are willow branches, be prepared to move them. My dad took a clipping like that and planted it in our yard. Fast forward two years...we now have a 9 foot corkscrew willow tree in our backyard.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

Ya they'll end up being kind of bonsai if anything. I mean they won't be resource-starved, but heavily pruned. There's only so much room in the tank after all. But if they start taking over I'll just remove manzanita as they grow and keep them trimmed.
 
Ya they'll end up being kind of bonsai if anything. I mean they won't be resource-starved, but heavily pruned. There's only so much room in the tank after all. But if they start taking over I'll just remove manzanita as they grow and keep them trimmed.

I would be very interested to see just how well that turns out. Pics along the way would be cool


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
I will use them as a pothos-replacement this year. Easily the most hardy tree I know, and they remove lots of nutrients. Could we see a pic of how you've set them up?
 
I'm at work, so I can't get any pics till I get home. I don't think the pics will show much, though, other than some curly branches leaning up on my glass with leaves sprouting. I sort of jammed the bases of them into the heart of my pothos root nest, so you won't be able to see much of that bit.
 
Some shots. You can kinda see the huge thick branch I got for free and some of the offshoots.

IMG_20130424_192101.jpgIMG_20130424_192109.jpg

Almost all the new green sprouts have happened since these branches went in the tank approx 2 weeks ago.

IMG_20130424_192101.jpg

IMG_20130424_192109.jpg
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com