TheNaturePlanet

Silver willows have been extremely popular in the flower market in recent years. Many people display them in their homes during the Chinese New Year. Today, I'd like to talk to you about them.

Silver willows are deciduous bushy shrubs that can generally grow to a height of 2 to 3 meters. The bark is grayish. Its small branches are slender and covered with fine hairs. They are pale yellow at first and gradually turn brown later. The leaves are lanceolate with small serrations on the edges. The front side of the leaves is green, while the back side is covered with white hairs, making them feel fluffy when touched.

The most distinctive feature of silver willows is their flower buds, which are large and plump and wrapped in a layer of silvery-white silk-like hairs. Spring is its flowering period, and the flowers are catkins. The inflorescence of male flowers is approximately 2 to 4 centimeters long, and that of female flowers is slightly shorter, about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters. The flowers stand on the branches, looking particularly beautiful.

Many flower enthusiasts are curious: Is the silver willow poisonous? Don't worry, it's not poisonous at all! Whether it's the branches, leaves or flowers, it's fine to admire and handle them in daily life. It won't cause any harm to the body, so you can safely place it in the house as a decoration.

In the eyes of the older generation, the flowering of silver willows is a very auspicious omen. Why? Because the Chinese character for "willow" has the same pronunciation as the character for "keep", which implies the meaning of keeping good luck and blessings. Moreover, the flower buds of silver willows are plump, and when the whole tree is in bloom, it looks full of vitality, symbolizing a prosperous life and smooth progress in one's career in the future. That's why many people like to buy a few branches to take home during the Chinese New Year.

Let's talk about the maintenance of silver willows. It particularly loves sunlight. It's best to place it in places with sufficient light such as the balcony or by the window. In this way, it can carry out photosynthesis vigorously and grow rapidly. However, when the sun is too intense in summer, it's necessary to provide some shade for it, otherwise the leaves are likely to get sunburned. Watering also requires attention. The soil should neither be too dry nor too wet. Follow the principle of "watering when the soil is dry and seeing it become slightly moist again". When you see that the soil is dry, water it a little to keep it slightly moist.

Spring and autumn are the peak growing seasons of silver willows. You can apply a thin liquid fertilizer once a month, with more nitrogen fertilizer and a little phosphorus and potassium fertilizer added, which can make the branches and leaves grow more lush. In winter, it enters a dormant period. At this time, don't fertilize, and water less as well, otherwise the roots are likely to rot. In addition, silver willows grow very quickly, so regular pruning is necessary. After the leaves fall off in winter and before the buds sprout in spring, cut off those withered branches, diseased branches and overly dense branches. In this way, the shape of the tree will look nice, and it can also make the new branches grow stronger.