Hardy Tropicals UK

I was just wondering if anyone on the forum has used willow water which is made from soaking the new growth of willows in boiling water to extract a fertiliser which apparently gives plants good root growth?

Just googled it and came up with this, it's a bit vague but worth a try!

"Willow Water
Homemade willow water is an effective tree root stimulant. This stimulant was discovered from the observation that willow branches grow very easily even when simply stuck in the ground. Cut some willow branches and soak them overnight in a bucket of water. Use this water on newly planted or established trees as a root stimulant. Willow water can also be used for all other plants including vegetables. You can also use the branches of yuccas, dogwoods, poplars and other fast-rooting tree species to make root-stimulant water.

When to Use Tree Root Stimulators
Use tree root stimulant when you first plant the trees and then once every month for the whole year after. Pour the homemade stimulant slowly into the tree roots. Tree root stimulants are especially recommended when trees are transplanted from one place to the other. They help plants to recover faster from the stress caused by moving. If you are moving trees the time to apply the stimulant immediately at the time of replanting"

It is true, willow contains IBA which is one of a few rooting hormones used in commercial products.

It has also been used as a painkiller and contains the chemical that is now synthesised into aspirin.