On 25 Feb 2004 17:07:57 GMT, ospam (Yngver) opined:

Thank you for the info on the potting soil. I will pick up some from Home Depot
this weekend.

So far the pussy willow is doing fine. I have it in a sunny window and the
catkins are blossoming. I just noticed that there are a few leaves beginning to
form, so I guess it will leaf out. I'm guessing that if it does need a period
of dormancy in the winter, I should leave it outside in the fall until it gets
to freezing or a little below. I have some other plants that are not hardy to
zone 5 that I leave out until the temps get to about 20 degrees F, then I bring
them in and store them in the basement. They have always come back in the
spring, so I hope that will be sufficient treatment for this willow too.

Thanks again.

Keep in mind that, when the air is 20 degrees, so is the soil in the container.
To be safe, I'd do what you do, but raise it to 27 degrees. Anything below that
can really damage the roots. Plants will go dormant at 35 degrees, too. I have
plants in my greenhouse right now with the winter light and very warm days and
they are dormant.

Look he

http://www.sws-wis.com/lifecycles/what.html

v