My pussy willow leaves are turning brown

(Question)

A few weeks ago, I bought a pussy willow plant and it was growing fast and nice. But now it is about one week that I can see it’s leaves are turning brown, especially on the head of the leaves. What is the issue? The situation was not that changed, we keep it indoor, water it every other day, and the light situation is also the same.
Please help!

(Answer)

Thanks for getting in touch with Toronto Master Gardeners. Your pussy willow (Salix spp.) is an outdoor plant. Now that the leaves have come out, it isn’t getting enough sun. To ensure its survival you will need to eventually plant it in the ground. Right now it is too cold to plant it out but you can get it ready for planting by acclimatizing it to the outside. When the temperature is above zero, leave the plant outside in the sun for a few hours and bring it back in overnight. When all danger of frost has passed you can plant it in the ground. Pussy Willows thrive in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. There are over four hundred species of Salix and it’s important that you identify the specific species you have. You need to know the size of the tree when it’s mature so you can place it appropriately.  Some willows need quite a bit of space because they grow to be quite large and their roots will push against building foundations and water pipes. The following links give information about the native willow Salix discolor:
https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/pussy-willow
https://extension.psu.edu/pussy-willow-a-valuable-native-plant
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=sadi