[Steven] Casuarina torulosa

[Dario]

Looking nice Steven! This will be great at the end of the comp
Just to be anal and clarify...re the sacrifice branches, my previous post was for any future experimentation yo do...

I might start a trial to experiment with sacrifice branches on another Cas or 2.

Cheers, Dario.

[Steven]

re the sacrifice branches, my previous post was for any future experimentation yo do...

No worries Dario, I'll keep you updated. You can also see some sacrifice branches growing on THIS CASUARINA that I'm working on.

Growth has been rampant on this one over the last few weeks and the new branches were getting close to the desired thickness so I cut it back today.

2012 January a.jpg

2012 January b.jpg

I'll get a bit more wire onto the branches before the growth takes off and then it will be time to start plucking the foliage to build a canopy and encourage ramification.


Regards,
Steven

[Steven]

G'day,

Time for a quick update.
After the hard prune in January, she responded with some good growth and backshooting.

2012 March.jpg

I finger pruned the growth back to 3 or 4 nodes on each branchlette which roughly achieved the final shape I will be going for.

2012 March after.jpg

In late April I slip potted it into a shallower pot and tilted it slightly to the left. I only lightly disturbed the roots at the bottom and removed some of the soil on the surface to expose the lower trunk and surface roots. I also put some more wire on some of the branches.

2012 May.jpg

Regards,
Steven

[Dario]

Looking really good Steven
Thanks for the link re sacrifice branches.
Cheers, Dario.

[LLK]

Remarkable job.

[Steven]

Thanks for the kind feedback Dario and Lisa.

Regards,
Steven

[Steven]

G'day,

The growth on this torulosa continues to amaze me. I've been plucking it to shape every 2 weeks or so even during the coldest parts of winter.

Here is an update of how it is looking today;

2012 August.jpg

I'll put a bit more wire on shortly and do a bit more selective branch removal too. I'm hopeful of being able to squeeze it into a suitable pot before the end of the competition.

Regards,
Steven

[Chad]

I love watching the progession, have never been a fan of the casuarina but you may have inspired me, keep up the great work

[Steven]

Thanks Chad,

I'm stoked to hear that you are going to give Casuarina a try. They really are easy to work with and rival the Black Pine

Regards,
Steven

[matty-j]

steven great progression so far

i love casuarina i only have one at the moment an lost one but i had the problem of it shooting all over the lower half of the trunk and not as much on the branches do you have this problem?
and if you don't mind me asking what have you been feeding it?

[Steven]

G'day,

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Casuarina are way under used in Australian bonsai. In my opinion they are as good as, if not better than the Black Pine.

I've really enjoyed working on this torulosa over the last 14 months. The foliage is so delicate and smooth which is a great contrast to the gnarly bark. It never stopped growing over winter and during the warmer months I have been plucking it twice weekly. Even after repotting it was pushing out new growth.
I particularly like the fact that there are no visible scars on this tree which can be a major set back working with this species. The wounds never really match the bark around them unless they are extensively carved which can result in rot setting in.

In the future I'd like to define the branches in the apex more by reducing the primary branches to about 7 or 8. I'll then continue to finger prune so the foliage gets really twiggy again. The overall shape will remain pretty much as it is except for the apex being broken up into branches.

Current height: 190mm from top of pot to tip of foliage
Pot: by Pat Kennedy of Mirkwood Pottery

2012 October - final.jpg

2012 October - final ruler.jpg

2012 October - final coin.jpg

2012 October - final above.jpg

September 2011 to October 2012.jpg

Regards,
Steven

[Dario]

Congratulations Steven!
You have acheived so much with this tree in a very short time
I like you future plan of showing some branch seperation in the apex...please keep us updated.
When repotting, how do you handle the delicate bark on the trunk so that it doesn't break off?...or is this not an issue for you?
The pics in sequence from start to finish look great! How is this done?
Cheers, Dario.

[Boics]

Epic pic progression series Steven!

[anttal63]

Fantastic Steven !!! Amazing amount of developement in such a short space of time. Deserve a huge pat on the back, You have really brought together the whole package. Not only have you built a tree in this time frame but a very beautiful one. I love the contrast between the tree and pot yet there is a synergy and marriage between the two. The presentation and composition is out standing, the photography perfect...You have raised the bar !!! Im inspired !!!

[Bonsai4ever]

And the winner is.... Steven.

What a great post. has inspired me immensly. Says to self, must have a go.