[Steven] Casuarina cunninghamiana

[Steven]

• Species name: Casuarina cunninghamiana
• Current height: 500mm
• Origin: Ray Nesci
• Cost: $0 - Gift with purchase

2013 March (a).jpg

2013 March (b).jpg

2013 March (c).jpg

This one lacks taper but has a bit of movement which is appealing and plenty of options for branch selection. I chopped the top off in February when I obtained the tree which is the only work that has been done.

Regards,
Steven

[Steven]

G'day,

First bit of styling on this one done. I need to chop and grow the apex a couple more times to improve taper but that will have to wait until Spring when I will get good back budding. The branches will be grown by clip and grow from here.

2012 June (a).jpg

1mm wire by the way.

Regards,
Steven

[Rory]

wow That is really going to look nice as it develops. I'm letting my two grow in a more natural wild look, but I love what you'd done with yours.

I also purchased a few of these from Ray's lot of cunninghamiana too. I asked him back in the start of the year what he had, and I picked up 2 of these, and 2 equistifolia as well.

[Steven]

Thanks Buddyman,

These ones were cuttings Ray took from Peter's (Tuesday Advanced Class at TSOB) C. cunninghamiana.

If anyone is interested, Ray Nesci still has a dozen or so of these left and most have at least a little bit of movement in the trunks

Regards,
Steven

[Rory]

How is your little guy holding up?

Mine have had a massive bumper of new growth in the last few weeks. Maybe too anxious to ask, but has it shot any new growth lately?

[Steven]

Good thanks Buddyman. Its starting to get some new growth, both on the branches and around the apex. Not worthy of an updated photo yet though...

Regards,
Steven

[Rory]

Cool Steven. I actually purchased the last 2 stock of Rays just recently on a trip to Rays bonsai farm. Sorry people, he's all out now If you happen to visit his nursery anytime soon though, he has a very nice selection of quinces on display that I had to help him reduce as well. Anyway, getting off topic.

That'll be good to see yours thicken at the apex more. Can't wait to see it in a year or so. Are you sure they are cunninghamiana though? I asked Ray what type of Casuarina they were, and he said that he is not sure. He pointed to a cunninghamiana that was for sale, and it was remarkably different, so I am confused.

Does anyone know or have a pic of the original casuarina that this came from. Ray said it was amazingly good in the short period of time it was worked on.

Personally I have gone a bit Casuarina mad lately, but there are worse things I could be into, as my wife says. I purchased a whole lot of stock from the Cumberland State Nursery on the way back from Rays a while back. Casuarina Black She-Oak make very nice specimens so far, and have made them into a group planting, and I'm debating putting those last few cunninghamiana cuttings from Rays into a group planting, or leaving as individuals.... tough decisions. But it is such an iconic Australian scene to see a group of them breaking the wind that I am tempted. (edit sorry, that pun was not intended.)

[Steven]

I didn't put cut paste on the leader when I chopped it and it ended up dying back to the main trunk. I've got a new leader that is growing in the right spot so I should be able to create another apex over the remaining time.

Badly in need of a pluck!

2013 September (a).JPG

[Rory]

I still love this one! Looking good.

[Steven]

I let my replacement leader grow to fatten up and soon I'll chop it back (I'll use cut paste this time).

2013 December (a).JPG

It's in dire need of a plucking and some branch selection which will be done soon.

2013 December (b).JPG

[Steven]

G'day,

The chop worked better this time with no die back. I think I'll need to reduce the number of branches as its pretty crowded.

2014 March (a).JPG

[Rory]

Its looking like a beautiful cunninghamiana steven. Yeah, it really has a lot going on in such a small space, hard to see the skeleton of the tree. For the life of me, I can't grow bonsai this small, as it frustrates me, but this is probably my favourite of the comp trees to watch,.. it has such a nice gradual movement....

[dandybonsai]

Lovely to watch this tree,taken a interest in this type of tree now,i hope you keep it updated after the competion is finished.

As i'm still trying to learn can you please anwser a few questions on your tree?

What type of soil mix,position in garden(lighting period?)any extra use of fertilisers you may be using?

[Steven]

What type of soil mix, position in garden(lighting period?) any extra use of fertilisers you may be using?

G'day Dandy,

This one is still in the mix that I purchased it in (Ray Nesci's) but I have most of my others growing in Diatomite/Zeolite or Pumice. Full sun and fortnightly fertaliser with Charlie Carp and native chemical ferts alternating.
They are really easy to grow as long as they don't dry out.

Regards,
Steven

[Neli]

Looking good Steven. It seems you have a way with casuarinas...Mine is just looking like a porcupine, and stopped growing...he hehe.