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THESE ARE ALL ALLOCASUARINA TORULOSA
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PICTURE 1:
Transition from trunk to primary branches (Simply grow them uncut and don't cut them back too often):
This first pic with the yellow writing shows you this.
The above branch is about 6 years old, and was cut back repeatedly and also shaded more over the years (no obvious deep bark developing).
The lower branch is about 4 years old and has been allowed to grow long and uncut and has developed bark much faster. It now almost matches the fissured bark on the trunk.
Also on a side note, this trunk has had the entire bark stripped twice since I've owned it. The material is approximately 15 years old.
What is interesting to note is .... it has not developed heavy fissured bark after the 2nd bark reduction. It has significantly slowed down the development of thick bark at the base even though it is still in a growing pot.
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PICTURE 2:
There is usually a line around the circumference where the bark starts at the base on most A. torulosa This is kind of evident in this photo and shows you how the exposed roots just below this line stay somewhat flush. This material has had the trunk stripped of bark up until the trunk chop. It has had a tortured life (branches broken off). When you place this species into a bonsai pot it significantly slows down the bark formation at the base, sometimes to a perceived stand-still on the lower trunk area. So my advice is to have the bark on the trunk at a point which you are happy with before you place it into a bonsai pot. If these get full sun, you will have no problems with branches growing below the horizontal and you do not need to force the ends to grow upwards to maintain excellent health.
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PICTURE 3:
This tree is approximately 15 years old. The trunk has been stripped twice of its bark in that time and yet still slightly flares at the base. It had significantly more taper years ago because of the heavy fissured bark, but I prefer less taper on mine.
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PICTURE 4:
This shows you what you're up against with some of them. Sometimes the bases just go into overdrive, like Banksia serrata. They are amazing. The base on this is about 7cm across. If you cut across the base and look down, you would see about 2cm either side of the cambium will be fragile bark radiating outwards.