Allocasuarina torulosa 23

She-Oak, Australian Pine
Post Reply
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by Rory »

Progression thread : Allocasuarina torulosa 23

I Purchased this Casuarina from Leong at Bonsai South
Cost $30

This thread had to be restarted since the upgrade here, as the pictures are now hosted externally rather than on this site.

This was initially going to be a telegraph pole, but nature had other plans. I accidentally let it dry out too much over summer 2018, and the top 1/3 died back. That top telegraph pole is now deadwood and has broken off since the last photo. (Casuarina deadwood doesn't last long, especially with high humidity). It has since developed the side branches. It was also shaded for 6 months as I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep it and moved it into the 'not sure' area of my garden, which has resulted in very creepy, twisted growth as it struggled to find light. Now I adore it.

I'm attempting to develop it as a natural styled Casuarina.

There are many natural traits that a lot of growers dislike with Casuarina which ironically are what make this iconic species so immediately recognizable. Yet many growers remove or discourage this, such as crossed branching, bar-branching, multiple trunks that do not start at the very base, and their long beautiful arching branches with no taper. (This is perfectly understandable as we've always been discouraged from allowing this, but I adore these traits on Casuarinas). It isn't actually that easy to maintain sweeping branches with no taper as the branching will thicken fast if you allow the branch to strongly develop, so you have to occasionally reduce the number of branchlets, but keep enough to maintain good health.

I find it is best to cut-and-grow to develop the sweeping branch movements, as opposed to wiring, as wiring doesn't give it that iconic look.
And another iconic trait of these guys is that they generally don't have a uniformed branching style on the one tree.

These species make aesthetically beautiful trees. The weeping foliage and very thin needles make this the most visually stunning of all the Casuarina species in my opinion.

DO NOT let these dry out. I recommend adding about 30-35 % washed course river sand for better drainage to your mix.
Don't let the lower branches get heavily shaded.


This photo was taken 01 Nov 2014
Image


This photo was taken 30 April 2015
Image


This photo was taken 17 Feb 2016
Image


This photo was taken 17 Mar 2017
Image


This photo was taken 28 Feb 2019
Image


This photo was taken 15 Apr 2020
Image
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
boom64
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1105
Joined: November 11th, 2009, 9:03 pm
Favorite Species: Almond
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: South Coast NSW
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 394 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by boom64 »

Hi Rory ,If I had a choice I would take this one ,loosing that top one third has certainly been a blessing for you. Those two leaders with there lively unorthodox movement look fantastic. I know you prefer the clip and grow but...….I would be wiring some tighter bends, drops and any haphazard movement I could get on some of those thinner branches. But that's just me. Keen to see how this one turns out.
Cheers John.
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by Rory »

boom64 wrote: May 22nd, 2020, 9:08 pm Hi Rory ,If I had a choice I would take this one ,loosing that top one third has certainly been a blessing for you. Those two leaders with there lively unorthodox movement look fantastic. I know you prefer the clip and grow but...….I would be wiring some tighter bends, drops and any haphazard movement I could get on some of those thinner branches. But that's just me. Keen to see how this one turns out.
Cheers John.
Hi John,

Thank you for your opinion. Yes I prefer clip-and-grow, that just means to develop more natural looking growth yes, but I still occasionally might use wire (though not usually on casys), but I use anchoring a lot, for example in this one.... What you can't see is a 3rd branch that is behind the viewer in that last photo, that grows downwards, albeit because of me anchoring it down with a tie. I definitely like the downward droop you see on some wild casys too, and that branch will follow suit along that logic.

Next update I'll take a different side view, as there is some really cool growth from a 90 degree view from the right.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
User avatar
TimS
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1919
Joined: March 17th, 2017, 2:46 pm
Favorite Species: Japanese Maple
Bonsai Age: 9
Bonsai Club: Waverly Bonsai Group
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 426 times
Been thanked: 537 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by TimS »

Hi Rory, I really like the development and movement you’ve created here because it puts me in mind of the allocasuarina groves on my uncle’s property. That unpredictable left branch in the 2020 photo that grows flat out then hard upward especially reminds me of some of the quirky growth I’ve seen occurring where they are more exposed to winds.
In the blue darkening sky, the moon paints a pine tree.
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by Rory »

:palm: I am hating both Google Sites and Google Drive. They are now the most difficult sites I've ever had the displeasure of using to try and store and link images to. :evil:
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
KIRKY
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1968
Joined: May 21st, 2009, 3:42 pm
Favorite Species: Flowering
Bonsai Age: 12
Bonsai Club: BSV
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 1155 times
Been thanked: 245 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by KIRKY »

Me too, no pictures on the date they were taken. Perhaps not iPad friendly :x
Cheers
Kirky
Great oaks from little acorns grow.
User avatar
Keels
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 692
Joined: December 11th, 2012, 12:13 pm
Favorite Species: Pines, Eucalyptus and Callistemon
Bonsai Age: 11
Bonsai Club: CBS, Goulburn & VNBC
Location: Canberra
Has thanked: 223 times
Been thanked: 227 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by Keels »

Alot of your posts the photos dont load. I can see the pictures in this post but the banksia post i can. It's a pitty as your progression posts as very good reference points for my projects etc.
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by Rory »

UPDATE:
Sorry John (boom64), you're going to hate me here. But I just didn't like the double branching at the junction. It looked too strong and young.
I've removed the sideways branch as I feel it gives it a much older and decrepit look now. God I love Casuarinas as bonsai.
A. Torulosa 23-01 01Nov2014.jpg
01Nov2014


A. Torulosa 23-02 30Apr2015.jpg
30Apr2015


A. torulosa 23-03 17Feb2016.jpg
17Feb2016


A. torulosa 23-04 17Mar2017.jpg
17Mar2017


A. torulosa 23-05 28Feb2019.jpg
28Feb2019


A. torulosa 23-06 03Mar2021.jpg
03Mar2021
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
boom64
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1105
Joined: November 11th, 2009, 9:03 pm
Favorite Species: Almond
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: South Coast NSW
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 394 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by boom64 »

Good decision Rory ,bags of character with those bends. Also like the look of no16as well. Your enthusiasm has encouraged me to pick up two little starters. Time to fatten them up. Thanks for the updates. Cheers John.
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by Rory »

This one is growing well, it continues to push out oodles of growth, so its just a matter of continuing to build its unique branch structure.
A. torulosa 23-07 10Jan2022.jpg
10 Jan 2022
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by Rory »

I realize its not quite yet 01.01.2023, but its easier to post that its 2023, so looking back people can easily distinguish that its a year apart. Its only 1 day before the actual date.
A. torulosa 23-07 01Jan2023.jpg
01Jan2023
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Re: Allocasuarina torulosa 23

Post by Rory »

A. torulosa 23-08 03Nov2023.jpg.jpg
03Nov2023

Placed into a Pat Kennedy pot (Australia)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
Post Reply

Return to “Casuarina and Alocasuarina”