survival!!

[Luke]

konichiwa, i recently collected a wild little casuarina with a wikid bulge at the bottom of the trunk... i took as many roots (as i could), it was about 4.5 foot tall, its now only 200 mm!. i left one branch (needles are now turning brown) its in a highly composted, free draining grow pot at the moment. i hope it survives!!!
any advice or hints??? please thanks
luke

[Greth]

Not from here, Im still watching mine with great interest, no signs of growth, but its only been a couple of weeks. Similar size I think.
They are on this thread
viewtopic.php?f=103&t=3270

[kcpoole]

the only 2 I have collected have both carked it
Neither had much root, treated like every other collected tree and failed sorry

Ken

[Petra]

What you cut off 4 foot, how much roots were left on.
Normaly i trim the lower branches and leave the top. Once the tree starts to back bud then ichop the top.
This tree of yours should have been potted up and sat in water for a good week.I add 1/4 tsp of seasol to the water. Depending on if its a tray or bucket. If the leaves have browned this soon its likley that its dead. Leave it a bit and check on it and after 3 weeks still nothing, Chuck it.

[Greth]

My needles are still half green, the pots are standing in a couple of inches of water. One has more green than the other I take this to mean it is closer to surviving, lol. As in, it could have died off faster but hasnt chosen to. I shook the soil off briefly this morning, but can't see signs of new root growth. Replaced it quickly.

[Joel]

Leave it a bit and check on it and after 3 weeks still nothing, Chuck it.

3 weeks is not very long at all..... I would wait much longer before chucking anything.

Joel

[Hawaiian77]

Howzit Guys,
It's funny that I just saw this thread now and I just collected a Ironwood/Casaurina yesterday. In the back part of Maui they like weeds all over the place. This one is about two feet tall. I don't have any plans in what to do with it yet but I'm going to let go and later on come back to it and post it up to get some ideas.

-Tim

IMG_0237.jpg

[kcpoole]

Nice Hawiian
I would get some wire on the bottom section soon to get some movement if you can, other wise trunk chop and let the top regrow for taper while you think of what to do

Ken

[Greth]

13 days and it sure looks like I have tiny buds high up on the less hopeful specimen

casurina yamadori.jpg

The one on the left in the picture, about halfway up the greenish stem.

[Luke]

mine is cool as but is under much stress atm! all i can do now is hope i guess! Will be hoping for longer that three weeks! !
(amazing lower trunk... please survive!)

luke

[Luke]

B.T.W.... yours look on the way to greatness greth!

peace
luke

[simonm]

i have had similar survival problems with some very small casaurina's and it is really frustrating, i dug mine up a week or 2 before christmas. it is dull and fading but it may yet survuve.

[Asus101]

I dug one once. Thought it was dead, so I went to chuck it. Turns out it wasnt dead.... but it had no soil. I lived in a sesol solution for about 2 weeks before I could do anything about it. Its now starting to growth spurt, it will be an interesting tree to work with...

Never give up on a collected tree. Some will sit and sulk for a year and then decide to kick into gear. If your not willing to wait a season, dont risk the tree.

[Greth]

Thanks Asus, I read similar advice before I embarked on these guys, so quite prepared to give them a corner of the shadehouse to sit and look ugly in as long as necessary.

Thanks, luke, The bases are quite straight and uninteresting, but I've seen similar examples from others on here which have been styled into quite wonderful trees. Not sure I have that level of brilliance or expertise (actually fairly sure I haven't) but if they live I can show them for greater minds to work on!
Will try again maybe in a different season if these don't work out, that paddock still has a few more to offer, though I want some to stay for revegetation.

[Luke]

smart arse!s.. spot on!