Casuarina cunninghamiana progression

[Dario]

Thanks for the update Steven, it is looking good and it has a bright future...well done
Let us know how it goes with the carve and possible cut back which I reckon is a good idea.
Cheers, Dario.

[GavinG]

I'm hesitant to barge in here - all my Casuarinas are less that a year old - and it's a good tree as it is, BUT:

There's a strong straight trunk, then a crisp angle as the new trunk goes off, then the movement goes soft and fluid. And the new trunk has grown parallel to the jin when it straightens up. I'm sure if you continue to grow it as it is, it will be pleasing, but would you consider a cut-back-grow-longx6 program? It would make sharper angles, like those already there, and thicken the new trunk to match the old.

From what I've seen, old Casuarina branches can be sharply angled as well, not smooth in layers, so the same approach may also work well at that level. I'll come back in twenty years to show what I've come up with.

Love the pot as well. Most pots look too smooth to match rough age.

Thanks for posting,

Gavin

[anttal63]

Yes very nice again Steven, Im sure the lines will smooth out once carved and a little time goes by. You are right the taper needs to be corrected and yes you know there is only one way to do it properly here... Chop it. By which stage you will then of demonstrated just what understanding design princibles of bonsai will produce. "DAMN GOOD BONSAI" . The pot is way too clunky and butch for this tree, you can do better !!!

[Steven]

Another final update due to this tree being sold at the 2017 AusBonsai Market.

2010.JPG

d2017 February (R).JPG

Regards,
Steven

[Boics]

Hmm, not 100% sure of that Pot Stephen - were you?

Another fantastic tree though and I hope the new owner continues to develop/improve this one.

[Max]

Hi Steven.....nice tree, good sell good buy/bye...how did it handle the Earles wood hardener, or does the dead wood decay from inside out?

cheers
Max

[MJL]

Thanks Steven,

Stumbled on this thread ... inspired by a weekend at the VIC Native Bonsai Show, thought I'd check out this "Natives and Exotic' topic and then saw your thread.

Patient and creative and then ...bang - sold off.

Cheers for the inspiration.

[melbrackstone]

Every time I've trunk chopped a casy it's died... some I've root pruned at the same time, some have still been in their nursery pots.... I just don't know whether casuarina and I can be friends anymore.

[TimJ7]

Thanks for sharing !
I love seeing how the bonsai has grown and your thoughts through the process. Impressive little tree!
Well done
TimJ

[Redsonic]

Every time I've trunk chopped a casy it's died... some I've root pruned at the same time, some have still been in their nursery pots.... I just don't know whether casuarina and I can be friends anymore.

This has happened to me too Mel, and I've put it down to the plant not getting enough sun. All my (surviving) Casuarina are now in full sun at my new place, so I will be able to see what happens when I trunk chop them here. Just as well I started out with a lot of Casuarina

[melbrackstone]

This has happened to me too Mel, and I've put it down to the plant not getting enough sun. All my (surviving) Casuarina are now in full sun at my new place, so I will be able to see what happens when I trunk chop them here. Just as well I started out with a lot of Casuarina

I knew you moved house for a good reason.

[Rory]

Every time I've trunk chopped a casy it's died... some I've root pruned at the same time, some have still been in their nursery pots.... I just don't know whether casuarina and I can be friends anymore.

Tips for trunk chopping casuarina:

Best to do it in the middle of the hot strong-growing season. I usually go for anywhere between November and February.
Try to leave foliage below the chop.
Do not trunk chop and root prune at the same time: bad idea.
If the casuarina isn’t pushing out strong growth, don’t trunk chop.
The casuarina should have access to strong sun before and after the trunk chop.
The only times I’ve ever killed a casuarina from trunk chopping is in the middle of winter or upon noticing the soil wasn’t draining well and it just wasn’t healthy enough. I’ve probably grown about 300 in my time. The main cause of death is usually forgetting to water it, or poor drainage with low sun.

Casuarina need:
Strong sun
Good drainage
ONLY water when the soil is becoming dry. You will kill a casuarina if the soil is continually moist when re-watering
FOLIAGE ie needles. The more needles, the healthier the tree. There is no advantage in defoliating a casuarina.
You don’t water it regularly, water it when it’s drying out.

And lastly:
Grow Casuarina cunninghamaina and Casuarina glauca

Allocasuarina torulosa and Allocasuarina littoralis are actually harder to grow and maintain good health in Bonsai form.
Their branches are much more prone to die-back from shade and from pruning than the aforementioned.
Their resistance to drought is poorer.
Their resistance to poor drainage is less.
They require a lot of sun.
And they are a damn site harder to fend off pests than the others.

[melbrackstone]

Thanks so much @Rory, I'd gone back through your extensive Casuarina notes after posting that, but this is a great help.

[Redsonic]

Yep, Rory comes through again with some great advice