Progression of a Casuarina

Bob Pressler wrote: Dorothy
Would you talk about how you create and maintain your foliage pads. Thanks.

Hi Bob,

we have so many excellent Casuarina growers onboard, that hopefully some of them may share their experiences with this species.

Funny thing is I get to be asked the how-to with the foliage pads quite often. My usual answer is, I create the foliage pads like with any other fast growing tropical. Assumingly we are all familiar with the basic task of growing the basic branches with Casuarina, then the sidebranches, and eventually the top. During this process of growth and pruning you will start to create future pads, not so much because of the looks, but because you let the light reach the interior of the tree. Casuarina is very susceptible to dieback due to lack of sunlight.

In the early development - and this is something that works in my backyard - you don't have to neccessarily hand plug the "needles". You can use a scissor. However, the scissor will limit the amount of new "needles" emerging from the actual leaves, the point of where the "needle" breaks. So the initial foliage pad will not be as full. If you are in a more advanced stage, you need to hand plug the "needles". Almost every leave will develop a new shoot. I hand plug my Casuarinas with virtually both hands twisting the "needles" with my fingers. Any tough growth I trim with the scissor.

While you are growing lateral foliage pads you may have to weaken the apex area of the top. To strengthen the sidebranches-when growing pads or in general- you leave the apical main shoot on (every branch/ branchlet). For some reason I take more time than other growers and virtually build one branch after the other. Though it takes a bit longer, the trunk develops more character than growing everything at the same pace. It can also be overwhelming when growing several trees and trying to keep control of the growth. It is easier (to me) to weaken some bugger branches and grow others.

I do not maintain the pads throughout the year. Once the tree has structure and I am planning to perhaps present it in an exhibit, I work the pads short with the method described above. I do this in time prior to the show, so I can have additional new growth on the tree, basically like with any other show-ready tree.

After the show, I allow the tree to again grow freely. In my experience you will show a Casuarina only in 2 consecutive years. Then the tree needs a rest. Otherwise it will weaken and may show some dieback. Do not leave wire on the Casuarina during winter. They will show dieback in the following spring. It happened to 3 trees of mine.

Most important to keep in mind, you will only have pads if you have structure. Like with any other tree, tropical or not.

Best,
Dorothy

ps. I love that forest you created some time ago!!

Thanks Dorthy. I've only styled these as weeping style trees before. I have one now that needs to grow out after getting lots of dieback from the couple of cold days we had this winter and want to do something different then I have before.
Glad you like the forest-too bad you're 3000 miles away, we can use help pinching it now.

Dorothy,
Thanks for the foliage pads maintenance tip
Very insightful!

Hello Dorothy,

I like very much your work. the Casuarina fantastic.

Regards,
Efi

[quote="dorothy7774]


In the early development - and this is something that works in my backyard - you don't have to neccessarily hand plug the "needles". You can use a scissor. However, the scissor will limit the amount of new "needles" emerging from the actual leaves, the point of where the "needle" breaks. So the initial foliage pad will not be as full. If you are in a more advanced stage, you need to hand plug the "needles". Almost every leave will develop a new shoot. I hand plug my Casuarinas with virtually both hands twisting the "needles" with my fingers. Any tough growth I trim with the scissor.

[/quote]

Hi Dorothy,

Love your work!!! Would you please explain for those inexperienced like myself what you mean by "hand plug the needles"? Also can you please tell me the difference between "needles" and "actual leaves" on a casuarina??

Thanks and keep up the great work.

beautiful tree! this is a very female and elegant casuarina

Xavier de Lapeyre wrote:Dorothy,
Thanks for the foliage pads maintenance tip
Very insightful!

Thank you, Xavier.

-Dorothy

efishn wrote:Hello Dorothy,

I like very much your work. the Casuarina fantastic.

Regards,
Efi

Thanks Efi!

-Dorothy

luke308 wrote:

Hi Dorothy,

Love your work!!! Would you please explain for those inexperienced like myself what you mean by "hand plug the needles"? Also can you please tell me the difference between "needles" and "actual leaves" on a casuarina??

Thanks and keep up the great work.

Hi Luke,

this site explains pretty well where the leaves are located on a Casuarina:

http://www.reec.nsw.edu.au/geo/woodland/text/wood23.htm

When I say I "hand plug" the "needles", I am basically pulling the non hardened branchlets with my fingers and break them with a twisting motion. On the already hardened portions of branchlets you will need to use scissors.

Thanks, Dorothy

giufo wrote:beautiful tree! this is a very female and elegant casuarina

Thanks! I hope so!

-Dorothy

The tree took a good break. As a result I had to vigerously thin it out yesterday night and to eliminate some heavy branches. I am also regrowing the apex area and an additional lower backbranch. I think the backbranch will give additional dimension and stability:



The backbranch is hard to spot:



Better view of the top:

Its looking very good Dorothy!!

I especially like the Lichen on the trunk...

Love and Light

Andre Beaurain wrote:Its looking very good Dorothy!!

I especially like the Lichen on the trunk...

Love and Light

Thanks! That was the easiest part..

-Dorothy

Looking very nice Dorothy!
I also like the positioning of the new back branch...it will be good to see it develop.
It is early days, but how is the shari/deadwood holding up so far?
Thanks for the update and all the best for the growing season.
Cheers, Dario.

Dario wrote:Looking very nice Dorothy!
I also like the positioning of the new back branch...it will be good to see it develop.
It is early days, but how is the shari/deadwood holding up so far?
Thanks for the update and all the best for the growing season.
Cheers, Dario.

Dario, sorry, never saw your post. Yes, the deadwood is as good as ever. I cannot see or feel any decay. Here is the tree from this morning:







Also, I decided to connect this shari to the small upper front shari(s) instead of carving the existing one all around. That will be sufficient to give it that curled around look. What do you think?



Best,
Dorothy

Its looking good...

Also, I decided to connect this shari to the small upper front shari(s) instead of carving the existing one all around. That will be sufficient to give it that curled around look. What do you think?

I don't see it well, but so far I like it.
Only thing that's looking a bit artificial in my eyes is the excessively deep fissures made on the deadwood when compared to the other "relatively smoother" and weather beaten looking deadwood.

For the possible deadwood issues of casuarina, its been nagging at me.
Where I live, there are casuarina nearly everywhere but mostly at the beach. They are used to prevent sand erosion on our beaches.
And there are quite a few with deadwood, be it uro, jin, shari or sabamiki and there does not seem to be any sign of excessive decay.

I made a post in "The Lounge" some time ago : https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t14475-casuarina-deadwood-in-nature

Thanks for the comment and the pictures you posted in the lounge, Xavier. I think I will flatten out some of the crevasses, I agree.

Best,
Dorothy

This morning:



Best,
Dorothy

nice progress

How many years to develop casuarina in your climate Dorothy?

Its always good to see the updates on this tree.

What is best soil medium for casuarina Dorothy?

Mmmmm beautiful Cassie! Good work as always.

CraftyTanuki wrote:Mmmmm beautiful Cassie! Good work as always.

I second that.