Casuarina%20A%20New%20Comer%20in%20Bonsai%20in%20Malta

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Casuarina A New Comer in Bonsai in Malta

• By
• Dr. Alfred Grech M.D.

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• Today I would like to invite you to make a
  journey with me.
• Let us all start growing Casuarina and train it
  for bonsai.

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• Why Casuarina?
• It back buds easily
• It grows vigorously
• Leaves multi-jointed branchlets can be
  shortened to create nice foliage pads

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• Humble beginnings from seeds

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Honourable Final Destination
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• What do you think? Is it worthwhile of giving it
  a try?
• What other tree does Casuarina looks like?

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• Casuarina is a tree with a superficial
  resemblance to pines.
• But it is a completely different tree.
• In Malta we have difficulty in cultivating our
  native Aleppo Pine as a pristine bonsai.
• I think that our only alternative option is the
  Casuarina. Just look at some more pictures of
  magnificent Casuarina bonsai.

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• Other valid reasons to start bonsaing Casuarina
• The tree grows well in Malta
• Master Peter Chan encouraged us to grow it
• Indonesian Casuarina bonsai are very prestigious
  and noticeable at many international conventions
  (thinking of the next generation of Maltese
  bonsaists)
• Many countries are training Casuarina
• Fast results possible

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October 18, of 1995
Ernie Kuo
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October 30, 1997 2 years of training
Ernie Kuo
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• Casuarina is also known as
• Australian pine
• Beefwood
• Forest oak
• She-oak (The name 'she-oak' was given in allusion
  to the timber, which is oak-like in appearance
  but was considered inferior in strength to
  English Oak).
• Horsetail tree
• Ironwood (very hard wood wrecks saws)

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• There are 3 main species of the genus Casuarina
• C. equisetifolia
• C. cunninghamiana
• C. glauca

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• A large evergreen tree resembling conifers, with
  thin crown of drooping branches and with leaves
  reduced to scale.
• Is a most rapid grower as high as 80 feet in a
  ten year period.

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• Casuarina usually grows in the tropics and
  sub-tropical regions.
• It is native to Australia and the Pacific
  Islands.
• In many countries it is considered as an invasive
  species.

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• Casuarina is highly tolerant to many adverse
  conditions and climates.
• The leaves are jointed or segmented and one can
  break them off anywhere, so you can have a long-
  or short-needled bonsai as you wish.

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• Propagation
• Seeds
• Stem cuttings
• Air-layering

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• Propagation by Seeds
• An easy method
• Early training of seedlings to desired style is
  possible
• Does not cost a lot of money just dedication,
  patience and time
• Very rewarding

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• Trees begin bearing seeds when they are 3-5 years
  old
• Mature trees produce tremendous numbers of small,
  winged seeds which are dispersed by wind and
  water
• They also are spread by birds

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• Trees are dioecious (both sexes being usually on
  the same tree e.g. C. equisetifolia) or
  monoecious
• Male flowers appear in spikes at branchlets tips
• Feminine flowers in round heads at the bases of
  branchlets

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Male Flowers
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• 30-80 percent of the seeds can be expected to
  germinate 4-8 days after planting.
• Seeds usually remain viable for only a few
  months, though they may survive up to two years
  under ideal conditions.

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• The staminate born in spikes and the pistillate
  in dense heads
• The inconspicuous flowers are wind pollinated
• Fruit are dry light brown cones (1-2cm in
  diameter and 2-3cm long)

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Fruits (cones about 2-3cm long)
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The insignificant flowers are followed by small,
spiny cones, less than 2-3cm long
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The cone bracteoles are nearly always appressed
to each other, enclosing the samara, when fresh
once the cone is removed from the plant, the
bracteoles separate.
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• Stem cuttings
• Stem cuttings root easily
• Take semi-mature wood in autumn
• Gaining some 1 or 2 years when compared to seed
  method.

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• Air-Layering
• Again a good method like stem cuttings
• A good potensai in just a few years is possible
  (maybe 2-3 years)

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• Yamadori
• In Malta not advisable
• In Indonesia it is one of the best and fastest
  method.

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• Important biological features
• Allelopathy
• Non-leguminous symbiotic nitrogen fixation
• Mycorrhiza

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• Allelopathy (plant chemical welfare)
• Tree produces a thick layer of fallen needles on
  the forest floor because the needles are not
  eaten by other organisms. This profuse litter
  smothers native seedling development.
• An allelopathic substance released by the needles
  retards seedling germination and growth of other
  competing plants.

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• Non-leguminous symbiotic nitrogen fixation

Roots of Casuarina form nitrogen-fixing root
nodules (actinorhizae) in symbiosis with the
actinomycete Frankia
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• Mycorrhiza
• Mycorrhiza is a mutualistic, non-pathogenic
  association of a fungus and the roots of a higher
  plant.
• In a mycorrhizal association the fungus may
  colonize the roots of a host plant either
  intracellularly or extracellularly.
• Having its roots colonized by fungi benefits a
  plant in a number of ways.
• Increased nutrient uptake
• Increased disease resistance
• Enhanced water relations (drought resistance)
• Increased soil aggregation

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• Potting Mixture
• Should be porous for good drainage.
• So likes sand and coarse gravel.
• Likes salty, calcareous soil

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• Repotting
• Avoid severe root disturbance
• Avoid any major root cuttings
• Mix some old soil with the new soil.
• Plant needs the root nodules (for nitrate
  production) and the mycorrhiza (for phosphorus
  absorption and other minerals).

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• Some recommend periodic soil changes from around
  the edge of the pot (not a complete repotting).
• After repotting, avoid sunny places keep in
  shady place until new shoots appear, then move to
  a more open area.
• Do not over water keep just moist spray whole
  tree.
• Best time End of January / Start of February

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• Pruning
• Tree takes pruning very well and since it is fast
  growing quick results
• Simply pinch overgrown leaves
• Can be done throughout the year
• Never defoliate completely

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• First take care of the style and rhythm of the
  bonsai, by disciplining the main trunk and main
  branches.
• Then structure the sub-branches and twigs.
• Better to use the clip-and-grow method.

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• Finally, start work on the foliage pads to create
  the canopy.
• Each cluster is formed by leaving a bunch of the
  needle-like leaves at the tips of the twigs.
• Unwanted needles are removed.
• Long needles are shortened.
• Never use shears to cut the leaves (if not ?
  brownish tips)

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• Styles
• Casuarina can be styled in any style that Pine
  trees can.
• And more, since Pines for example cannot be made
  into rafts while Casuarina can.

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• Watering
• Grows well given saline water or saltwater
  spray.
• It is recommended to periodically put salt on the
  soil around the plant.

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• Fertilizers
• Although Casuarina is tolerant to infertile soil
  conditions in its natural habitat, fertilizing is
  recommended when in a pot.
• Growth rate responds well to phosphorus.
• Nitrogen is not needed because it produces its
  own nitrates with the help of bacteria in its
  root nodules.

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• Position
• Full sun or bright shade and likes slight to
  moderate wind
• Very shady conditions cause slow growth the
  leaves grow weak, weepy and unhealthy.

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• Usage
• Windbreak or barrier or to provide beachfront
  shade or privacy.
• Widely cultivated for erosion control and soil
  nitrification.
• The pulp has been used to make paper.
• Outstanding fuel wood recommended for biomass
  energy plantations.
• The wood has been used for powering locomotives
  and firing brick kilns.

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• A decoction from the astringent bark has been
  used as a remedy for diarrhea, beri-beri, sore
  throat, cough, headache, toothache, sores, and
  swellings.
• Extracts from the bark are also used for tanning
  hides and staining and preserving fishing lines
  and fabrics.
• The wood ash has been used to make soap.
• The "cones" are used in novelties for the tourist
  trade.

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Carved Embellished Cyclonic Bowl- Sheoak
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• I hope that I have transmitted my enthusiasm
  about this tree onto you.
• So happy Casuarina bonsai growing.

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• The End