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Casuarina A New Comer in Bonsai in Malta

Casuarina A New Comer in Bonsai in Malta. By Dr. Alfred Grech M.D. Today I would like to invite you to make a journey with me. Let us all start growing Casuarina and train it for bonsai. Why Casuarina ? It back buds easily It grows vigorously

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Casuarina A New Comer in Bonsai in Malta

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  1. Casuarina A New Comer in Bonsai in Malta By Dr. Alfred Grech M.D.

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

  3. Why Casuarina? • It back buds easily • It grows vigorously • ‘Leaves’ = multi-jointed branchlets; can be shortened to create nice foliage pads

  4. Humble beginnings from seeds

  5. Honourable Final Destination

  6. What do you think? Is it worthwhile of giving it a try? • What other tree does Casuarina looks like?

  7. 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.

  8. 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

  9. October 18, of 1995 Ernie Kuo

  10. October 30, 1997 = 2 years of training Ernie Kuo

  11. 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)

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

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. Propagation • Seeds • Stem cuttings • Air-layering

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. Male Flowers

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