River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
- Steven
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River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
After being inspired by Jow's post "How to grow good bonsai stock like the Japanese nurseries, I tried the technique tonight on a little Casuarina to see what will happen.
The tree is about 12 month old, was approximately 300mm tall and pencil thickness. It has some weird angles on the lower trunk and I was just fattening it up ready for a trunk chop. These weird angles made it perfect to attempt some extreme bending.
This whole project only took about 10 minutes including taking the photos! Following Jow (and others) tips made it very easy to do and the technique is proven (in Japan) to achieve good results in a few years.
Why not have a go yourself?
Grab a range of different tube stock and bend-em into crazy shapes. In a couple of years you will have some great stock to play around with!
Regards,
Steven
The tree is about 12 month old, was approximately 300mm tall and pencil thickness. It has some weird angles on the lower trunk and I was just fattening it up ready for a trunk chop. These weird angles made it perfect to attempt some extreme bending.
This whole project only took about 10 minutes including taking the photos! Following Jow (and others) tips made it very easy to do and the technique is proven (in Japan) to achieve good results in a few years.
Why not have a go yourself?
Grab a range of different tube stock and bend-em into crazy shapes. In a couple of years you will have some great stock to play around with!
Regards,
Steven
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Last edited by Steven on May 22nd, 2009, 10:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
That's some nice twisting, should look great with time. I have a one of these it's a 2 yr old, but I think it should still be a good candidate for some funky twists
- Bretts
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Few hundred more should do it Steven. I guess I will have to do my own
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Nice one Mr Aus!
Given the 'segmented' growth most Casuarinas, I am rather surprised that you did not end up snapping your twig at all. Looks like you came close at one point...
Is this specimen one that is likely to develop deeply fissured bark? Either way, the fast growth and infinitely reducible 'foliage' of She-Oaks generally should give you a great little tree in next to no time!
Thanks.
Fly.
Given the 'segmented' growth most Casuarinas, I am rather surprised that you did not end up snapping your twig at all. Looks like you came close at one point...
Is this specimen one that is likely to develop deeply fissured bark? Either way, the fast growth and infinitely reducible 'foliage' of She-Oaks generally should give you a great little tree in next to no time!
Thanks.
Fly.
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- anttal63
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
good on ya steven and that is the start of a possibly great native bonsai!!!
Regards Antonio:
- Steven
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Thanks for the feedback everyone!
Yes, it will have deep fissured bark and should double or triple in thickness over the next year. It was grown from seeds collected from Casuarina growing on my property.
Regards,
Steven
Yes, and thanks for pointing out my shortcomings mate There is always someone ready to rub your face in it I guess that's what you get for wiring a 3.5mm section of branch with 3.0mm wire!FlyBri wrote:I am rather surprised that you did not end up snapping your twig at all. Looks like you came close at one point...
Yes, it will have deep fissured bark and should double or triple in thickness over the next year. It was grown from seeds collected from Casuarina growing on my property.
Regards,
Steven
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Great start!
Keep us posted.
Jerry
Keep us posted.
Jerry
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- FlyBri
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Gday Steven!AusBonsai wrote:Yes, and thanks for pointing out my shortcomings mate There is always someone ready to rub your face in itFlyBri wrote:I am rather surprised that you did not end up snapping your twig at all. Looks like you came close at one point...
Not pointing out your shortcomings so much as I am indicating one of the limitations of the trees in this genus. In my limited experience, it appears that it is nigh on impossible to make extreme bends in She-Oaks without the risk of snapping at some point or other, whether raffia/protective tape is used or not. Of course we know that She-Oaks backbud virtually everywhere, so a busted branchlet or leader here and there shouldn't be too much of an issue.
I think you've done a marvelous job to have only nearly snapped it once!
Thanks again!
Fly.
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Great job Steven!
Since you've some experience with Casuarinas can I ask you when the best time is to lift one from the ground in your opinion? The tree in question is an Allocasuarina Torulosa which makes it a bit harder than the Cunninghamiana I've read. A friend of mine has bought a house with several of these at a nice size that he doesn't want, and I'm happy to relieve him of a few.
Since you've some experience with Casuarinas can I ask you when the best time is to lift one from the ground in your opinion? The tree in question is an Allocasuarina Torulosa which makes it a bit harder than the Cunninghamiana I've read. A friend of mine has bought a house with several of these at a nice size that he doesn't want, and I'm happy to relieve him of a few.
I really do wish they'd hurry up and grow.
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Hi Steven,
I would be very interested to know how the Casuarina responded to this treatment, a couple of years on. I've got a bunch of new seedlings, so I'm keen to give a twisted mini a go. Would be great to know how it is doing, and any additional tips you may have learnt.
Thanks mate
(edit: phrasing)
I would be very interested to know how the Casuarina responded to this treatment, a couple of years on. I've got a bunch of new seedlings, so I'm keen to give a twisted mini a go. Would be great to know how it is doing, and any additional tips you may have learnt.
Thanks mate
(edit: phrasing)
Last edited by TheNumber13 on September 25th, 2011, 2:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Cheers,
Pat
(Grow little ones, grow.)
Pat
(Grow little ones, grow.)
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
This should be a boost to Craig and his Shohin bunjin on viewtopic.php?f=56&t=9614
Good luck to all the twisters and benders!
Lisa
Good luck to all the twisters and benders!
Lisa
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Nice bump Pat, I would be keen to see how this went aswell please Steven.
Cheers Lisa for thinking of me, i have been twisting some radiata ,squamata and shimpaku so i'm keen to know how everyone's twisting is going, some people did some last spring if i remember correctly,.
Cheers Lisa for thinking of me, i have been twisting some radiata ,squamata and shimpaku so i'm keen to know how everyone's twisting is going, some people did some last spring if i remember correctly,.
Last edited by Craig on September 25th, 2011, 3:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: edit
Reason: edit
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Hi All,
I was one of many who went out twisting. These were bent and wired out in jan 2011. They have been sitting in a container and bottom fed like crazy all year round. As you can see the roots are getting a bit out of hand ,time for a re-pot and some more wire work.I still do not know if these are Swamp or River She-Oaks?
Cheers John.
I was one of many who went out twisting. These were bent and wired out in jan 2011. They have been sitting in a container and bottom fed like crazy all year round. As you can see the roots are getting a bit out of hand ,time for a re-pot and some more wire work.I still do not know if these are Swamp or River She-Oaks?
Cheers John.
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- TheNumber13
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Re: River She-Oak, the start of a twisted mini
Thanks for sharing John, good to know they can handle some serious twisting. They're looking pretty good, nice work, should fill in nicely when they fatten a bit more.
Cheers,
Pat
(Grow little ones, grow.)
Pat
(Grow little ones, grow.)