AusBonsai

Discussing casuarina repotting with Pol he stated some difficulty in repotting. I told him we laugh at people that kill Casurina during repotting like he laughed at me for killing Peppercorn trees when I transplanted them . He quickly stated that is probably Casuarina cunninghamiana (or River Oak) that you don't have any issue with. These are Belah Sheoak he said and are more sensitive.
Did a little research today and it seems that the Belah he was talking about is Casuarina cristata. He also stated that you will probably find the same issue with
Shrubby sheoak
Bull sheoak
Grouping sheoak
Feel free to get the scientific names for me Joel
So this got me wondering if the people who have been having trouble know what species they are playing with. I can only guess mine is Casuarina cunninghamiana because it came from a river bed but can anyone help how with the process for identification?

The only time I havae had trouble with cuningham is when I let one dry out after repotting, we had an unexpected very hot day in october and the tree dried out when I had away all day. I felt like crying it was such a nice tree, about 1m high and 35cm base and making nice pads. I have never had another near as nice. The others I have seem to take just about any thing else, I even have one that the curl grums ate most of the roots, then a branch broke off the apex, it has hardly any root, but still going strong.
Lynette

Thanks Lynette. Do you have any idea what the others where that you had no trouble with.

I have lost one tree so far. That was the JBP that I did a trunk chop and repot at the same time.

I haven't heard of that Casuarina before Kvan!

Bretts wrote:I haven't heard of that Casuarina before Kvan!

Ooopsssss. Didn't read it carefully. I have a nice raft-form river she-oak collect last year. I potted it and left it under the shade of the mango tree. You may not believe this but the mango fruits killed it

Sounds crazy Kvan but I could believe you. I still reckon a gum I had in the ground died from my dog pissing on it I never believed anyone that told that before!

Bretts wrote:Sounds crazy Kvan but I could believe you. I still reckon a gum I had in the ground died from my dog pissing on it I never believed anyone that told that before!

You beat me on this Bretts Besides I've thought that dog's urine would be of good fertiliser for the plants

http://www.treesforlife.org.au/_resourc ... n%2009.pdf

This link might help with identification if you have broardband - it is a 7M+ .pdf file link that was forwarded to me when trying to identify our local species (only dial-up here so I haven't investigated). My local native plants nursery could give me a positive ID after a few questions so I haven't gone further with this link.

Hope it turns out to be helpful,

Jan

I bought 2 casuarina torulosa in November 2008. Repotted one immediately and lost it rapidly. Left the other until August and then root pruned carefully but basically fairly well bare rooted it to put it in a new soil medium. It got a lot of dieback but after a month or so of negativity started to rally and has come on well ever since. But I do find it hard to bonsai as the growth is erratic and it does not hold shape well, preferring what nature intended.

On the other hand my cunninghamii is a trooper. Doesn't matter what you do to it it flourishes. Wet [a LOT], dry [will cope], wire, trim, whatever and it thrives. And next to it the torulosa meanders along its reluctant journey - heaps more potential and a surly air.