Castanospernum Australe

[aussie]

G'day Guys,

Two CASTANOSPERNUM AUSTRALE are standing side by side, in my kitchen, both extremely healthy [?]. No1 has a shortish trunk with lots of foliage, so just right. No 2 has an extremely long trunk and refuses to put out a head of foliage, just grows longer and longer, have cut it back, and still it does the same, a really long thin trunk, growing by inches every day.

Both still have the large green nuts attached, both were planted at the same time, both are about one year old,
PLEASE....PLEASE....What do I have to do, to get the other No 2 to behave itself and grow some foliage, as it is now a pot with a long thin green stick and nothing else. Is it to do with the lighting or what?

aussie

[yabbyman]

Hi Aussie,
\trawling along and found this thread.
Ah yes, the Black Bean. A rainforest monster from north NSW to Cape York. I have found a little bonsai book literature from Len Webber (deceased) 'From Rainforest to Bonsai':

FOLIAGE:
disadvantage leaves very long, upto 50cm with 10-15 leaflets, Drastic reduction and number and size feasible though not great.

MEDIA:
Standard pot mix OK

PRUNING:
response to severe pruning variable.
Some inactive, new shoots following spring. other responded well producing new shoots within weeks.
Inportant feature was leaf size reduction. Capable of reduction from 50cm to 14cm.

SHAPING & WIRING:
2-3 yo wood remains supple enough for wiring.

HARDINESS:
Probably about the best