Candlenut (Aleurites moluccana)

[LauraFrog]

There used to be a mature candlenut tree in the garden at the house where I'm living, but it was cut down about eighteen years ago. So I was fairly surprised when a candlenut seedling made an appearance. I haven't seen, or heard of, anybody bonsai-ing one of these, but I'd really like to have a go. It's only a few months old, but the trunk is thickening up very fast (it's already as thick as my thumb at the base) and it has a nice large, palmate leaf.
I'm not really sure what to do with it now though... my bonsai experience is basically nil. It's growing in a small pot (not a bonsai container.) The roots are thick, white and quite rigid - they don't bend, they just snap. The leaves are alternate and seem to grow in one at a time, so there's no real 'growing tip' to take out of it, but if I don't convince it to start branching soon it's going to grow too tall.

Can anybody give me some advice? I really like it, I would hate to kill it, or ruin it so it never becomes an attractive bonsai. I can get photos if anybody would like to see it.

Thanks!

[Glenda]

Photos are always helpful, Laura. And welcome to AusBonsai! You will find lots of helpful advice here, and friendly folks to boot!

Glenda

Edit: How far in NQ are you?

[LauraFrog]

Hey - thanks for the welcome

Cairns area - not a bad climate for growing stuff actually. With the exception of some cold-climate trees (like stonefruit, for instance) pretty much anything will grow if you can shade it.

Here's my little tree.

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From above.

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Close up of where the leaves are growing from.

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From the front.

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From the back.

[Joel]

One of my favorite trees but i doubt they would do well as a bonsai. The leaves are huge and I dont know how well they reduce. I also doubt they would ramify well.

On the other hand, i havent heard of them being used before. Maybe they will work and make a fine bonsai. Give it a go!

Joel

[Glenda]

Generally to make it branch out you pinch out the bud where it is growing from. That forces the tree to put out new shoots elsewhere.

Glenda

[Joan]

Hi Laura,

Although I live in the Netherlands I do have 3 Candlenut trees. A friend took the seeds with her when she was on holiday and they all germinated, so she had more trees than she could use. I have got 3 of her trees and promises her a bonsai experiment. The trees are almost 4 years old. They stand in small pots now, not yet in a bonsai pot and every spring before I put them in my garden I prune them hard. Most of the time all the big leaves as well. The leaves are much smaller now and their are a few primary branches. It tolerates root pruning but pinching (the new leave removal) does not seem to help. Every time a new shoot appears almost at the same place. So I am trying now to let the branch harden and then prune back to two buds. Hoping that will do the trick. I was also planning in planting the 3 trees in 1 pot and making one canopy in the future for compensation of the boring trunk.

Hope your tree will do fine and I would gladly share our progression with the tree, because it is quit unusual as a bonsai.

Joan

[AnthonyHolmgren]

Howdy Laura,

I hope everything has been growing well for you.

I don’t know if you’ll see this, but by any chance if you do, I’d love to know how the kukui nut tree turned out and if it’s still thriving?