Lucky Bean Indoors (Castanospermum australe)

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Plant Details

Category: Houseplants

Light: Bright Light

Bloom Season:

Height: 4-6' /

1.2-1.8m

Space: 3-4' /

0.9-1.2m

Zones: 11, 12

Lowest Temp: 60° to 80°F /

16° to 27°C

Colors: Grown for foliage

Basic Care

Keep soil evenly moist. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during active growth. Dust or wipe off leaves for best display. Trim plant to maintain desired size and shape.

Water

Allow soil to dry slightly between thorough waterings.

Soil

All-purpose mix.

Feed

Once every month during growing season.

detailed care guide →

Ornamental Foliage

Containers

Features

Lucky bean plant is the young form of the Moreton Bay chestnut tree; an evergreen tree native to Australia. The plant sprouts from a large green seed (the “bean”) that sits on the soil surface. After germination, the seed eventually shrivels up and falls away as the plant grows and matures. Common names also include Moreton Bay Chestnut, Australian Chestnut, and Black Bean plant.

Uses

Perfect for all kinds of containers. Makes a beautiful potted specimen plant. May be displayed outdoors in warmer weather.

Lucky Bean Indoors (Castanospermum australe) Care Guide

Start with a good quality, commercial potting soil. These are usually lighter in weight than topsoil, sterile and pest-free. Many are available with a mild starter fertilizer in the mix.

Select a container with a drainage hole or be prepared to drill holes for drainage if there are none.

Prepare the container by filling with potting soil up to 2” (5cm) from the rim of the planter. Remove the plant from its pot.

Make a small hole in the soil slightly larger than the root ball either by hand or using a trowel. Insert the plant into the hole and press soil firmly around the roots and just covering the root ball. When all the plants are potted, water thoroughly to settle the soil and give plants a good start. Place plant in a reliably sunny location.

Repot every 2 years in the same container or in a container slightly larger than the diameter of the roots.

Prefers moist but well-drained soil. Check the soil moisture with your finger. If the top 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, or plants are wilted, it is time to water.

Apply water at the soil level if possible to avoid wetting the foliage. Water the entire soil area until water runs out the base of the pot. This indicates that the soil is thoroughly wet.

Most container plants can be pruned freely to maintain the desired size and shape. Keeping the foliage trimmed also keeps the plants looking neat and tidy, encourages the plant to develop more side-shoots and flowers, and reduces the demand for the plant to develop a larger root system. This is important since the roots are in a confined space.

Fertilizers are available in many forms: granulated, slow-release, liquid feeds, organic or synthetic. Determine which application method is best for the situation and select a product with a nutritional balance designed for foliage plants.

Too much fertilizer can damage plants so it’s important to follow the package directions to determine how much, and how often, to feed plants.

Slow-release fertilizers are an especially good, care-free choice for container plants. A single application can often provide plants with the proper level of nutrition all season long.

Companion/Combination Plants

2 Comments

Sue on August 21, 2023 at 10:28 pm

I have 3 Moreton Bay Chestnut seeds. If I lay them on potting mix, will they just sprout or do I need to do something extra?
Reply
- My Garden Life on August 22, 2023 at 9:14 am
  
  Hi Sue,
  We found a short video on How to Grow Castanospermum australe from Seed to take you step-by-step through the seed planting and what you can expect when the beans begin sprouting. Looks like a fun project!
  Reply