transplanting ohia keiki

[kalianna]

I have a bunch of ohia seedlings sprouting in the worst places--under eaves, at the root of mature trees, etc. I know they don't like their roots disturbed. Can I gently pull them up and transplant them? To a pot? Or directly into their new spot in the yard? Has anyone done this successfully?

[1voyager1]

I get them starting in the moss in my orchid plantings around the yard all the time.
I do have a regular ohia die-off around here.
It seems to be a natural attrition.
The trees take months to years to completely die.
ROD does not seem to have set itself up in our local.
Plus, we look to have some positive effects from the eruption gasses, no more hibiscus mites, citrus canker on the tangerine leaves or fruit and so on.
I'm hoping there will be a positive [negative?] effect on the ROD also, killing off the fungi for at least a while.

OK, back to your question:

What's to lose?
They'll probably end up dying anyway.
Natural attrition rates are highest in the young and the old.
Try transplanting some and see how they do.
As gently as you can take enough of the soil or medium they're in to fill the container or hole you want to move them to.
They'll either make it or they won't.
Maybe you'll be able to figure out a way to do it successfully after a few failures.
Then you can start selling replacement ohias, ... maybe?

[kalianna]

Well, I knew someone was going to say "they're going to die anyway." Yes, I'll try a few in pots, a few in the ground and see what makes it and what doesn't. And will revive this post if I reach any useful conclusions to share. But I still welcome feedback from others who have tried this before.

[bananahead]

imo, the easiest ones to move are ones that root on mossy rocks or logs, otherwise when they are small they often dont survive being disturbed .... on the ones in bad spots Id just move them all, its kinda a weedy endemic plant, it throws out lots of seeds and makes alot of seedlings.. compared to most all other Hawaiians endemics...

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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[kalianna]

Thanks, Bananahead. I'm moving the ones in moss and growing out of rock walls first. Using mostly cinders with a little bit of mulch, figuring that if they can grow right out of lava they don't need tooi much soil.