Ohia Trees...

[Carolann R]

Can you root one from a clipping? I'd like a few and there are so many in the area...

Carrie

Carrie

[Hotzcatz]

Not from a clipping, no, but you can air layer them. Since ohias don't breed true from seed (i.e. a red ohia doesn't always have red ohia seedlings) the best way to get the color you want is to find one you like and air layer one from that one.

[Royall]

What is air layering?

Royall

What goes around comes around!

[Carolann R]

I googled for air layering...that's fascinating! I am gonna see about a neighbor's tree! LOL...they mention using a certain kind of moss to cover the girdled portion...I'll have to look for that. Thanks so much for the heads-up on that!

Carrie





Edited by - Carolann R on 05/06/2007 23:26:44

[Mitzi M]

Hi Carrie,
I'm also learning about air layering ohia right now and I thought I'd share a couple things I found out. First, you should make a small, shallow cut to see if the bark "slips" from the underlying layer. Check this first before you girdle the branch because if the bark doesn't slip off easily the tree may not be in the correct growth phase and your air layers will not root. I think its the kind of thing you need to check for each tree. The best branch length to take is about 3' and be sure the tree is a healthy one with vigorous growth. You need to use rooting hormone in the spagnum moss medium - Dip-n-gro liquid was recommended to me at a dilution rate of 1:5. (It is seriously nasty stuff so wear gloves!) Good luck!

Uluhe Design
Restoration Based Landscape Design for Hawai'i
uluhedesign@yahoo.com

[Carolann R]

Royall, essentially you girdle a two-inch area of a branch that's not larger than your finger...apply a rooting compound...soggy moss and wrap in plastic securing the ends to be as air-tight as possible. Then cover in foil and give it at least six weeks...the way the nutrition runs through the tree manifests new roots at this spot...then you just sever it from the tree about an inch below that and pot it...whaddya think!?

When they originally did the lot our house is on they ripped and rolled and all the Ohias were felled...ergo we have none. On my walks around the Loop, my friend and I found two spots where the most beautiful yellow ohias are tucked away in the middle of the reds...I want 'em! LOL...

Does anyone sell Ohias?

Carrie



Edited by - Carolann R on 05/07/2007 14:59:49

[Royall]

Thanks for explaining what you were talking about. That also explains the foil I see in a tree in town some place. I think Rozetts on 28 and Kaloli sell them at least I say some in there last year.

Royall

What goes around comes around!

[Carolann R]

Aloha Mitzi...I got the rooting compound and couldn't find spagnum moss...I found regular green moss for moisture retention, and there's always spanish moss, but dunno if that'll do...

Carrie

[Hotzcatz]

Probably any wet type of rooting medium would work, perhaps even wet newspaper but moss works nicely. You could try potting soil and see if it works. There might be a bit of problem with bark rot if the rooting medium was too dense or two wet perhaps. We just use moss scraped off of rocks or some of that thick eucalyptus bark.

[Mitzi M]

Carrie, I'm not sure about using other stuff besides spagnum moss. I'll bet some of it works too, but everything I've read says use spagnum. It's supposed to have naturally occurring compounds that deter bactieria and fungi, but they say if you don't wring out the moss well enough when you put it on, it can cause the branch to rot. If it has to stay on there for 3-6 months to make roots, I'd want something that won't get soggy or break down too much. If you haven't already checked, I'd call Garden Exchange, Pahoa Feed store or even...the evil big box stores.

Uluhe Design
Restoration Based Landscape Design for Hawai'i
uluhedesign@yahoo.com