11-22-2012, 07:08 PM
Most of Puna is green stuff growing in lava. It is amazing how well things do here. In fact, try and kill a tree you don't want. It just seems to make them more determined. But, yeah, lava is a GREAT medium for plants. An exception might be pahoehoe lava, such as you have in certain areas like mine. It is like concrete, and less it is dozed, or you add soil on top or create planters, it is not a good medium. But if your place is dozed, perfecto!
As for bringing things in, the black cinder is really pretty ---glittery, and a great medium for plants. And it is so easy to plant things in. Some people like to mix their cinder with soil.
The important thing to remember is that black cinder and black cinder soil are two very different terms of art. The former is just black cinder; the latter is dirt mixed with black cinder (ask me how I know this!) It is kind of reddish and not black at all in my experience. Black cinder has a strong and beautiful presence. That black cinder soil stuff, not so much, although it holds moisture (and perhaps stabilizes trees) better -- just what we all need in Puna: something that holds moisture better. Not.
I think some dirt is really good to have for a lawn. If you have ever walked across a crunchy lawn in Puna, you will know what I mean. Crunchy lawns are creepy.
As for bringing things in, the black cinder is really pretty ---glittery, and a great medium for plants. And it is so easy to plant things in. Some people like to mix their cinder with soil.
The important thing to remember is that black cinder and black cinder soil are two very different terms of art. The former is just black cinder; the latter is dirt mixed with black cinder (ask me how I know this!) It is kind of reddish and not black at all in my experience. Black cinder has a strong and beautiful presence. That black cinder soil stuff, not so much, although it holds moisture (and perhaps stabilizes trees) better -- just what we all need in Puna: something that holds moisture better. Not.
I think some dirt is really good to have for a lawn. If you have ever walked across a crunchy lawn in Puna, you will know what I mean. Crunchy lawns are creepy.