help needed with Ohia tree fertilizer

[Orchidlandguy]

Hi, I need some advice on my ohia trees. I have some property in HPP that had the next door ripped and rolled. The 4 beautiful ohia trees next to this are slowly looking worse and worse. their roots got really damaged as they are such shallow root growers as it is.
I have completely lost 3 of the ohias and now really want to save these 4. Any suggestions for some fertilizer that will help with the shock these trees have endured?

I also just bought a beautiful yellow blooming ohia tree for my home in Orchidland and want to fertilize it. What fertilizer do you use for newly planted young ohia trees?
THANKS much.

[Mitzi M]

Hi there,

Glad to find another Punatic who loves 'Ohi'as.

So here's the bad news - root damage really messes them up and since they are used to such a nutrient poor soil, fertilizer is generally not recommended for the ones growing in the wild.

I think your best shot might be with a vitamin B formula such as Superthrive and/or a diluted compost tea made of chicken manure, ripe compost, kelp meal, bat guano or any combination thereof. For the tea, I'd put say 1# of composted chicken manure, at least a brick sized glob of really done compost and/or a couple cups of kelp meal/bat guano and stick them in a 5gal or larger bucket of water. If I have it I add maybe a cup or 2 of milk and some beer - half a bottle will do. Stick it in the sun and wait 24 hours. You should see lots of little bubbles. Use 1 part of this tea to 5 parts water and drench the roots. The vitamin B solution can be added into this as well. If you have the water, additional irrigation when it's dry might help as well.

Also - 'Ohi'as do not do well if the level of the surrounding soil is at all raised or lowered, or the soil is compacted. If you piled rocks or firewood or brush against their trunks - even just a foot high it will probably hurt them. If their roots were exposed even a few inches that will be detrimental as well. I wish you luck.

As for your planted 'Ohi'a, you can fertilize them with half strength dose of whatever you use - they do like organics and the compost tea. The planted ones will grow fairly rapidly if you feed them, but keep in mind too much rapid growth produces a lot of soft wood at once and can cause the tree to be more prone to insects and diseases, so try and pace it.

Hope your trees make it!

[topograph]

Wait- there are people that DON'T like ohia trees? I was super excited this week-end when I spotted a yellow one I didn't know I had! Any ohia I find in a bad spot (future house location, clinging to the side of a rock, etc) I transplant to the property line.

[Mitzi M]

Topo, my friend,
If you have luck with your transplants please post. I only cast doubt because, as I have been told, the rate of successful transplant of mature 'Ohi'a is 5-10% in the best case. I have heard of it working. If it works for you let me know what you did. Remember, take good care of the roots!

[Orchidlandguy]

Mitzi,
I made the compost tea... bet even my neighbors a couple acres away could smell it. WHEW.. strong stuff. Now I have a ton of it !! I diluted it as you suggested and will report results when I see any. Thank you very much for your sage advice on these ohia trees.

topograph,
can you share your secrets on transplanting these trees? How are you doing it? I always heard they are so sensitive to root disruption that they die. Can you give your details please? Thanks.

[topograph]

I started transplanting in total ignorance of the sensitive nature of the ohias... all of the trees I have transplanted are only 4 to 6 inches. Typically, they are clinging to the side of a rock when I spot them. I grab them at their base, rip them off the rock, and put them in 4" pots of topsoil, then leave them in a sunny place till the next time I am on the property (usually 3-4 months). I have not proceeded beyond that point yet, but so far have 100% survival on 10 plants. I also planted some yellow ohia seeds, and so far have about 15 plants, 1/2" tall.

I will update you when I get to the next step!

[pslamont]

I have a few Yellow Ohia on my property. How easy is it to harvest the seeds?

I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says

"Oh Crap, She's up!"

[topograph]

I bought the seeds at the garden exchange, a ziploc for $5.00. Had enough seeds for about 50 starts. But they just looked like the fluff off the blossoms, so I would try that (free) route first.