Ohia Trees...

[Rob Tucker]

I saw a question about how fast Ohia grow. I understand they are very slow growers. Increase in diameter at a rate of about 1 mm per year. That would have a 2" diameter tree at over 50 years old.

Gives some perspective on the Ohia we see about us.

[Carolann R]

Whoa. Well I see so many out and about that are tall, but still young enough to transplant...maybe I can snag a few in my journeys.

We took a ride around the loop...I'm trying several approaches here I think. Gonna snip some branches from other ohias and try to root 'em per the article I read.

Carrie



Edited by - Carolann R on 05/20/2007 10:55:52

[Les C]

I've heard that the transplant success ratio with dug up 'ohi'a is about 1:10. Air layering is considered an easy method to propogate. It appears that whether from seeds or air layering, well-established young 'ohi'a will be ready for outplanting in 2 years. If you take a look at some of the relatively recent lava flows, e.g, Kalapana or Ocean View, with known flow dates, you can see how large the 'ohi'a are there. Of course, they are growing out of a fresh lava flow and not an area with an established soil substrate. Yeah, it takes a long time for them to grow, which should make people think more than twice when they're considering bulldozing them.

Edited by - Les C on 05/20/2007 14:42:46

[Carolann R]

I so agree, Les. What a shame the damage that is done. Our area in HSRE was loaded with Ohia. My neighbor had the only home on the street and said when they leveled this area she was over on Oahu for the weekend and came home and what was all rainforest and dense Ohia was completely leveled - all the way around her property! She said they left nothing standing - not a stick. for the entire street on both sides. She is the only one on this street with Ohia...and her backyard looks like something from the Lord of the Rings. It's beautiful.

Carrie

[Mitzi M]

The ohias on a 1956 lava flow near me are about 4"-6" in diameter and some are up to about 20+' tall. I think their rate of growth is really influenced by the amount of rain, soil and nutrients they get. I've seen folks plant them in prepared soil, water and feed them for the first year or so, and get some fast, healthy growth. My friend who is a botanist here tells me that good ohia air layers just shoot up when they're planted in decent soil. I'm convinced that even though the tortured ones that somehow manage to get by on bare lava grow slowly, the pampered ones will grow much faster.

Mitzi

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

[Carolann R]

Richard and Mark - just thought I would let you know that my two ohias adopted from you are doing very well...one is actually growing much faster than I expected and is 1/3 again the size it was when I got it from you this spring...thanks!

Carrie

"All I can say about life is, Oh God, enjoy it." Bob Newhart