Transplanting tree ferns

[Clayjacks]

Anyone out there have any knowledge to drop on moving small-ish tree ferns? I'm fairly certain they're Dicksonia, so probably a little easier. Prune foliage for less
transpiration?
Mahalo in advance!

[rainyjim]

You got it. Saw off at base of tree fern, remove fronds, place in desired location, water directly overhead regularly (awesome we're in Puna!).

Thanks for planting these. I call them Hapu'u - the hawaiian name.

If I may, I recommend planting a lot of them in stands and planting orchids and anthuriums underneath their canopies.

Aloha mai kakou

[Clayjacks]

Great advice, rainyjim! I'm totally in love with hapu'u.
And yes, we're on the same page as far as planting stands of them. Orchids and anthuriums as underplantings sounds amazing- we'll do.
So you suggest actually sawing them off at the base, as opposed to digging up as much of the shallow root mass as possible? I'll do whatever works for you...

[topograph]

We just sawed them off at the base with a chainsaw. Of the 8 we had to relocate (to make way for a driveway), 5 survived. Might have had better results if we were on island, but we just planted them and ran.

[bananahead]

Hopefully they ARE NOT Dicksonia ferns, they are a highly invasive species in Hawaii and should be killed immediately
(they belong in Australia, not Hawaii)

Hapu'u ferns are Cibotium, we have 3 different endemic types, but one is far more common,

Cibotium splendens is by far the most common, smooth orangish stem with orange pu'u that was used to stuff mattresses in the mid to late 19th Century (factory was in HVNP way out past Mauna Ulu and the ruins are still there...)

Cibotium menziesii, is the largest one and the one that feels rough when touching the stem area of the fronds like dark stiff dog hair.

We also have many different species of endemic 'Ama'uma'u ferns (Sadleria sp) as well, and they can be tree like at 15' tall at times... they are very different in they look like a feather (ie divided 1X), while the Hapu'u is totally different and divided 2X

'Ama'uma'u are tough to transplant, while the different types of Hapu'u are fairly easy. Just cut them down remove all the mature fronds, but you can leave the newest fiddleheads, dug a small hole prop it up put support sticks along side to keep it from falling over, then water if you are in an area they naturally dont grow ie HPP. If youre in upper Puna no need water... you are actually making two plants by cutting these down, the old one will usually have keiki grow back, and the new one will grow where you plant it. best place to get them legally is Stainback Hwy on the right side of the hwy (TreePlanting Rd, Flume Rd. ATV Park etc.), do not cut any on the left side which is nature preserves...

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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

[Rene Siracusa]

bananahead is right about Dicksonia.

If the hapu'u you want to move are very small, there is no reason why you can't dig them up and re-plant. If they are taller and already have a 'pup' or two, make your cut ABOVE the pup. That way the bottom will have the pup's fronds to help it thrive and the top can be planted or just laid on its side. If you opt to avoid hole digging, the latter method works. The new fronds will grow upward )not sideways) and eventually the new trunk growth will too. The old trunk lying horizontally on the ground can be used as a retaining wall for plantings, so that if you plant 4 hapu'u end to end in a square you will not only have a small grove, but then you can fill in the area inside the trunk with cinder or cinder-soil and have a shaded garden plot. For a larger grove, just extend like dominoes.

[rainyjim]

Awesome Rene thanks for the 4x4 / domino idea. Can't wait to try this out.

[Clayjacks]

Yes! That is an awesome idea!
Thanks to all for the great info!

[dayna]

This thread has given me some great ideas! I've been wanting to transplant some of our hapu'u from volcano to orchidland (I have billions of them, okay not billions but a LOT). I need to figure out what type they are to make sure I'm not transplanting that bad aussie kind though! I have several lovely shaded areas from coconut palms that I think would look amazing with some hapu'u!

Dayna

http://www.FarmingAloha.com
www.E-Z-Caps.com

[Rene Siracusa]

@dayna -
bananahead gives a pretty good description of the native hapu'u, but I always think of the pulu not as orange but as a glistening dark gold, and very silky. You can google the Dicksonia to identify and make sure that you don't spread any. Glad you all like my idea (although it's not original with me)of domino groves.