01-04-2017, 08:58 AM
Burning diseased Ohia wood not only serves the purpose of eliminating toxic bio-waste/tinder wood but it can also provide trees with sorely needed nutrients when those same Ohia Wood Ashes (OWA) are then spread around the root base of a sick tree, or as preventative medicine for healthy trees. In my own experience, over the past year, ROD can be stalled out in infected trees by using this protocol. Healthy trees treated with OWA show fast new growth along previously barren trunks. Hardwood ash in general has a high concentration of phosphorous which is a nutrient that is typically made unavailable to Ohia by the high iron content in lava rock which binds phosphorous. Fast acting calcium within hardwood ash, an alkalizing agent, serves as a balance to the overly acidic environment from constant volcanic output brought down in rain. Other minerals such as potassium and magnesium are also usually absorbed only in tiny amounts, so just a few handfuls of ash per tree appears to be a feast.
Ohia Wood Ash when mixed with rainwater becomes potassium hydroxide (KOH) when mixed with fats become soap. Certain fungal pathogens, bacteria and parasites (in larval stages) are known to wrap themselves in a biofilm (fat) as a protective barrier from a hosts immune response, the host being the Ohia. As long as a single stem w/in the tree has functioning uptake, (shown by any green leaves) OWA may provide an internal power wash. Bugs also just don't like the smell or taste of fire. As usual, Mother Nature has the most elegant solutions. Initial OWA experiments were done in conjunction with varying amounts of lime on ROD infected trees with good results. Healthy trees were treated only with OWA.
For fertilizer NPK rating and other fact:
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/wood-ash-uses/
(Please refer to page 3 of this thread for a more detailed account of the experiment. Anyone trying protocol encouraged to note in your calendar and post results here on this thread. Cya in 3-6 months
Lee just posted this:
A Master Gardener gave the Water Garden Club an update on ROD this evening. Just in the last few days, they've identified a vector; two species of the ambrosia beetle. The beetle is covered with microscopic hairs that hold spores of the fungus. It bores into the tree, depositing spores as it goes, lays its eggs, and seals the hole (apparently, the buglets eat the fungus). The fungus then spreads throughout the tree. Everything involved is infected with the fungus--the bug, the bug's poop, baby bugs, sawdust--and can easily be spread to other areas, even by walking or driving through the sawdust.
They believe this is similar to Dutch Elm Disease and Texas Oak Wilt, and are starting to try a chemical that stalls out those infections. Unfortunately, the chemical must be injected into each tree every 2 years, so you might be able to save your trees, but this doesn't hold out much hope for the forests .
Wood ash is a dessicant and known deterant to pests, it is abundant and easy to spread in spare time. What's the alternative?
Malama aina!
ohiasolutions@gmail.com
Ohia Wood Ash when mixed with rainwater becomes potassium hydroxide (KOH) when mixed with fats become soap. Certain fungal pathogens, bacteria and parasites (in larval stages) are known to wrap themselves in a biofilm (fat) as a protective barrier from a hosts immune response, the host being the Ohia. As long as a single stem w/in the tree has functioning uptake, (shown by any green leaves) OWA may provide an internal power wash. Bugs also just don't like the smell or taste of fire. As usual, Mother Nature has the most elegant solutions. Initial OWA experiments were done in conjunction with varying amounts of lime on ROD infected trees with good results. Healthy trees were treated only with OWA.
For fertilizer NPK rating and other fact:
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/wood-ash-uses/
(Please refer to page 3 of this thread for a more detailed account of the experiment. Anyone trying protocol encouraged to note in your calendar and post results here on this thread. Cya in 3-6 months
Lee just posted this:
A Master Gardener gave the Water Garden Club an update on ROD this evening. Just in the last few days, they've identified a vector; two species of the ambrosia beetle. The beetle is covered with microscopic hairs that hold spores of the fungus. It bores into the tree, depositing spores as it goes, lays its eggs, and seals the hole (apparently, the buglets eat the fungus). The fungus then spreads throughout the tree. Everything involved is infected with the fungus--the bug, the bug's poop, baby bugs, sawdust--and can easily be spread to other areas, even by walking or driving through the sawdust.
They believe this is similar to Dutch Elm Disease and Texas Oak Wilt, and are starting to try a chemical that stalls out those infections. Unfortunately, the chemical must be injected into each tree every 2 years, so you might be able to save your trees, but this doesn't hold out much hope for the forests .
Wood ash is a dessicant and known deterant to pests, it is abundant and easy to spread in spare time. What's the alternative?
Malama aina!
ohiasolutions@gmail.com
