While Experiment 1 distills my knowledge on the propagation of ʻŌhiʻa into a practical guide appropriate for inhospitable climates, the following website(s) provide details of methods others use.
This handy guide discusses the propagation of disease-free Ohia for the lab testing of fungal pathogens at the University of Hawaii in Manoa. Propagation using vegetative cuttings is faster than growing from seed. Cuttings ideally should have expanded mature leaves, rather than with young growth. Take home message:
- Multiple cuttings per pot helps maintain higher humidity
- Keep under shade, ideally around 25 deg C, and water daily
- Time to root: 3 – 4 months
- Pot on with small amount of slow release fertiliser, keep under 65% shade for 2 – 3 weeks
- By now the cuttings should be established and can be moved to higher light levels.
- Pot on as necessary.