ALANI ONE YEAR REPORT – June 2006 to June 2007

June 2006 – Alani looks good. Some black mold on undersides of leaves, lichen on branches. Treated using koicide, a liquid copper spray. Positive results.November 2006 – Flowering well.

December 2006 – Very rainy. Flowers dropped and leaves turned yellow. With minimal evidence of insects, root rot was determined. Alani has been on fungicide Banrot drench since beginning, once a month. Now every 3 months as a preventative. This is the second year of no seed, but keeping her alive is my concern

February 2006 – Alani responding positively to Banrot. New growth, but still on recovery.

April 2007 – Consultation visit to Arboretum by Ernest Rezents. Alani has only a few mites and scale was found. Main concern is deformed leaf growth indicating trace element efficiency. Soil test reports, low in calcium and sulfur. Gypsum recommended.

May 2007 – Two weeks after gypsum application new healthy growth on older Alani, as well as seedlings (see photo above).

June 2007 – With the positive response to gypsum on the Alani, gypsum is applied to whole Arboretum and plans to supplement annually. Growth on Alani is now three sets of leaves and some branching, all with no deformity.

May 2006

For the Puu Mahoe Alani, she gets an A for health, probably the response to the beautiful well composted mulch (with earthworms). She went into FULL flower in Nov/Dec ’05 but has dissappointedly only formed a very few seeds. It may be the poorest seed production in 4 years.She is doing another flush but typically the contiued flowering only manufactures a few more seed.Ernest Rezents advised she is in good health and let the mulch go to work.Possibly too much nitrogen in the mulch was the reason for lack of seed production.

This month we mailed out;leaf sameples to the Univbesity of Hawaii, Oahu to identify a back sooty mold on the underside of the Alani leaves, looking forward to substance identification, cause and any possible detriment to the tree.

August 2005

450 seed of the Alani-Melicope knudsenii harvested this year, up from 250 last year.

June 8, 2005

In October ’04, the Puu Mahoe Alani seemed to have a problem. Some of the new leaves were curled (mites?), there was minimum new growth and she had a dull appearance with some round black fungus spots. After two months of regular 2-week sprays altering different compatible insecticides (vs scale & mites), fungicides and including foliar fertilizers in the spray, the Alani showed no improvement.I feared a soil disease.

Ernest Rezents offered plant-health consultation for the Alani and other trees of concern in the Fleming Arboretum. His conclusion, there was a nutrient deficiency for most of the Arboretum’s problem trees. Curled leaves on the Alani was a lack of calcium. Yellow spotting was also nutrient lack, not the leaf-hopper. “Tropical Landscape”14.14.14 slow release with trace elements including sulpher was top-dressed. Gypsum was used for calcium. Then miraclulously it rained 3 inches.

Since this new fertilizing, the trees look great. New Alani leaves are healthy. One of the seedlings that would persistantly only carry 6 leaves now has 9 including a first branch. Future fertilizing will be with “Palm Special, “which includes calcium. It is low in phosphorous, better for mycorrhiza health Radio Shack sells a microscope for $12.99 (60 to 100 magnification).It has become a handy tool checking for insects and nutrient deficency. Puu Mahoe cinder soil is “moderately low” in sulfur, calcium & potasium…”low” in zinc and high in magnesium. All other nutrient ranges optimum.

August 2004

2004 has not been a good year for mature Alani seed. Many seeds dropped and then the tree went into a second flush of flowers. All seeds were harvested in August. 250 mature seeds are being distributed. (Half the harvest were immature from May’s flower flush.) David Moran, a regular volunteer, diligently harvests seeds using the Barnell Pruner, which holds onto the seeds as it cuts.
May 2004
Three Alani (Melicope knudsenii) seedlings “volunteered” under the mother tree for the first time ever (May ’04). Some species of seeds have a chemical in the seed coat, which needs to be leached before it germination, nature’s way of preventing seeds from sprouting during a drought. The unusally wet winter may have initiated germination in these volunteers. If so, this would support seed soaking in our germination efforts.
March 2004

First known outplanting of Melicope knudsenii

Arlene Taus digs for mycorrhizas from between roots of Alani to innoculate soil of new seedlings Two Alani (Melicope knudsenii) seedlings from 2002 harvest, propagated by Anna Palomino were planted in the Arboretum March 2004. Here Arlene poses with seedlings.
January 12, 2004

Today – The Alani seedling from ’02 harvest propagated by Anna Palomino has 6 large leaves and 2 new leaf buds on top. It will be planted into the Arboretum in March.Concern – The seedling is very slow growing.

Concern – Four lower leaves curled under. I suspected mites. I sprayed Avid this past weekend.

Comments – I liked using a fungicide systemic rather than drench for stem rot prevention so not to poison the soil. Will be experimenting with using mycorrhizas from under the Alani when we plant the seedling into the Fleming Arboretum.

June 8, 2003

1200 seeds were harvested from the Pu’u Mahoe Alani and distributed to 16 recipients. Additionally in 2003, 4 shipments of green seed of different maturities were mailed to the Lyon Arboretum for micro-propagation. April 2003In April of 2003 the Fleming Arboretum received a healthy Alani seedling (’02 harvest) from Anna Palomino of Hoolawa Farm to enter in the in the Ulupalakua Ag Fair. The Alani seedling was 4” tall and arrived in a 4” pot. It won 1st place. Click here to see photo.

One of the seedlings was successfully propagated from the ’02 harvest and is being cared for by Anna Palomino of Hoolawa Farm.

Potting Mix – The seeding was transplanted into a one-gallon pot using 3/4 Pu`u Mahoe’s cinder plus 1/4 rich topsoil from under Kukui Nut grove.

Watering – Once a week.

Concern – Too much water if it rained.

Stem Rot Prevention – The seedling was sprayed once a week with Rosepride for 3 weeks hoping to prevent stem rot. Then sprayed every-other-week alternating Rosepride with 1/2 – strength Miracle Grow (15-30-15 with trace elements) that was misted on leaves.

Rosepride is a systemic fungicide plus systemic insecticide. The systemic fungicide Triflorine has broad range use against fungus. Alternating with Miracle Grow would help the seedling to become strong and grow quickly out of the vulnerable stem rot stage.

The seedling is now 8” tall with 6 leaves and a trunk.

Concern – By not having an alternating systemic fungicide, the fungus may become immune.

Spider Mites – The seedling showed signs of spider mites, which confirmed the need for the combination systemic insecticides / fungicide Rosepride. The insecticide found in Rosepride seemed to help.

Avid was sprayed with 1/2 strength Miracle Grow and worked the best.

Black Ring Fungus – Black fungus appeared under the older leaves. One tablespoon per gallon powered copper was sprayed under and over each leaf. This worked right away.

Fertilizer – 1/8 teaspoon per gallon pot of 14-14-14 Osmocoat with trace elements. Also have watered the tree twice with diluted liquid seaweed. The tree responded with new growth after both applications.

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