:=;~(j~;~~i~J~~n1tt~tir '~'. jPlorfolk lfglanb ~tne Hawaii Circular 453 Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture. C. Peairs Wilson, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. CIRCULAR 453-MARCH 1972-5M AUTHORS This publication was prepared by David T. Fullaway, former State Service Forester, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, with the assistance of the following: Tom K. Tagawa, State Forester, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Dr. Eduardo Trujillo, Plant Pathologist, Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station and Albert Martinez, Extension Plant Pathologist, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Hawaii contributed the section on diseases. C. J. Davis, Branch Chief, Entomology Branch, Plant Industry Division, Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Dr. A. A. LaPlante, Extension Entomologist, University of Hawaii contributed the section on insects. Ernest Pung, Service Forester, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, contributed the section on harvesting and marketing. To strengthen the Norfolk Island pine Christmas tree industry in Hawaii, today's growers and future producers of this specialized forest crop must be kept up to date on new or better methods of growing and marketing their commodity. The various steps from cone collecting to packaging and shipping good quality trees require many skills and techniques that were identified, tested, and improved by foresters, entomologists, and pathologists of the State of Hawaii Departments of Land and Natural Resources, Agriculture, and the College of Tropical Agriculture, University of Hawaii. Clarence Lyman Specialist in Pasture Management Cooperative Extension Service University of Hawaii TABLE OF CONTENTS

Seed 5 Germination 8 Potting 8 Nursery Care 10 Field Planting ...... 12 Selection of the Site 12 Planting and Maintenance 12 Insect Problems, Symptoms, and Controls 12 Disease Problems, Symptoms, and Controls 14 Cautions ...... 15 Harvesting and Marketing Norfolk Island Pine 15 Bibliography 16 NORFOLK ISLAND PINE CULTURE Collecting and Storing Seed · Propagating ·Growing ·Harvesting · Marketing

Norfolk Island Pine, or "Hawaii star cies are nearly identical in appearance, pine," Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) especially in the early growth stages. Franco, synonym A. excelsa (Lamb.) R. SEED Br., is a native of the South Pacific and was discovered by Captain Cook. Plants Norfolk Island pine is a dioecious were introduced into the Hawaiian Is­ tree that produces seed cones at 10 to lands during the nineteenth century. 15 years of age. The seed cones take a There is some confusion about these full year to mature. The viability or plants because A. columnaris (Forst.) quality of the seed crop depends on the Hook, synonym A. co0 kii, was intro­ presence of the catkin-like male flowers duced about the same time, and all spe- in sufficient quantities to pollinate the female flowers and the proper weather to allow sufficient quantities of the Female cones are primarily found in the top pollen to disperse to the female flowe rs 25 percent of the tree. at the right time.

5 Male catkins suspended from the tips of the upper branches.

The mature cone is made up of a The seed should be properly dried central stalk and many seed scales. It for storage by spreading it thinly on a resembles a pine cone, but the scales canvas tarp under shelter in a dry, warm have only one seed each while the scales section of the island, or in a room in of the true pines bear two seeds. which the temperature and moisture can Seed can be collected by raking them be controlled. After 1 to 3 weeks of from the ground or by climbing the tree drying, the seed is ready to store in and picking the mature cones. Seed burlap bags at a temperature from 34 to gathered from the ground under the 38 F. To avoid a reduction in seed trees have high viability and can be viability, do not place the seed in a bag planted immediately; collecting from or in any bulk container until the seed the ground is safer than climbing, and has been properly dried for storage. The the seed is relatively dry. Seed collected seed should not be frozen, moistened, by climbing requires a great deal of skill or heated. in selection to obtain viable seed. Seed The initial viability of properly col­ obtained is relatively moist and requires lected, handled, dried, and stored seed drying before storing but it is less should be between 70 and 90 percent. expensive to collect. Seed in Hawaii Under the best handling and storing mature from late June through Septem­ conditions the seed will lose about ber. The cones are ready for picking one-half its initial viability every 3 from the tree if the cones shatter when months. they are struck. 6 Inside ~I I

~- OutsUJe

IP- Loose seed

7 GERMINATION Maximum germination of the seed can be obtained in a greenhouse with the temperature between 70 and 80 F and with constant moisture. Germina­ tion should start in 7 to 10 -days and be completed within 21 days. Place the seed in vermiculite in a flat at a 45­ degree diagonal position with the upper surface and outside portion of the seed up. If soil or any other medium is used, it should be moistened, fumigated with methyl bromide gas, and aired properly (for 48 hours) prior to use, or it may be heat-sterilized.

Germinating Norfolk Island pine seed.

Flat filled with vermiculite or othergerminat­ ingmedium.

A Norfolk Island pine seedling ofgood size to be potted. (Actual size) POTTING The seedlings will be ready to trans­ usable types of pots are cans, milk plant approximately 10 weeks after the cartons, peat pots, drinking cups, plastic seed germination has ended. tubing, and polyethylene bags. One­ The size and type of pot used in gallon containers are adequate to keep transplanting will vary with the purpose trees I year or longer in the nursery. A of the operation, the length of time I-quart container is the minimum size before field planting, the condition of recommended to permit good root de­ the planting area, the nursery setup and velopment. the budget. Some of the available and

8 The taller and healthier the tree the less planting stock and field mainten­ ance are required in establishing a Christmas tree farm. Therefore, we rec­ ommend that the plants be kept in the nursery for 1 year or more. Use fertiliz­ ers to push the growth of the potted seedlings. The seedling for field planting should be 12 to 24 inches tall and should have at least three whorls of secondary branches. The authors believe that nursery costs are lower than field maintenance costs. Vermiculite has been found to be an excellent potting medium when properly fertilized. Other mediums should be fumigated or heat-sterilizea prior to use.

Norfolk Island pine seedling ready for field planting.

9 NURSERY CARE The seedlings should be grown under Cull and sort the plants at an early greenhouse or shaded conditions. Opti­ date. If the plants show signs of bronz­ mum growing conditions include a tem­ ing (purpling of the primary leaves) or perature of 70 to 80 F; moisture con­ browning and yellowing of the second­ trolled by overhead sprinkler irrigation; ary branchlets, sort them and place all overhead shade; raised beds in a nursery the seedlings of each type together by designed for easy access and mechaniza­ size, shape, or apparent vigor or color. tion; a fertilizer, fungicide, and insecti­ This will give a more uniform nursery cide injection system builtinto the and field growth, thus permitting better irrigation system; and frequent light standardization and mechanization of doses of chemicals throughout the nurs­ subsequent maintenance and harvesting. ery phase.

TABLE 1. Some Chemicals That Can be Used in the Greenhouse in Norfolk Island Pine Culture

Fertilizers Fungicides Insecticides ------_._--_. Foliar 63 plus Dexon Malathion Microorganic Volck Oil Carbaryl 5-5-0 Diazinon Disulfoton Dimethoate

NOTE: Be sure the chemicals used are compatible, and use them according to labels and recommendations.

Some Features To Consider A. Sunlight - use Saran cloth of 50 in a Potting Operation to 80 percent shade. 1. Water source. B. Temperature - use fans and a 2. Labor source and quality water screen on the ends of the 3. Transportation - easy access into the greenhouse to maintain 70 to 80 nursery with supplies and egress to F. the field with plants. C. Chemical control - apply fertiliz­ 4. Growing conditions - controlling the ers, fungicides, and insecticides on environment. a regular basis.

10 \ t Mattock \ \

Fertilizer tablet

Field planting a Norfolk Island pine seedling. 11 D. Moisture control - use overhead attachments such as boom spray units, irrigation with a chemical injec­ cultivation tools, fertilization attach­ tion system. ments, and harvesting units. E. Growing medium - use vermicu­ Field planting should be done to take lite or steam-sterilized or methyl­ advantage of the· natural rainy season. bromide-fumigated soil. Plant quickly and efficiently. Transport 5. Mechanization of operations. seedlings in enclosed trucks, and plant A. Potting. them within an hour after removal from B. Handling - use forklifts, trucks, and nursery design to facilitate the enclosed truck. Take care to avoid movement of plants. any drying of the plant roots during C. Shipping - use enclosed trucks. planting. 6. Raised beds and cinder ground cover The planting hole should be 50 per­ for easy weed and moisture control. cent larger than the root structure. Use shipping skips and cinder blocks Commercial fertilizer tablets now avail­ to facilitate mechanization. able can be placed in the planting hole to stimulate growth of the plant during the first year. Use of these fertilizer tablets or equivalent fertilization prac­ FIELD PLANTING tices is recommended. Selection of the Site Application of the proper fertilizers Norfolk Island pine does not grow induces tree greening and thus creates a well under high intensity or long dura­ more marketable product. tion of sunlight; in areas that are too cold (freezing), too wet (more than 160 inches of rain per year), or too dry (less than 20 inches of rain per year). Soils INSECT PROBLEMS, SYMPTOMS, should be well drained. AND CONTROLS With the above in mind, the other 1. Araucaria aphid, Neophyllaphis arau­ maj or factor to consider is the indivi­ cariae Takahashi, is a sap-sucking dual site's suitability for mechanized insect causing devitalization of parts planting, maintenance, and harvest. fed upon such as tips of young Sites with level ground and good soil shoots. These tiny soft-bodied gre­ characteristics can generally be mech­ garious insects are sometimes called anized without difficulty. plant lice. Colonies usually are pres­ ent in young shoots. The araucaria Planting and Maintenance aphid is found on Norfolk Island Plant spacing should be selected, pine· on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, keeping in mind mechanization of oper­ and Hawaii. Control of this pest is ations. The planting design should allow necessary for plant export. Dimetho­ access to all plants with a tractor and ate (Cygon, DeFeud) at the rate of 2 12 TABLE 2. One of Many Possible Field Planting Designs To Facilitate Field Mechaniza- tion

X5' X 10' X X XX X X X X R X X XX X X 0 A 10' ROADWAY W XX A X X XX X X Y X X X X XX X X

X X XX X X X X 5' 10' X X X X X X R X X 0 A 10' ROADWAY W X X XX X X A X X Y X X XXX X XX

1. Spacing is 5 x 5 feet in 16-tree blocks. 2. Roadways are 10 feet wide, providing access from two directions. 3. With this design, the number of seedlings required is 1,120 per acre. 4. Mechanization for tractor use is allowed for with other cultivation tools, booms, and fertilizer attachments.

teaspoons of 23.4% emulsifiable con­ sucking insect causing the leaves to centrate in each gallon of water (1 turn yellow and die. The mature quart per 100 gallons) used as a dip insect is completely covered by a gives good and effective control. hard shell-like scale. Immature in­ Another systemic, Disulfoton (Di­ sects are called crawlers. The scales Syston), has reportedly been effec­ are commonly found in the angles tive in controlling the araucaria formed by the leaves and stem and aphid but should be used with cau­ are often not visible from the exte­ tion. Read the labels carefully for all rior. The armored scale is presently pesticides. found on all islands. Three other 2. Armored scale, Carulaspis giffardi armored scales: Lindingaspis rossi (Adachi and Fullaway), is a sap- (Maskell), Octaspidiotus araucariae 13 Adachi and Fullaway, and Lepido­ centrate in each gallon of water (1 saphes araucariae Beardsley have quart per 100 gallons). Diazinon may been found infesting Norfolk Island also be effective. Caution: dimetho­ pine in Hawaii. The armored scale ate is a systemic and should be can be controlled with dimethoate at reapplied only when sustained rein­ the rate of 2 teaspoons of 23.4% festations occur. Treatment may be emulsifiable concentrate in each gal­ effective 1 to 2 months. For potted lon of water (1 quart per 100 gal­ plants, use 1 pint per 100 gallons (1 Ions), or diazinon at the rate of 2 teaspoon per gallon). level teaspoons of 50% wettable 5. Black twig borer, Xylosandrus com­ powder or 1 teaspoon of 50% emulsi­ pactus Eichhoff, is a tiny, brownish fiable concentrate in each gallon of black beetle about 1/16 inch long water. and cylindrical in shape. The head is 3. Pacific beetle cockroach, Diploptera deflexed downward and bears a pair punctata (Eschscholtz), gnaws the of short, club-shaped antennae. The bark of branches, often completely tiny beetle larvae are legless and girdling them, resulting in yellow or whitish in color. The adult beetles dead foliage. The cockroach some­ bore tiny holes into the branches and times is called a beetle roach or excavate broad chambers where they Pacific beetle roach due to its resem­ lay eggs and deposit ambrosia fun­ blance to a beetle. It is present on all gus. Infested branches may die as a islands throughout Hawaii. The cock­ result of the fungus and beetle activ­ roach can be controlled with a spray ity. The insect is found on Kauai, of 1 to 2 teaspoons diazinon emulsi­ Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii. Effective fiable concentrate per gallon of wa­ control can be obtained with Car­ ter. baryl (Sevin) 50% wettable powder 4. Araucaria mealybug, Eriococcus at a rate of 4 pounds per 100 gallons ~ araucariae Maskell, is a tiny, soft­ of water (1 tablespoons per gallon bodied insect that forms a little oval of water) applied every 3 or 4 weeks, sac at the base of the needles; the sac or malathion 57% emulsifiable con­ of the male is smaller than that of centrate at a rate of 1 quart per 100 the female. They are found in masses gallons of water (2 teaspoons per on the terminal part of the twigs. gallon of water) applied every 3 or 4 They produce large quantities of weeks. honeydew that encourages the growth of sooty mold which, in turn, DISEASE PROBLEMS, SYMPTOMS, blackens the infested foliage. This insect is particularly partial to young AND CONTROLS potted plants. It is present on all the 1. Root rot, Phytophthora cinnamomi islands. The insect can be controlled Rands, can be of economic impor­ with dimethoate at the rate of 2 tance in the seedling stage. Seedlings teaspoons of 23.4% emulsifiable con- affected with this fungus may never 14 attain marketable size because the 4. Regulations concerning insecticides pathogen destroys the root system. are being modified. Some of those It is recommended that Christmas mentioned here may be found sub­ tree farms be planted with disease­ ject to new limitations on sale or use. free stock. Dexon 70% wettable powder used as a dip for plants to be For clarity, trade names have been used in planted in the field at a rate of % some cases. This is not an endorsement of a pound per 10 gallons of water should particular brand or product nor is it intended effectively prevent infection. to discriminate against similar. products not mentioned by name. 2. Needle cast, Pestalotia spp. de Not., is a weak parasite that affects the needles when the trees are injured by HARVESTING AND MARKETING drought, herbicide, heat, or mechan­ Norfolk Island pine Christmas trees ical means. During shipping, trees are harvested manually with either a stored at high temperatures and hu­ hand or light-weight power saw. The midity can become totally defoli­ trees are harvested by selective-cut ated by the fungus. This problem can method, taking special care to cut only be eliminated by proper handling the good quality trees. Selected trees and accurate control of the shipping should be firm, yet green and lush. As a temperature and humidity. prerequisite to market development, 3. Sooty mold, Capnodium spp. Mont., growers should avoid placing yellowish is a fungus induced by honeydew­ and poorly formed trees onto the mar­ producing insects. To remove the ket. mold, spray with Volck oil at the Small growers usually market their rate of 1 gallon in 100 gallons of trees on a "you-cut basis"; large growers water (6 tablespoons per gallon). are required to harvest, package, and Control of the insect by the use of ship their trees, usually to wholesale the proper insecticide will prevent centers where the trees are distributed recurrence of the conditions needed to retail dealers. One large grower se­ for the mold to exist. lects and marks his trees a month before the harvesting season. This me thod gives CAUTIONS him an accurate inventory of his mar­ 1.. You are dealing with plants, and ketable trees by size and class and also anything and everything that you do, helps to hasten the harvest during the even slightly wrong at any stage, will short, hectic cutting period. The trees result in loss. Do things right. are hand-carried out of the field and 2. Establish your market first and con­ grouped beside the road. tinue to build your market at all Trees are packed by a crew of two. times. One picks up the tree, inserts it, butt 3. Remember that different states re­ end first, through a homemade funnel quire various treatments for entry of that bends and compresses the branches plant material. upward and toward the central stem, 15 making it possible for the tree to fit into for $9.95. Trees 6-feet tall retail at a rolled-up perforated plastic sleeve at­ $15.45, and 8-foot trees at $23.95 each. tached to the small end of the funnel. In 1969, approximately 9,000 trees The other worker pushes his arm were shipped to the West Coast, and through the sleeve, grasps the base of 25,000 were marketed locally. The the tree and pulls it through. It takes 1969 shipping strike was the primary about 10 seconds to package a tree. reason for the large local consumption. Rolls of sleeve materials are available in In early 1971, approximately 250 various diameters or sizes. Take care to acres were planted to Norfolk Island prevent excessive squeezing which is apt pines for Christmas tree management in to damage the basal branches. Damage the State of Hawaii. can be lessened also by adjusting the Current problems faced by the Nor­ size of the funnel or using funnels of folk Island pine Christmas tree industry different sizes. include: 1) lack of adequate seedling During transit, the packed trees supplies for planting and replanting; 2) a should not be piled more than six deep, need for simple methods to harden-off usually with the larger trees on the marketable trees to minimize or prevent bottom of the stack. Store trees in an the terminal and branch drooping that upright position. Upright storage lends often takes place within a day after itself to easier handling and also reduces harvest; 3) excessive breakage during terminal breakage and tree de formation. packing, shipment, and storage; 4) high Mainland air freight rates are regres­ shipping costs; and 5) inadequate ship­ sive. The rate for up to 1,000 pounds is ping and storage facilities and the need $.71 per pound, and $.19 per pound for -for excessive handling. 1,000 or more pounds. It takes an Good common sense in harvesting, assortment of 75 to 80 trees of heights packing, shipping, storing and marketing between 5 and 8 feet to make a ship­ can overcome most of the problems ment of 1,000 pounds. An average listed above. 6-foot tree weighs between 12 and 15 pounds. A healthy 8-footer weighs up to 25 pounds. Inter-island barge rates to REFERENCES Honolulu from the neighbor islands are 1. Bailey, L. H. 1963. The standard less expensive than air, and the barges cyclopedia ofhorticulture. The Mac­ are able to handle bulk shipments. millan Company, N.Y. pp. 345-347 In the Hawaii island production 2. Crawford, H. E. Norfolk Island pine. areas, Norfolk Island pine Christmas Unpublished Paper, Hilo, Hawaii, trees wholesale at $.50 to $.60 per foot 6pp. and retail from $.90 to $1.00 per foot. 3. Dow, Peter B. 1969. Personal com­ Large trees, more than 8 feet tall, retail munication, Seedsman, New Zealand. at $2.00 to $2.50 per foot. In Seattle, 4. Neal, Marie C. 1965. In gardens of Washington, a 4-foot Norfolk Island Hawaii. Bernice P. Bishop Museum pine Christmas tree from Hawaii retails Special Publication 50. pp. 35-39 16